Stefan Borson: Following most recent Ibrox agreement, Rangers might land ‘£25m’

After the team failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, Rangers’s most recent commercial partnerships mostly focus on damage containment.

Expert Stefan Borson, who only informed Football Insider the Scottish giants should focus on increasing their income from European tournaments if they are to better their financial status.

With the arrangement thought to be worth a club-record £2million a year, Rangers announced on 2 September Elior has become the new food and beverage partner with immediate effect.

On September 18, the Glasgow side also stated that they had secured an agreement with the Kindred Group for the Unibet brand to remain as the front-of-shirt sponsor for the team going beyond this season.

Although Kindred’s current agreement is thought to be worth around £1.5million annually, it will change dramatically once the new terms start next season.

Depending on their performance on the field, Rangers might collect up to £3 million annually from the new jersey sponsor deal.

Rangers signings won’t close the Champions League divide.

But Borson maintained such transactions won’t help close the disparity on what they are losing out on after Philippe Clement’s team is scheduled to play in the Europa League instead of the Champions League this season.

He told Football Insider: “For Rangers against not being in the Champions League, it’s really all about damage limitation.”

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“They have to, if at least perform in the Europa League in a significant manner or into the Champions League.

“You only truly stand to profit from the Europa League if you reach the latter rounds like to the Champions League.

” Simply having the group stage will not produce anything close to what the Champions League produces.

Their difficulty is that one Can they build a squad on their financial basis that qualifies for the Champions League group stage? Everything else functions as damage limiting.

“Although the most they can accomplish on the commercial side is roughly £20–25million, it is clearly welcome news to maybe treble your commercial contract.

“They have to somehow focus on acquiring the money from the European side of affairs.”

‘Difficult’: Four Lads renders a decision on the King v. Park dispute amidst commotion in the Rangers backroom

Stevie Clifford of Four Lads believes that Douglas Park and Dave King should not fight each other in their quest to rule the Rangers.

On September 16, The Daily Record said that Park is anticipated to be against King becoming the club’s chairman once again.

King has reportedly expressed a strong desire to return to Ibrox and has encouraged supporters to decide, not the board.

On September 20, Clifford said in the Rangers Review, “I felt conflicted about King’s remarks this week and his desire to return as chairman. A part of you wants to say, “Give him it, let him sort it out,” because what he said makes sense. However, there are a lot of things I would want to address about King’s choices and his departure.

That in no way makes me anti-board or even anti-King. However, I believe it’s also accurate to state that there have been several incidents that have led supporters to doubt the numerous choices that have placed the team in a difficult situation. A public King vs. Park feud is what I oppose. This team desperately needs consistency and leadership from the people who make important off-field selections.

“Those in control must ‘Park’ their egos and put the club’s needs first in order for the supporters to support this squad and manager and concentrate their efforts on winning games. We must make these crucial judgments correctly.

Rangers supporters are free to express their thoughts on these choices.

Because past performances have shown that choices taken without fan input often result in instability and unfavorable consequences, it is only fair that fans of the Green Bay Packers have a say in the club’s management.

In addition to fostering discontent, there is a good chance that the gap between the boardroom and the fans has exacerbated the team’s problems both on and off the field.

As the heartbeat of any team, fans provide a unique viewpoint that blends enthusiasm with a deep knowledge of what has succeeded and failed for Rangers in the past.

Including supporters in the decision-making process increases the chance that the choices made will align with the club’s values and history, which might result in improved hiring practices, transfer plans, and general club administration.

Fans who are more involved have a better feeling of ownership and responsibility, which may translate into more support and a positive environment during games—two things that are essential for success.

Rangers fans cannot see their team at home for the time being

King is trying to capitalize on this very emotion in the hopes of regaining his position of authority at Ibrox.

Ferguson: The impending Rangers development will make John Gilligan “delighted”

Barry Ferguson thinks John Gilligan will be thrilled to play his first game at Ibrox as Rangers interim chairman.

Following John Bennett’s resignation from his position due to health concerns, the 72-year-old took over [Rangers.co.uk].

