Predictable.
I can’t be disappointed in this squad when I expect absolutely nothing from it given that is lacking in so many areas. The harsh truth is this squad is miles away from Rangers standards of the past and it has so much baggage that unless the toughest of decisions are made, we will simply find ourselves back here next season.
As we got knocked out the Scottish cup SF last season by Celtic we told ourselves that Michael Beale needed his own squad and players, we also needed that much discussed squad revamp. We said the core group needed changed finally.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
A year on and it’s the exact same scenario and the same core remains with some additions collected throughout the years.
Philippe Clement has done extremely well with this squad, I remain clear on that because (as I said above) he’s got the absolute best out of a bad bunch. But the truth is if he doesn’t make the biggest decisions he’ll end up the same way as Gio and Beale before him.
Because this is what these players do.
Have a renaissance for a few months, get a result or two and then when it really matters they shit the bed all over the place. They done it to Gio, they done it to Beale and if you are paying really close attention they have done it to Clement already.
The points stats after the same number of games prove that but they are consistent to be fair, they never do it when it really matters, ever.
Before we continue Clement isn’t immune from criticism but he’s dealing with a shit show left before him, but if he doesn’t learn quickly then it’ll cost him too. His selections puzzle me but I can only hope he is doing what he can before getting to the end of the season and ripping the whole thing apart.
It’s about the only thing that will placate everyone in the support.
This Rangers squad is tired. The players have so much baggage that it’s impossible to believe there is no scar tissue with games like this.
Furthermore the fans have no faith in them at all, they are tired also, tired of the same old failures from the same old faces.
The Rangers I grew up with had standards, legends had to be winners and had to drive those standards. Our standards are so low now that stats get you into the hall of fame instead of doing what Rangers is truly being about and that is being successful.
It spoke volumes for me that James Tavernier was asked at the POTY awards what his favourite goal of the season was. I fully expected him to say the goal that won the League cup but instead it was the goal against Hibs that made him defensive top scorer in Britain. Moments like that make me think that this squad will just never ‘get it’.
I like Tavernier, he’s scored so many goals but the real truth is I’m sick of the failings and there is just too much baggage. That’s the same feelings I have for Goldson, Barisic, Lundstram and others. Every single one of them are tainted by big game failings. Capable of a few months of decent form but the rest of the season producing failure after failure.
I’m absolutely sick of it. Change is needed. Ditch them before they cost another manager his job.
But the squad is littered with those who aren’t good enough. There is some players to get something out of, maybe the likes of Yilmaz, Souttar, Sterling, Raskin, Diomande, Matondo, Danilo, Cortes, McCausland, all in front of a terrific number one in Jack Butland.
It’s not a lot but it’s a start but if we are really really honest a brutal clear out is needed with numbers of thirty coming in and going out is not unreasonable. The rest can go and I’ll not miss too many of them.
In fact, it’s a necessity. The continued cycle of failure has to stop.
This squad has no lives left and the boardroom will come under more scrutiny if we find ourselves here in another years time.
This board got it dreadfully wrong last summer and they have to hope Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement get it right this time, because we can’t afford it not to be.
If we are realistic and as worrying as it is, we might have to sell a Yilmaz or Butland to finance any summer revamp to the levels we need and that adds even more to the conundrum. But they will need to find a way to subsidise any transfer budget because Clement needs it.
We can’t afford to have many misses.
Clement got it wrong with his selection at Parkhead, I think he has been too loyal to players that have let him down. Everyone spoke of the necessity to match Celtic’s energy in midfield, he picked a midfield that was both slow but also immobile. It was a mistake we all saw coming.
That’s not a I told you so either, it’s a frustration.
A frustration we all felt watching the same players give the ball away leading to goals and the same players jogging back to toe poke into their own net before cowardly getting sent off. Playing once again when the pressure is off at two nil down.
Repeat, fade….
If we go to the Scottish Cup Final and select the same players then the result will be the same and people will really start to question the manager. Go to the final and be brave, Sterling, Raskin, Diomande midfield for example perhaps people will at least understand any failings because it’s not the same as always.
Clement has done enough for me to have trust in him but it’s not blind either. He’s loyal and gives a little away in the press, but if his comments about Lundstram and Goldson being here next season for example, then I worry.
I’m done with this squad, sometimes you have to be diplomatic on a blog or a podcast because people love to bring it up if things do go right but none of my opinions are new.
This squad isn’t Rangers class, individuals don’t have the mental strength and they continue to show it.
They will keep showing it unless change happens. Change has to happen otherwise days like yesterday will continue for the foreseeable.
That for Rangers Football Club is simply unacceptable. Hampden might be a farewell for this squad, it certainly should be regardless.
Make the changes.
Four Lads Had A Dream 