The former Spurs defender discusses Ange’s future, who should be the next Rangers manager, and praises Aston Villa’s recruitment.
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What’s your opinion on Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham?
It’s an interesting one. There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s not been good enough this season.
They’re sitting in 14th in the league. They’ve still got the Europa League that they’re going for, but just in terms of where they should be as a club, they should be sitting in a better situation.
So, the spotlight will be on him, and you could see at the Fulham game that some of the fans were jumping down his throat a little bit.
It’s not a subject I like talking about, but I understand how football works, so where they finish and their run to the end of the season will probably dictate whether he holds onto his job or not.
But if he was to go, the likes of Andoni Iraola and Thomas Frank have to be in contention. Xabi Alonso is one that would probably never happen, but he’s somebody who could come in and do a great job, as he’s shown at Bayer Leverkusen.
There are options out there, it’s just whether they can attract these sorts of guys, but first and foremost, Ange will want to hold onto his position beyond the current season.
Does Postecoglou need to win the Europa League to keep his job?
It would definitely help Postecoglou keep his job if Tottenham go and win the Europa League. It would be a huge tick in the box for him because the last time they won a trophy was in 2008; it’s not good enough with some of the teams they’ve had.
I think they’ve got an opportunity to go and do it. There are still some decent teams within the competition, but you look at their squad, and Postecoglou would probably fancy them to be able to go and do something.
I feel that what he said got taken out of context a little bit. He was talking about the fact that he has won trophies in his second season wherever he’s been as a factual statement.
But I think everybody kind of jumped on the bandwagon of Postecoglou saying that means he’s going to win something this season, which is a huge statement to make because we know Tottenham haven’t won something in such a long time.
So, I think that’s why everyone got on his back about it. He’ll know it’s not been good enough, he knows it has to be better. Injuries haven’t helped, but I think you can be a little bit smarter in terms of how you want your team to play.
They are too open at times, you can score against them, but I really like him. I’ve met him a few times, and I really like him, so I hope that he can turn things around.
If Tottenham had the option to swap Ange Postecoglou for Mauricio Pochettino tomorrow, should they do it?
Possibly. You always get people who say they’re never really too sure what to expect if you come back a second time.
I always think about Pochettino’s tenure and the fact that they got to the Champions League final. I just felt if they dipped into their pockets then and splashed out on a few experienced players to add to the squad they had, they could have really kicked on.
But they decided not to do that and went down a different avenue, so that was a bit of a shame. That being said, he probably feels that he’s still got a lot to give. He’s probably left that Spurs situation not how he would want to, so I think that could be something that could work moving forward.
However, I think every appointment is a risk, and it’s also a risk going back.
Could you see Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham in the summer?
Unfortunately, it happens to all footballers. As you begin to reach 32, 33, 34, you’re not quite the same. Your body doesn’t recover the same, and it becomes a little bit more difficult.
Looking in from the outside, he’s such a quality player, his bar has been set so high, and they heavily rely on the goals that he scores. And when you do reach your mid-thirties, you’re obviously going to have a drop-off at some stage.
So, yes, have him in the squad. He didn’t play against Fulham, but there’s going to be games where you still need him.
However, I think you also need to look to the future. Can they bring somebody in? Not necessarily to instantly replace him, but to lighten the load and help him out a little bit. I would imagine in the summer that they will be looking to strengthen the squad.
Who should be Rangers’ next permanent manager?
It’s probably the one time I’ve found it hard to pin somebody down. I know there’s been talk of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard going back, these types of big names who understand what it’s like to play at a club when there’s a lot of pressure.
But with the takeover happening, it’s difficult to put your finger on somebody because you have no clue what they’re going to want from a manager when they come in.
Are they going to want someone who is from overseas? Have they already got their eye on somebody? Are they going to want someone Scottish? It’s very difficult to tell at this moment.
What I would say is, Barry Ferguson is there at this moment in time, and he’s done well since he’s taken over the job, so he’s in charge of that position at this moment. And all he can do is his very best and see what happens come the end of it.