Ferguson, writing on September 19, for the Daily Record’s print edition (page 47), believes the interim manager will be pleased that his first game in charge is a return to Ibrox against Dundee.

“John Bennett has taken so much of a toll that he had to step down in order to focus on his own health,” the speaker stated.

“John Gilligan will be happy that his first home game falls on the big reopening of Ibrox,” said the interim manager.

John Gilligan is prepared for his first Rangers match at Ibrox as manager.

With Bennett’s tenure as the team’s manager, the Light Blues fan base was quickly losing patience.

The Gers’ home games this season have been played at Hampden Park due to the Ibrox redevelopment debacle. The fan base has also voiced concerns about poor recruitment and the lack of a sustainable transfer model.

The Gers’ poor performance on the field, coupled with their humiliating loss in the season’s first Old Firm derby, has increased pressure on Philippe Clement. The team has also failed to qualify for the Champions League proper.

The Belgian is hoping to continue his winning ways after the Gers’ stunning 1-0 victory over Dundee United just over two weeks ago helped them recover from the devastating loss to Celtic at Parkhead.

Daily Record, page 47, 19 Sep

As the season progresses, it is hoped that the Light Blues players and supporters will find encouragement in coming back to Ibrox.

Fans will also be looking to Gilligan, who replaced Bennett, to perform well in the interim.

The unsettling position regarding Philippe Clement’s Rangers future as a litmus test for Steven Gerrard is “reality” for the new chairman

John Bennett’s resignation means that the Belgian has lost a vital Ibrox ally.

Concerned Amidst yet another significant reorganisation at the Rangers, Michael Stewart says he “fears” for Philippe Clement and his future with the team.

The club has not yet appointed a permanent chairman to replace James Bisgrove, who departed for the Saudi Pro League earlier this year, and instead has appointed John Gilligan. Former board chairman Dave King had declared his intention to lead the Rangers once more, but according to Record Sport, the Ibrox directors are expected to turn down the businessman’s offer from South Africa.

Bennett has been a vocal supporter of Belgian manager Clement and his intentions to restructure the team to align with the club’s updated player-trading model. However, given the Light Blues’ inability to perform at their best thus far in the Scottish Premiership, questions are being raised about the support. Before Dundee United’s victory over them last weekend, tensions had reached a breaking point as supporters confronted Clement on the Ibrox steps following Celtic’s defeat.

Although Stewart believes that “real pressure” is mounting on the manager early in the season, he also maintains that the club’s upper management must support the man in the dugout, just as the Rangers’ upper management did with Steven Gerrard. “They started the game brightly (against Dundee United), but I think over the course of the full 90 minutes there is anybody who comes out of it thinking it’s a stellar performance – but it’s a win,” the former Hearts and Hibs midfielder said to The Scottish Football Social Club.

It offers them a foundation upon which to grow. But what exactly do Rangers do here in practice? I feel sorry for the manager. There’s a lot of pressure building, of course, and a lot of it comes from the supporters.

When the pressure gets too great, does the board give in, fire the manager, and start over from scratch? Or will they come to terms with the fact that they need to give someone some space and understanding?

“Steven Gerrard was able to win the title in the end because they gave him time. Rangers are in a challenging position right now. When the Champions League money is taken into account, Celtic’s turnover is significantly lower. How do you close that difference?

The last thing I would think would be wise would be to try to find a new manager on top of having to replace a squad, a board, and executives. Although he is currently facing a lot of serious questions, I am aware that he has limited options.

Rangers’ player ratings against Dundee United: “Lively” Lawrence gets 8/10, and Igamane shines in a lacklustre win

Rangers returned to domestic play on Sunday afternoon with a tough trip to Tannadice to play Dundee United.

Rangers beat Dundee United 1-0 at sunny Tannadice to move ahead of them in third place in the Scottish Premiership. Dundee United had gone eight games without losing before this match.

Philippe Clement’s team moved back within five points of Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the table thanks to Tom Lawrence’s early goal in Tayside. It was enough for them to get over their loss to the Old Firm last time out.

