If Neil Banfield is the best face at Ibrox to put in front of the media Micky Beale must be in a bad bad way.
After heavily criticising his players following Sunday’s win over Motherwell Beale was kept away from the media for his own good, the players that he criticised are the ones that he is dependent on to retain his job.
If the manager’s performance in front of the cameras at the weekend was a disaster it was nothing to that of his assistant today.
Clearly there is a lot of anger inside Banfield, his contempt for the media is obvious as he sweated is way through what were basically some softball questions.
The in-built defensive mechanism spilled over when he claimed that his side had beaten PSV Eindhoven, a claim that none of the reporters were prepared to pick up on.
No we didn’t beat PSV Neil
— FollowFollowMeltdowns (@FollowMeltdowns) September 26, 2023
We beat Servette and we beat PSV, we beat Real Betis, all top sides
As ever, behind the scenes there is plenty of media training being given to whoever is on the rota to speak.
Three wins on the bounce without a goal being conceded is a message that needs reinforced as does the claim that things are just about to click into place, a phrase that James Tavernier has been using over the last seven seasons.
Beale had most of his signings in place in time for the start of pre-season training, they all took part in the pre-season friendlies with the exception of Jose Cifuentes who was on the bench for the SPFL opener away to Kilmarnock on August 5.
Almost two months later there is no sign of a settled formation, preferred partnerships or tactics in general other than getting the full-backs to push up or for Connor Goldson to launch a long diagonal.
Beale rarely plays more than two of his outfield summer signings, without doubt goalkeeper Jack Butland has been the best of the new arrivals.
On Sunday Scott Wright and Rabbi Matondo started against Motherwell- mainly because no club would touch them during the summer.
Beale can’t hide tomorrow night when his side take on Livingston in the League Cup, the minute his side slip up the clamour for action will become too much for the Ibrox board to resist the inevitable action.
Beat PSV 3-7 😂😂
— 4 seasons, 12 trophies, history makers!!! (@ClarkKe01956140) September 26, 2023
We beat Celtic as well by the way….. true story! pic.twitter.com/oIEDy8VYLZ
— 🍀Gerry B🍀 (@byrne_gerard) September 26, 2023
Is “We bet PSV” the new “We’re the same club”? 😂😂😂
— Declan Tim 💚🍀 (@tim_declan) September 26, 2023
Marc Francois has really let himself go, hasnt he?! 😂
— Exiled Dub 🇮🇪🤝🇵🇸 (@Dubliner76) September 26, 2023
Betis top side in 10th 🤣🤣🤣
— Brendan 1 – 0 Moleman (@Tre8le2023) September 26, 2023
Is that Winston Ingram?
— Rob (@roboboy67) September 26, 2023
What planet is this guy on???
— Tommy (@Tommy81561473) September 26, 2023
Always rewriting history
— Francisco Vasguez Garcia (@Tommy_Mc67) September 26, 2023
Apparently you’re still the same club so just say you beat PSV the Scottish media will back it up.
— FreddieThrust85 (@FreddieThrust) September 26, 2023
— LeroyMcMuffin (@LeroyMcMuffin) September 26, 2023