What does Barry Ferguson have to do to get the Rangers job permanently? Do you think he’d be a safer choice than Steven Gerrard?
Gerrard would possibly be the safer choice because he’s been there before, he knows what the club’s all about, he understands it, he’s won the league there as a manager. So, he knows what it takes week in, week out to hit those levels.
I feel, at the time, when he was manager, the squad was better, it was stronger than what it is in this moment in time. So, with the new owners coming in, they’re going to have to spend money to get the quality back up.
When you look at Barry Ferguson right now, he’s turned things around quickly. He’s put that pride back in the players, that winning mentality that you need to have as a Rangers player. I think for him to be in the conversation, he’ll have to have a really strong end to the season.
He’s done that, obviously, against Fenerbahce and Celtic, and there’s other big games coming up in the Europa League.
So, he needs to go as far as he can in that and have a strong end to the league campaign, and then I’d imagine he’ll have a sit down with the new owners and see where it takes him.
Is it time for Rangers to cash in on from James Tavernier, or will his presence be crucial for any new manager?
The time when Rangers could cash in and get millions back has gone. When you are 33, 34, your value drops because there’s no sell-on value there due to your age.
He has been an incredible servant; his goals, assists, and everything he brings as a captain to the team week in, week out has been to a high standard.
Because of that, I think Rangers will want to keep him. Not on a long-term deal thanks to the age situation, but for him to be there, someone who knows what it’s all about, the new management team coming in can lean on him.
You have to look to the future. I know Dujon Sterling is there, but you might need another right-back to come in, and Tavernier can help him. That transition can be good to have an older, wiser head in the changing room. That would be a good option.
What do the new Rangers owners need to do to close the gap on Celtic and end their domestic dominance?
The standard has to rise. I’m not trying to get at the players, but they need to be able to have that focus, that mentality to go out and churn out performances week in, week out, to have the mentality you need to go and compete with them (Celtic).
Celtic have been doing this for a long period of time. They’ve been selling players at the right time, bringing in a lot of money to the club and then reinvesting. It works really well, it’s something that’s going to take Rangers a number of years to get to, but ultimately, the standard has to go up.
The squad standard has to go up, and it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take time, so the new owners, whoever the new manager is going to be, everybody behind the scenes is going to have to get together.
Recruitment is going to be key, they have to get that right. If they don’t, then they’ll be struggling, but if they do, then they can compete.
What should Aston Villa prioritise more, finishing in the top four or seeing how far they can go in the Champions League?
From my point of view, I love the Champions League, but from Unai Emery’s point of view and the clubs, it’ll be to finish in the top four.
The Champions League is amazing and the fans love it. They love travelling all over Europe, and of course they’ll want them to progress, but I think the bread and butter is always the league.
If you can continuously grow the club year in, year out and finish in that top four, that’s what you’re striving for. That’s how you get the big players in as well, because you do have the Champions League coming off the back of that as well.
The Premier League will be the priority, but as a fan sitting here, I just love it all. I want them to do well in every competition.
Was January Villa’s greatest ever transfer window?
100 per cent. It just shows you where they’re at at this moment in time. Donyell Malen is brought in and gets left out of the European squad. Can you imagine how he must have been feeling during that conversation?
But, for a manager and a sporting director, it has to be key that they get on. If you’re in a situation where you don’t get on with the other person, how can you move forward? How can you move the club forward?
Unai Emery has worked with him (Monchi) before; they understand each other, they know what kind of player they’re looking for, and I think that always helps. You look at Sevilla and the teams they had there and what they did there together, you just have to look at the record to see how good they are.
Moving to Villa, I thought January was outstanding. The boys who have come in have pushed the club forward, and that’s probably what they needed.
We talked about the Champions League, and the spark you need upfront to beat teams. They’ve got PSG next, which is going to be difficult, and you’re going to need these guys.
Aston Villa have been linked with Tammy Abraham and Dusan Vlahovic ahead of the summer. Who would be the better striker signing?