After only seven minutes, the Wales international grabbed Cyriel Dessers’ clever flick and then used some fancy footwork to cut open the Tangerines’ defence and lift the ball over custodian Jack Walton, who was moving towards the play.

United didn’t really pose much of an offensive threat, and Jim Goodwin’s team couldn’t really test the visiting custodian Jack Butland. As Rangers sat back, Macedonian winger Kristijan Trapanovski missed the home team’s best chance early in the second half. He cut inside and curled a shot from far away that went wide of the goal.

But it looked like the Light Blues were more likely to add to their small lead, with Lawrence showing off his skills more than once. The attacking midfielder curled a shot from just inside the box just over the crossbar. In the dying seconds, Walton made a great save with his fingertips.

The Ibrox club got three points that they really needed in a game that many people thought they had to win, even though it’s still early in the season.

We gave the Rangers players at Tannadice the following grades.

I give Jack Butland a 6/10.

First 45 minutes, I had nothing to do. The second half, however, was a little busier. Had a scary moment when he almost passed the ball straight to Sibbald, but other than that, he wasn’t really tested. It’s his third clean sheet of the season. | SNS Group

2. 6/10 for James Tavernier

That’s more like it from the captain, who has been criticised a lot since Celtic lost. Moved the ball forward well and did a good job of playing defence. | SNS Group

3. 7/10 for John Souttar

A convincing show when he went back to Tannadice. Looked very sure of himself against Van Der Sande and took care of any threats United made.

4. Robin Propper: 6/10

Hasn’t looked very good in his first two starts, but it’s clear that he’s getting more playing time than Balogun right now, and this was a good shift, even though he wasn’t really tested.| SNS Group

5. Trump – 6/10

So far, has looked pretty good, and another steady performance should do the trick. Early delivery was flashed across the goal face, but no one took it.| SNS Group

6. 7/10 for Connor Barron

There is a key in the middle of the park. Spread the passes around and was glad to do a lot of dirty work for the team. Great pass to Lawrence inside the penalty area. His first-time shot was blocked. | SNS Group

7. Mohamed Diomande: 6/10

He feels more at ease sitting deeper than as a number ten. Held on to the ball well and was solid, but not amazing. Subbed. | SNS Group

8. Kerran Dowell got a 4/10

Given a rare start by replacing Cerny, who couldn’t play because he was sick. Hit the custodian in the palms of his hands, but Trapanovski was able to cut inside too easily, giving United their best chance of the second half. He’s pretty much disappeared from the game, and it’s hard to see what he brings to the party. Subbed. | SNS Group

9. Tom Lawrence: 8/10

showed a lot of skill and calmness by dribbling the ball around a defender and over the goalie to score the game’s only goal. Hit the goal early in the second half, but Walton was ready for it. Curled a shot just a few inches over the bar, and then Walton had to make another late save. Could have scored three goals. | SNS Group

10. Oscar Cortes earned a 6/10

The Colombian winger had a good chance in the first half as he made his first start since the first-day tie with Hearts. Subbed off at halftime; maybe Clement made this choice for tactical reasons?| SNS Group

11. Cyriel Dessers: 5/10

Good touch to set up Lawrence’s early goal. Had two good chances on goal, but again took too many touches. After the break, there was no effect, and they looked very tired. Subbed. | SNS Group

12. Nedim Bajrami (SUB) – 3/10

Replaced Cortes and made his debut during the break. He needed some time to get his bearings. Will try to build on this 45-minute bow.| SNS Group

13. Hamza Igamane (SUB): 7/10

When he came on for Dessers after 65 minutes, it made a big difference. Freed Lawrence, which gave them a late chance and made another dangerous opening. Not even an inch away from scoring his first goal. It looked great.| SNS Group

Daniel Raskin (SUB) – 3/10

He came on for Diomande after 73 minutes to help protect the back four more as United tried to make a run at the game.| SNS Group

15. Dujon Sterling (SUB): 3/10

As part of a double change, on for the ineffective Dowell. Strong enough. | SNS Group

Rangers’ “lies” on the BBC cause Motherwell ban to be hit upon Richard Foster

Following his Rangers outburst during the victory over St Johnstone, Richard Foster has been banned six games STV reports.

