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Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson believes Steven Gerrard has put the building blocks in place to mount a serious and sustained challenge on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership next season, as reported by The Evening Times.
What's he said?
Thomson won league titles at Ibrox in 2009 and 2010 so knows the mentality and consistent quality needed to win the Scottish top-flight.
He's been impressed with what he's seen at the club over the last 12 months and thinks Gerrard's team are set to improve again next term.
The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed...
As quoted by The Evening Times, he said:
When Rangers have been at their best this season, they have looked like a proper Rangers team.
The word consistency is always there and the manager has said that himself.
He needs people he can rely on week in week out, that can give him 8/10 every week.
It is not fives and sixes every couple of weeks, because they lose you points and when you lose those points, ultimately you get to the end of the season and you don’t have any trophies.
He will know the bits that he wants to improve and it was always going to be small steps, even though that is difficult at a club like this. It does take time and I think we will be bang there next season and really putting pressure on for the league.
Ending Celtic's dominance
A lot will be said about Rangers' title chances over the next few months. There's a feeling that with the exit of Brendan Rodgers Celtic are weaker now than they have been for a number of years.
Thomson is up front with his bias, but there's reason for him to be optimistic considering the obvious improvement Gerrard has brought to Ibrox over the last year.
Yes, there were no trophies again, but a run in the UEFA Europa League, derby victories and finishing second were all notable improvements and have given Rangers fans a real confidence heading into the transfer window.
If they can recruit well before the end of August then a title challenge is a real possibility.
Neil Lennon's Celtic can't be complacent when it comes to considering the threat that the Ibrox side pose.