Tammy knows the club, I was there with him. I know the club’s changed, and he’s changed as a player. I think he’s grown by moving abroad and playing in a big European team, I think it’s helped him mould into the player that he is today.
Would he want to come back? Possibly. I think if he were to see Aston Villa and what they’re doing at this moment in time, it’s something he’d be interested in.
And Dusan Vlahovic, we know he’s big, strong, physical, can score goals, and is currently playing for Juventus. So, again, he’s probably a guy who would fancy playing in the Premier League himself as well.
I don’t think they’ll be their only targets, though. I think they’ll have a number of people who they’re looking at, so it will be interesting because they do need to bring somebody in because there is a missing piece upfront.
Has Boubacar Kamara been the real unsung hero of Unai Emery’s side?
Yes, I think so, and I think there are a few of them. I think if you look at the likes of Ezri Konsa, who’s always fit, always plays. It doesn’t matter if it’s right-back or centre-back, he does a job anywhere. He just goes about his business quietly, and Boubacar Kamara does the same.
But I think he’s integral to what Aston Villa want to do. You think of him dropping off into those spaces, getting the ball off the defence, playing the ball forward. He’s that kind of security valve because Villa do like to put a lot of bodies forward, especially from wide, and he needs to be there to cover.
He does the dirty stuff, the hard stuff that maybe people don’t recognise as much as they do with the likes of (Marco) Asensio coming on, doing flicks and tricks and scoring goals, but you need these guys.
When he was out injured, he was a big miss. Youri Tielemans came in and did unbelievably well and has continued to do well, but Villa are at a moment in time when the squad is very strong, and I think that’s what you need to compete at the top end.
If Steve Clarke were to leave his role with Scotland, who do you think should replace him?
It’s an interesting one, I’ve thought about it before. He’s been there since 2019, and I must say, the job that he’s done has been incredible.
From where we’ve been for years, he’s actually grown a squad together, he’s put it together, he’s found a formation that works.
All the players are playing at a high level, they’ve done back-to-back Euros, and they’ve come on leaps and bounds, so a lot of plaudits have to go to him for that.
But I understand what he’s talking about, though. He’s saying he’s going to run his contract down, and he’s got the World Cup qualifiers coming up, and I think that will be a big tell about what he does.
If that goes really well, then of course he’s going to want to see out the World Cup and go and be a part of it, and he might step away from it after that thinking, ‘I’ve done my bit.’ If the qualifiers don’t go well, I would imagine 100% he would step away.
You look at people in Scottish football, like Derek McInnes, I think that’s something that he would fancy doing. I think that he would feel that he could take the squad on to the next level and be a part of something special.
That’s just my opinion; there’ll be other people out there, but I feel that someone like that could go in and do something.
David Moyes, he’s another guy who would’ve looked at that job for a number of years now and would’ve felt that he could go in and do something. He’s probably happy where he is at this moment in time, but you don’t know, you just don’t know what’s around the corner.
And I feel like Steve Clarke’s been amazing, he’s been there for a long period of time, and maybe he just thinks that it’s coming to the end. It’ll be interesting over the next 18 months or so.
Who do you think should be Steve Clarke’s starting striker for Scotland?
I think it’s up for grabs. You’ve even got Tommy Conway as well. I think it’s up for somebody to grab, and I think it’s been that way for a number of years.
Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams were the go-to guys for Steve Clarke over a number of campaigns, which is understandable given their experience.
But what I like now is that he’s now bringing through the Ben Doaks of the world, the James Wilsons, these younger boys that are going to be the next generation to get a feel for the squad and show them what it takes to be a regular within it.
I believe it’s up for anybody. There’s an opportunity there for anybody who wants to go and grab it. They’ve got a number of options who can put that shirt on and really go and thrive, and they’ve needed it for a while.
You’ve even got guys like Lawrence Shankland who aren’t even in the squad. Kevin Nisbet is another one who’ll fancy his chances.
Did Manchester United make a mistake by letting McTominay go in the summer?