Following a disciplinary hearing on September 12, the Motherwell coach has been directed to miss four games straight, with another two suspended, according the website of the outlet on September 13.

Former Gers player Foster responded to criticism around Cyriel Dessers’s goal on August 17 in his capacity as a BBC pundit to a Scottish FA explanation on referee Matthew MacDermid maybe signalling for a free-kick before the ball was kicked in the net.

Saying “Lies!” he said This is a lie. Unless he puts the whistle to his mouth for no other purpose.

Later, Foster apologised for the remarks; but, as a club member, she brought a disciplinary charge.

Cyriel Dessers scored for Rangers against St Johnstone.

Although Referees chief Willie Collum criticised MacDermid’s “body language” in his analysis of VAR rulings for the Scottish FA’s YouTube channel on September 11, he supported the right decision to award the goal.

When it comes to body language in Rangers games, Collum himself has historically attracted criticism.

The official had infuriated Craig Levein and his players who insisted he had signalled for a foul before the goal was scored, with allegations subsequently made by Michael Stewart (19 August) suggesting two whistles had occurred.

From MacDermid, he seemed to be trying to suppress his immediate response, by which point it was too late not to create controversy either way.

If Foster labelled the official explanation as “lies,” he would inevitably find himself in hot water—rightly or wrongly.

Whether the error is minor or significant, governing authorities never allow any deliberate suggestion of anything to officiating mistakes.

“Shouldn’t have implied that there was anything going on with the SFA statement,” he finally admitted, “more as a fan rather than a pundit.” [STV, 13 September].

Willie Collum talks about “insulting” Celtic and Rangers ref plots as he reveals what needs to be said

The head of referees for the SFA went on the air after VAR audio from several Premiership games was made public.

PositiveWillie Collum says it’s INSULTING for referees to have their honesty called into question because of who they might support.

“Comments in the west of Scotland towards one club of the other” have been “barraged” by cynics, according to the head of referees for the SFA. This comes as conspiracy theories start to spread among Celtic and Rangers fans. After releasing VAR audio from a number of controversial moments in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday afternoon, the refereeing boss took a number of questions on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard. One question about whether the men in the middle should say who they support before taking charge of a game made him give a very passionate answer.

Collum replied, “First, the referees need to say that they have an interest.” A few years ago, we had a great assistant coach whose son played for a senior club. Even though he was only playing for an under-19 club, he said that was something he was interested in. Also, if the referee works for a company that sponsors a certain team, we would expect them to say that they have an interest in those things.

“Where do we draw the line when it comes to roots for a team or a relationship with a family member?” Let’s get people interested in becoming referees by telling them they can work the biggest games. That would be blocked, and I keep asking, “Where do you draw the line?”

“I want to be honest with people: when you are a referee at the highest level of the game, you love it and want to do well. If someone’s third cousin had a connection somewhere or a season ticket to support someone, I would say that.” As a kid, refereeing took me to places I never thought I’d see. I don’t want to put that at risk by saying, “I want this team to win or change this.” I want people to trust me that it’s not true.

A lot of people in the west of Scotland say mean things about one club or another, but that’s not true. People make real choices and mistakes, and we are all honest.

“Things would go wrong if the referees weren’t honest.” We should get away from that now that it’s 2024. I’d like people to change that story. Let’s support the referees instead of trying to find fault because someone is connected to that or that. It took them a long time to get to where they are now as top referees. They want to stay where they are when they get there.

Collum was asked how referees feel about claims that they are biassed against Rangers or Celtic. He said, “I think it is insulting because it calls people’s honesty into question.” Honesty is always the most important thing for referees. People also say that a referee comes from this place or that place and has a background, which I already said I don’t care about any of these things. The SFA judges referees based on how good they are at their jobs.

Chief of Scottish FA referees acknowledges two incorrect decisions in initial VAR review

Willie Collum questioned the referee’s body language before Rangers’ winner against St Johnstone in the League Cup; he also felt Celtic should have received a penalty against Kilmarnock and Dundee United should have had a spot-kick against Dundee.

