Former Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam has claimed that Steven Gerrard’s managerial spell at Ibrox will only be properly judged when he faces up against Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the season.
The former Liverpool man has enjoyed a successful start to his time in the dugout, making 10 new signings and is as yet unbeaten in competitive football, having seen their way through three Europa League qualifiers without conceding a goal.
Celtic meanwhile have just one new arrival but are also going strong in Europe, having qualified for the next round of the Champions League stages with a win over Rosenborg, and Adam boldly insists that it is the Hoops who will be the true measure of Gerrard, despite his good start.
Speaking on Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT, the Scottish midfielder said: “The gap has to get closer than what it was last season. They’ve signed some good players. I think they’re improving each game.
“It’s going to be a challenge, he (Gerrard) knows that. He seems to be enjoying it. The results are improving every game, but he’ll get judged when the Celtic game comes round.
"He's doing a good job… but he will be judged when they play Celtic." ????
Former @RangersFC midfielder @Charlie26Adam has his say on Steven Gerrard's time at Ibrox so far… pic.twitter.com/5sFX4AMZYm
— talkSPORT Breakfast (@TSBreakfast) August 2, 2018
Opinion
Adam is not wrong in saying that Gerrard will be judged when the Celtic clash comes around, but at the same time he must be judged on every game he goes into. The Hoops match is the big one, not only because of the rivalry between the clubs but because Rangers’ long-term plan is to get back on level pegging with Brendan Rodgers and his men, and victory over the Bhoys would signify the progress they want to make. However, if Gerrard were to enjoy a successful start to the Premiership season but taste defeat in the Old Firm clash, would that make his time at Ibrox a failure? Absolutely not – so long as the Gers did not find themselves humiliated as they did last season. The Celtic clash is a marker to judge how far they have come from previous years, but at the same time success or failure in the clash is not the be all and end all for Gerrard.