Absolutely. I think they absolutely made a mistake when you look at where they are at this moment in time and what they’re going through. I don’t know what it was with Scott McTominay.
I don’t know if previous managers feel they couldn’t get the best out of him or what, but I’ve seen a lot of him for Scotland when he played in that higher position.
And I get it, Manchester United had options further up the pitch that maybe they thought were better, therefore, they allowed him to go.
I do understand, but it just shows you the type of guy that he is. The character, the mentality that he’s got, that he’s willing to go away and try something different, step out of his comfort zone and really thrive, which tells me that he really believes in himself.
So, I’m not surprised that McTominay has got another huge Italian club looking at him because he’s gone there, he’s thrived, he’s scored goals, he’s been integral to what they do, and he’s been excellent.
It’s really worked, so I think people at Manchester United will be looking and saying, ‘Hold on a second, we had that player within our club not that long ago that’s been outstanding.’ So, I think they’ve missed with that one.
What benefits will having Scots playing club football in Europe have on the Scottish game and national team?
It can only be a positive. To go somewhere that is outside your comfort zone, a different language, a different culture, all of that sort of thing, it makes you a better person, a better player. You’re understanding different leagues, what it takes to succeed there.
The likes of Lewis Ferguson, he now speaks fluent Italian now which is incredible after such a short period of time. I think them going over there and experiencing all of this, learning different ways under different managers, learning how to play the game.
Whether it be defensive, offensive, whatever it may be, to come back and then deliver that for the Scottish national team only makes you stronger and gives you more options.
And I think we’re seeing that at this moment in time, and it’s not just the players that are playing in the Premier League, it’s Serie A now with the guys going over there and coming back and playing at a high level.
If that continues, then Scotland will only get stronger, and it’ll only help us in the future.
What needs to be done to help make the Scottish Premiership more unpredictable?
Unfortunately, it would probably take a lot of investment, and that’s going to be difficult to come by. New investors are coming in and wanting to buy Rangers because they’re so big, they’re worldwide, they’re known, they play in European competitions.
It’s the same with Celtic. They have a huge following all over the world. Unfortunately, these other clubs aren’t the same.
So, for big investors to come in and splash the cash and spend money, it is very difficult. You’re not going to see it. Have they got the infrastructure to really grow and be huge? I don’t know is my honest opinion.
But what I would say is that outside the top two, the fight below that for the European spots and for third is very intense, it’s very strongly fought out.
I see it week in, week out, so there is a competitiveness between those teams from third all the way down. But I would love for four or five teams to be fighting it out every year for the top spot because everybody would enjoy that, that’s what you want to see, but unfortunately, that would be very difficult to happen.
Whether you make the league bigger, whether it’s 14 teams, 16, 18, whatever, the quality has to be there; that’s the problem.
If you’re joining the lower leagues, is there investment there? Can they go and compete against not even Rangers and Celtic, your Hearts, Hibs, Dundee United’s? The answer is probably not.
Maybe the top of The Championship, there’s not too big a gap, but when you start going down and adding more teams, I think it then dilutes the quality, which makes it even harder, and the gap will become even wider. It needs investment, and I just feel it’s going to be very difficult to do.
PSG’s fixture with Nantes has been rescheduled, does this give them an unfair advantage over Aston Villa?
I would love to see the Premier League help their teams out. I think it is an advantage.
You’ve got an opportunity there where you’re in the latter stages of the competition, you don’t have an extra game. Aston Villa play Southampton in between their games against PSG, but to have that time off to then go again would be beneficial.
Because you know how much it’s going to take out of you these two games. You’re talking about one of the best teams in Europe that you’re coming up against with an opportunity to get to the semi-finals, so any little advantage that you can have, even a one percent advantage, you’d want to take it.
France is a football nation. They want to give PSG the best opportunity to go and win it, so I totally understand it. It’s annoying from Aston Villa’s point of view because they don’t get that added advantage, so it would be nice.
It doesn’t have to happen in the earlier rounds, but when you start getting to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, surely there’d be somewhere along the line where they could fit that game in.