Following his early-season VAR assessment, head of referees for the Scottish Football Association Willie Collum feels Celtic and Dundee United ought to have received penalties.

Collum also criticised referee Matthew MacDermid’s body language prior to Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scoring against St Johnstone at Hampden Park last month in their Premier Sports Cup triumph.

Former referee Collum, who oversaw Scotland’s officials this summer, clarified some major decisions from the first four weeks of the season in ‘The VAR Review,’ a fresh monthly show on the SFA’s YouTube channel.

He went over the contentious incident at Celtic Park whereby Hoops striker Kyogo Furuhashi touched the ball past Robby McCrorie before running into the Kilmarnock custodian.

VAR officials and referee Don Robertson came to the conclusion that “the custodian just makes himself big”. Collum said: “We believe this was the wrong decision”. We have guided the VARs indicating where a penalty kick ought to have been given and the officials.

Image:Collum says McCrorie’s actions were “reckless” after Kyogo knocked the ball past him

“The way the ball is chipped marks an unexpected free-kick. It surprises the on-field referee and makes it quite challenging for the referee to locate an angle round that wall to obtain a good view.

“We then believe the goalkeeper’s actions to be reckless since the Celtic player obviously gets ahead and strikes the ball past him. Demand an off-field review, and ask the referee to visit the monitor.”

Collum also underlined the incident whereby referee David Dickinson turned down Dundee United claims for a spot-kick following the ball striking Dundee defender Luke Graham’s arm.

Image:Referee David Dickinson did not award Dundee United a penalty in the derby against Dundee

Collum added, “This was a missed handball.” “The ball starts its journey from a corner kick from distance.

“The Dundee player is not jostling with an opponent and his arm is in an unnatural position when he jumps.”

Collum also cleared a controversial Rangers goal against St Johnstone when Dessers netted following the dispossession of Saints defender Jack Sanders.

Craig Levein, the manager, and some of the players said their defenders had been preoccupied with MacDermid’s signals for a Saints free-kick.

Collum turned on an audio tape verifying the official had not blown his whistle prior to the goal being scored.

Image:St Johnstone claimed the whistle was blown before Rangers scored in their League Cup match but a review of audio proved that was not the case

Image: St Johnstone claimed the whistle was blown before Rangers scored in their League Cup game, but an audio analysis turned out otherwise.

“Here, the referee most certainly doesn’t show good body language,” Collum remarked. “His body language upon the challenge is slanted towards a free-kick.

“But he rightly delays the whistle, he correctly communicates so the VAR is aware of what he intends doing if a goal is scored and, when the ball strikes the net, he then blows his whistle for what he believes to be a defensive free-kick.

“VAR finds the Rangers player hasn’t committed a foul, hence they advise an on-field review.

“Apart from the body language, the right process was followed and finally the correct decision was reached.”

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“I’d be very worried,” Chris Sutton questions Philippe Clement’s story about the Rangers

Chris Sutton thinks that Rangers fans should be worried about the way their team is going after Celtic beat them 3-0.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement tried to make the loss look better than it really was, but Celtic, who have dominated Scottish football for the past ten years, are still ahead of their Glasgow rivals.

It was clear at Celtic Park on Sunday when the Hoops dominated Rangers. They were so good that they went into the international break leading the Scottish Premiership, one goal ahead of Aberdeen.

On BBC 5 Live’s 606, Sutton talked about the latest derby match and the Rangers’ chances of a close title race this season. He said, “Aberdeen are off to a flyer.” I don’t think Aberdeen could keep up this level of intensity, but I have to say that Rangers were so far below it today.

“If I’m a Rangers fan, I’m stressed out.”

“Taking into account that Celtic sold their best player, Matt O’Riley, they’ve now added other players during the window. But they were a long way off.

Are you a Rangers fan? If so, you think your team has no chance.

“Philippe Clement told us that things will get better in October or November.” But will he get that long?

“Some people made fun of him on the way back to Ibrox on the bus.” There are some Rangers fans around who were not happy with the bears.

