Jermaine Defoe insists Rangers are improving under Steven Gerrard despite Gers being on course for EIGHTH season without trophy

Jermaine Defoe insists Rangers are improving under Steven Gerrard despite Gers being on course for EIGHTH season without trophy
Jermain Defoe has insisted Rangers are making progress under Steven Gerrard despite seeing their trophy hopes fade for another year.The Gers are set for an eighth straight season without a major piece of silverware after crashing out the Scottish Cup to Aberdeen.3

Defoe believes progress is being made with Rangers

Derek McInnes’ well-drilled Dons have been a thorn in the Light Blues’ side all season, having also ended their Betfred Cup bid.Rookie manager Gerrard arrived in May last year promising to make the Ibrox faithful happy, but with his side also eight points adrift of Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic, he now admits he will face scrutiny over his performance as boss.But Defoe has seen enough in the two months since he joined the club on loan from Bournemouth to leave him convinced that exciting times lie ahead. The 36-year-old said: “Fans are going to be frustrated, just like the players. This is a massive football club and when you’re playing for a big football club, there’s big demands.“You have to play well every game. The fans expect you to win, expect you to progress in these kinds of tournaments.“But, I think in the short space of time I’ve been here, watching other games on TV and stuff like that, I wouldn’t want to be in other dressing rooms.“I think if you look at the quality we’ve got in the dressing room, the international players we’ve got, it’s a time for the football club to be excited.“The fans should be excited.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are 10 live commentaries remaining across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and when you can hear them, below...

• Bayern Munich vs Liverpool (Wednesday)  talkSPORT
• Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa (Wednesday)  talkSPORT 2
• Dynamo Kyiv vs Chelsea (Thursday)  talkSPORT 2
• Watford vs Crystal Palace (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Sheffield United (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• West Ham vs Huddersfield (Saturday)  talkSPORT 2
• Swansea vs Manchester City (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Wolves vs Manchester United (Saturday)  talkSPORT
• Millwall vs Brighton (Sunday)  talkSPORT 2
• Fulham vs Liverpool (Sunday)  talkSPORT

“Yes, it’s a disappointment after the Aberdeen defeat, but I just think it can take time for things to build.“You can get the best players in the world and put them together. But it’s not going to become an unbelievable team overnight. Sometimes it takes time.“And you’ve seen that with the best teams and best players.“But if I was a Rangers fan, watching the games on the terraces with a season ticket, I’d definitely be excited. It’s a club and a team definitely going places.”The early signs of Gerrard’s reign looked so promising as he steered his side through four qualifying rounds to seal a place in the Europa League group stages.3

Gerrard’s side are second in the league

And while McInnes’ team have had the upper hand in cup competitions, Gerrard is on course to re-establish Rangers as the country’s second force having built up an eight-point lead over the third-placed Dons in the table.Defoe admits transforming Rangers into a side capable of lifting cups and titles will be a longer-term project.“Of course it’s a building process,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who the manager is. Obviously the manager is a winner. Look at his playing career and everything he’s won – he’s a winner.3

Defoe has scored five goals in eight league games for Rangers

“You can imagine how he feels after the Aberdeen defeat. He’s brave, he’s going to take it, take all the blame himself.“But, at the end of the day, you guys don’t see how hard everyone works behind the scenes. Not just the manager, but the staff and everyone.“It’s going to take time but I’m confident we’re definitely moving forward. It’s just a massive disappointment losing to Aberdeen.”

---

Sheffield United received a £3million loan from the family of terrorist chief Osama bin Laden, a court has heard. The startling revelation was made in the High Court in London during the case involving United's co-owners Kevin McCabe and Prince Abdullah, who are locked in a bitter fight for control of the Blades.
Court Hears Sheffield Utd Has Been Funded by the Bin Laden Family

---

Pep Guardiola apologises for Manchester City 'Allez, Allez, Allez' song about Liverpool fans, says it wasn't 'intention' to offend anyone.
Further Adventures In Starting vs. Relieving - Froodl Sports
sports.froodl.com/baseball/further-adventures-in-starting-vs-relieving/
Last week, I investigated the changing performance of starters relative to relievers. There's nothing too crazy about that — FanGraphs is a baseball analysis website, after all, and the starter/reliever divide is a rich topic for analysis.
Preview: Manchester United vs. Watford - Fussboll
fussboll.com/2019/03/28/preview-manchester-united-vs-watford/
Manchester United, the darlings of the Premier League since Solskjaer's arrival, suddenly have a lot to prove after back-to-back losses. Chalk up the Arsenal result as somewhat unlucky, but the Wolves defeat was poor from start to finish. Not even Paul Pogba's much-ballyhooed return to the captaincy saved the Reds from a dismal performance.
Premier League Results: Manchester City record 100 points

---

Leeds United 'Spygate' latest: EFL to continue investigations

---

Tottenham news: Dele Alli Premier League goals are vital to Spurs not losing Written by: fpnews Posted on: December 24, 2018 Dele Alli scoring for Tottenham in the Premier League is a good thing.
Tottenham news: I can't wait to score in new Spurs stadium

---

Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 on Saturday to win the Champions League and Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has admitted it was difficult watching Liverpool win the Champions League. However, McTominay did take pleasure from seeing his fellow Scotland international Andy Robertson impress against Tottenham in the Champions League final.
Scott McTominay: Manchester United midfielder is 'not the

---

According to reports this afternoon, West Ham United have agreed a fee with Chelsea and Inter Milan target Keita Baldé Diao, a fee believed to be in the region of €27.5 million, with a bonus making the deal set to rise to €32 million.
Inter Milan pull plug on permanent deal for West Ham target

---

It is eight years to the day that Newcastle United produced one of the best comebacks in Premier League history. They were 4-0 down at home to Arsenal, on February 5, 2011, and did not look like getting back into the match against the title hopefuls.
Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal: Eight years since Cheick Tiote

---

Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk dreams of Champions League

---

The Football Association (FA) has charged Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino with improper conduct after his argument with Mike Dean. Mauricio Pochettino has been charged with improper conduct by
Football: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino charged for improper

---

Liverpool told transfer target James Tarkowski will cost £50m as Reds look to fix defensive crisis. Odds slashed to just 8/11 for Liverpool star to beat Messi to Ballon d'Or
Liverpool told transfer target James Tarkowski will cost £50m

---

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is said to want assurances over a regular starting role in the future in order to commit to a new long-term contract with the club. The England international barely featured for the Blues in the Premier League during the opening half of the season and that trend
Chelsea 'to speak to Ruben Loftus-Cheek about new deal' this

---

Alex McLeish sacked RECAP: Scotland begin hunt for new boss as Big Eck is axed. The 60-year-old was relived of his duties on Thursday but the writing was on the wall after the disastrous 3-0

---

Dec 14, 2018 · The "strongest possible action" against any Chelsea F.C. supporters found to have joined an anti-Semitic chant in Budapest has been promised by club management, days after four fans were suspended for viciously abusing Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea attack 'brain-power' of own fans over anti-Semitic

---

Goal! Leeds United 3, West Bromwich Albion 0. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tyler Roberts following a fast break.
Championship Review: Leeds & Sheffield United both victorious

---