The Michael Beale and Steven Gerrard reunion gives Rangers fans the answers to 2 things they were all wondering
Michael Beale and Steven Gerrard are back together at Al-Ettifaq - and that gives Rangers fans the answer to one question from Ibrox past, and one for the future.
The former Ibrox coaching team reunited after Gerrard was stripped of his No.2 Dean Holden with former Gers sporting director Mark Allen also bulleted in a change to the structure at the Saudi club. Gerrard avoided the sack though and has drafted in Beale, who will be his right-hand man again for the first time after leaving Aston Villa for QPR.
There had been murmurs of a rift between the two but it appears to have been smoothed over now. It was the first topic of conversation on Wednesday night's Hotline LIVE as Daniel Caw put Beale's return to Keith Jackson and Andy Newport. After it was pointed out that Beale was back in work, Keith responded: "Not at Rangers, I hasten to add! You've just caused heart attacks."
In any case it appears the two are on good terms again, and that answers one question Rangers fans had wondered about since the two parted ways.
As for the other, does it kill any chance of the Gerrard to the fold that many fans had touted should Philippe Clement gets the sack? Our man Andy thinks it might just.
He said: "I think this might shut down all the rumours, suggestions and whispers of Steven Gerrard coming back to Ibrox. If they're now a package again, I can't see Michael Beale being welcomed through the doors at Edmiston Drive any time soon.
"It was a successful partnership at Rangers. That's where we got the notion that he was the tactical brains behind the operation, winning that league title in 2021. Gerrard was the front man, the motivator, and Beale was the master tactician.
"That was wiped out with his spell at Ibrox. Perhaps they've realised they're better together than apart. Like Clough and Taylor at Nottingham Forest, neither of them could crack it on their own so had to be the dream team together. Maybe it's come to that sort of conclusion."