In 90 minutes, Brendan Rodgers will break Celtic’s 23-year losing streak. The cult hero says a new era of Champions League play is on the way

When they play Slovan Bratislava to start their season, the Parkhead men want to erase a bad event from history.

Fans of Celtic hoped for the best but were ready for the worst. It might have been best if no one knew what was going on at the new Champions League draw.

But when Cristiano Ronaldo pressed the “big AI” button, UEFA’s “Skynet” supercomputer made the schedule, which made basketball fans happy. Almost hopeful. Another one was on the way when Parkhead chiefs announced the pretty reasonable packages for the four home games. Fans found out they wouldn’t have to sell their family jewels to get in after all.

All of this made people think that this might finally be the year that Celtic does something in Europe’s top competition. Yes, trips to Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, and Aston Villa are tough, and the game against Dinamo Zagreb before Christmas won’t be easy. But Celtic might not have to worry about them when they think about who they need to deal with at home.

Slovan Bratislava will be the first team to play next week. After them, Club Brugge, Young Boys Bern, and RB Leipzig will all have games in Glasgow. Things could have gone worse. A lot worse. Big teams like PSG, Man City, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and many more could have been sent to Scotland. That’s why basketball fans bought tickets right away and are very excited about the game. However, some bettors might want to hold off. This is the Champions League. It may have a nice driveway, but once you get inside, it can be a real pain.

Celts will have to do something they’ve never done before in order to get off to a great start in Bratislava. Win the first game of the Champions League. In 12 seasons, the Hoops have yet to start with a win; they have lost 10 of them. Even one of the draws, against Aalborg at home, meant that Celts had to play catch up.

It makes sense that some men who have played in this arena have warned people to be careful.Gaios Samaras played for Celtic in the last team to make it out of the Champions League group stage. That team, led by Neil Lennon, famously beat Barcelona on their way to the round of 16. But the big Greek striker knows how rough this place can be, and he told Celts they can’t take anything for granted, even though the draw looks good in this new field.

Georgios Samaras

“I really believe in the team,” Samaras said. “But we need to see and understand how the new Champions League works.” We’ve been told about it, but we need to see it for ourselves to really understand how it works. I’m sure Celtic is a good team, and it has been for a few years now. Brendan Rodgers is also a good manager. But I think we should wait and see. There are games on the schedule that look like they should be easy.

“There are eight games.” You play teams away from home and teams where you should be better than them. But I think the new Champions League will be a little tricky, so we need to be careful and wait and see.

Even though Samaras is being careful, Celtic fans can still dream. They’ve been waiting a long time to win the Champions League, and Rodgers seems to have put together a team that is as strong as they can be at this point.

The basketball fan favourite said, “The fans are always excited, but in the end, it depends on how the team is playing and how the players are doing.” It doesn’t matter how much you spend on someone; it matters how well they play on the pitch. That’s something that the manager should add to the system and the games. It doesn’t mean anything to spend money, okay? In the past, we’ve seen clubs spend a lot of money on nothing. Putting together the right team with the right players and using the right strategy is what the manager does. This season, let’s see what happens.

Samaras and the class of 2012/13 made history, but the big Greek thinks football has changed again in the last ten years, with the big clubs imposing their power even more on the league. But Celtic has played in this tough field for a few years now, and the manager has experience from last season and his first time at the club.

Rodgers will need all of it. The Irish manager has his team on fire so far this season, and they’ll be looking for another great game against Hearts this weekend to take into the big party in Bratislava. Samaras said, “Brendan has been to the Champions League before when he was at the club, so it’s not a new experience for him to be there as manager of Celtic.”

It bothers me when people compare different times, like what we did in the past to what they do now. You can’t compare football from two different decades because it’s so different. But I have faith in the players and the manager that they can do well in Europe. It’s from last year. Brendan is very clear on how he wants to play. The only thing that has changed is how the club and team will replace Matt O’Riley’s goals and assists from midfield. Other than that, the rest of the team is mostly the same. A few players have left and come back, but the club and team are stable.

That means there shouldn’t be any bad surprises next week.

