Barry Ferguson believes Rangers still need a dominant force in the middle of the park, even though fans are calling for signings at the top end of the pitch.
The legendary Ibrox captain says the team is missing an orchestrator – a player who can dictate play, speed it up or slow it down, and control games for Rangers.
Fans want attacking signings, but midfield is key
Ferguson said all of his Rangers-supporting friends agree with manager Derek McInnes that the club needs difference-makers in attack before the transfer window closes. The manager has repeatedly said he is short on quality in the final third, and Thursday night's narrow win over Jablonec in the Conference League proved that.
But as a former midfielder, Ferguson looks at another area of the team – the engine room. He said they still need a dominant force in midfield, someone who can get the team together in tense moments and say 'Calm down'.
A leader and motivator needed
Ferguson described the required player as a dominator, not just in a football sense, but someone who makes sure those around him are really on it. He said that needs a real character – a top footballer, but also a leader and a motivator.
He acknowledged these players are hard to find, but said Rangers might need to go into the market for another top midfielder, especially if Nico Raskin or Connor Barron leaves Ibrox in this window.
Dan Neil still to come out of his shell
Ferguson said the whole team looked tense and uptight on Thursday night, lacking someone on the pitch to reassure those around them. He said many expected Dan Neil to carry out that role, and he was given the captain's armband against Jablonec.
But Ferguson said he is still waiting on Dan Neil to come out of his shell as a Rangers player, adding that Neil is playing within himself at times. He said Neil is a really good player with more to come, but he needs a bit of help as well.
Ferguson said Sunderland is a big club but Rangers is totally different, and it has probably taken Neil time to realise the demands at Ibrox. He noted there was some booing at half-time, but said that is life at Rangers – the club has always had demands and expectations.
Players must handle the pressure
Ferguson said the players need to handle the pressure and stand tall, because the club will never change and it shouldn't. He said it's not easy and you need to dig deep, but as a new player you have to show you can cope with that pressure.
He said Rangers didn't come out of the traps the way McInnes would have liked on Thursday night after a big win over St Mirren at the weekend. Instead, they let the Czech team settle into the game, and they should have been the team on edge.
Ferguson said the second half was a lot better after McInnes went through the players at half-time, but it shouldn't be down to the manager – the players have to take responsibility on themselves. He said Rangers fans just want to see you at it as a player, playing with energy and aggression.
The positives from the European game were the win and a clean sheet, but Ferguson said Rangers will need to be a lot better over in the Czech Republic for the second leg to go through.