Trouble on the first night of the Champions League

In 2001–02, Juventus beat Celtic 3-2.

2003–04 Bayern Munich beats Celtic 2-1

2004–05 Celtic 1-3 Barcelona

2006–07: Manchester United beat Celtic 3-2

Celtic beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 in 2007/08.

Celtic tied Aalborg 0-0 in 2008–09.

Celtic 0–0 Benfica in 2012–13

AC Milan beat Celtic 2-0 in 2012/14

2016–17 Barcelona 7–0

2017–18: Celtic 0–5 PSG

2022–23 Celtic 0–3 Real Madrid

2023–24 Feyenoord beat Celtic 2-0.

“Deeply concerned,” Ally McCoist says live on air as new details about the Rangers takeover come in

People in the United States are not interested in buying the Rangers, according to Dave King, who Ally McCoist believes.

After hearing on Tuesday (August 27) that some Ibrox shareholders wanted to sell their shares, this happens. The club is worth about £150 million [City A.M.].

King, who owns 14.12% of the club’s shares and is one of its biggest supporters, has already responded to the rumours, saying that they aren’t true [The Rangers Review].

McCoist said live on talkSPORT on August 28, at 6:44 a.m.: “I don’t know but something’s got to be done.” It’s hard for me to say whether it’s good or bad because I don’t know anything about the possible American investors.

“But since Dave King is adamant that there is no truth, I’ll have to take him at his word and say there is obviously no interest—or maybe not so much “no interest,” but right now it doesn’t look like there’s a deal to be made.”

“But Al, I tell you what, I told Jeff Stelling last week: I’m just very worried about what’s happened.” A lot of people seem to need to leave before they can spend any money to bring anyone in. There are a lot of worried Rangers fans out there, including me.

Rangers say no to news of an American takeover

At the moment, things are not going well for the Gers. Philippe Clement will not like any more problems off the pitch or behind the scenes, especially after the Ibrox redevelopment mess.

Going up against Celtic in the first game of the new season is already putting pressure on the manager, but things that aren’t related to football have now come back into the spotlight.

Fans may have been excited about the idea of a takeover at Ibrox, especially if new money came into the club. However, the former chairman has already dashed those hopes.

But even though things got better under Clement, John Bennett will have a hard time getting the Gers back to winning the Scottish Premiership. They already lost in the qualifying round for the Champions League.

A lot of that is because Clement and Nils Koppen have had to work with a very small budget and not put much into the team. This is why so many fans are worried about the team’s condition.

There is a big chance that new investors will make Ibrox better, but there is also a big risk that comes with a takeover.

James Tavernier is confronted by an angry Rangers fan while the captain goes on an X-rated rant

A furious punter yelled at Tavernier and the rest of his Ibrox teammates.

As James Tavernier was being led away by Ibrox security, a livid Rangers fan yelled at him and told the captain to “f*** off.”

Rangers lost badly to Celtic at Parkhead, and Tavernier was captain when they lost. They are now five points behind Celtic after only four games in the league season. The Premiership champions won 3-0, and after the game, Rangers went back to Ibrox for a meeting.

Some people on social media, including manager Philippe Clement and defender Leon Balogun, were seen trying to calm down angry fans. But a new video clip that is being shared by many X accounts shows someone yelling at Tavernier.

pic.twitter.com/ofQdtIGZLW

— Olly (@ClassAOlly19) September 1, 2024

The fan calls the show “embarrassing” and asks, “Where’s Tav?” as the other players leave the stadium. When the captain comes out, the angry fan calls him a “loser” and tells him to “do us a favour and f*** off.” The captain is seen reacting briefly to the rant before he and the rest of his teammates are led out of the shot.

After Celtic lost the Old Firm, Moussa Dembele made fun of Rangers badly, calling them a “waste of time”

After Celtic lost 3-0 to Rangers in the Old Firm derby on September 1, Moussa Dembele made fun of them.

The Gers didn’t put up much of a fight at Celtic Park. Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Callum McGregor scored goals to seal a resounding win for Brendan Rodgers’ team.

Dembele scored seven goals and set up four others in 10 games against Rangers during his three-year stay in Glasgow. After the game on September 1, he couldn’t help but delete his X account.

“Why do we still play them?” he asked. Waste of time—but I like seeing them crash over and over again.”

After losing to Celtic in the Old Firm, Rangers have a lot of work to do to catch up.

Ten new players joined the Light Blues over the summer, and ten players left. The two Glaswegian teams couldn’t be more different in terms of skill.

It’s no longer possible for anyone to catch Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. The Hoops beat their rivals easily and routinely.

According to Sky Sports, James Tavernier played awfully at right back. The captain should feel lucky that he was allowed to stay on the field for the whole game.

Rangers will have to start over under Philippe Clement because they lost to Celtic. This is a terrible setback for a club that needs the money from the Champions League to get back on track financially.

Why are we still playing them…??🙄😂 Waste of time 😂😂 But enjoying to see them crash again and again 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/uSQ6n5XTCV

— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) September 1, 2024

This season, it looks like the Hoops will easily win the SPFL title again. The Light Blues were booed off the pitch at Celtic Park, and that could become a theme in this year’s Old Firm games.

Ranger’s team doesn’t look like it can compete for the title right now, and the summer transfer window closed just two days ago. They will need to strengthen in the winter transfer window.

When Clement extended his contract with the club, he knew how much work was ahead of him. But the embarrassing loss on Sunday is a harsh reminder of how much work needs to be done at the Gers.

Kris Boyd calls the Rangers team’s performance against the Old Firm “embarrassing”

Kris Boyd was very harsh on the Rangers team, saying that none of them could even come close to beating Celtic.

The former Gers striker gave his opinion after Philippe Clement’s team lost the first Old Firm match of the season 3-0 at Celtic Park.

Now, the Light Blues have to take a break during the international break to heal before they play Dundee United again.

At the end of the loss on September 1, Boyd told Sky Sports host Eilidh Barbour, “That was embarrassing.” How many Rangers players are on that Celtic team? Not at all. There is none, and that’s where you want to be.

“They wouldn’t even come close to it.” Rangers hope things happen, but Celtic make them happen.

“That was embarrassing. It’s about time people got smart and realised this isn’t going anywhere fast.”

Rangers are a long way from Celtic.

Boyd gave a very harsh review, and this is coming from a man who strongly supports the blue camp.

People like Chris Sutton and John Hartson, who used to play for Celtic, have strong opinions on the subject, which backs up what most people already think about how far away Rangers are right now.

The game’s statistics make it look much more even: both teams had four shots on goal, with Celtic having 14 and the Gers having 13.

But that’s just another case of when your own two eyes are better than the numbers. Clement and his team know they were second best in every way, that their defence was constantly being broken, and that they were lucky to only come home with three points.

Clement and Nils Koppen will still be angry that they think the club was too slow to get rid of troublesome or unnecessary players during the transfer window, which gave them less time to bring in all the reinforcements they thought they needed.

The break of two weeks will give everyone a chance to get back on track, but it’s clear that the only way for the Gers to win a trophy this season is to win a cup.

Todd Cantwell says the club is different from the one he signed for and disputes that he threw his towel in at Rangers

Following his bargain £600k move to Blackburn, the midfield player has headed straight for social media to respond to his detractors.

agitatedTodd Cantwell insists he never turned down the opportunity to play for the Ibrox team and that he signed with a different Rangers team than the one he is currently with.

Following his cut-price £600k move to Blackburn Rovers, the midfield player has rushed to social media to respond to his snipers and heap praise on Rangers supporters.After a preseason loss to Birmingham, Philippe Clement returned to a packed press room and declared that Cantwell wanted out of Ibrox. The playmaker, though, is certain he would have worn the light blue again.

“It’s been an honour to play for this incredible football club; some of the staff behind the scenes are the hardest of workers but also incredible people,” Cantwell insisted in an Instagram post. I have had a great time playing in the renowned blue and have given it my all each and every time. It was never my decision to say that I didn’t want to play for the club, and I never would. My family and I have always been Rangers. The Rangers I signed with are not the same as the ones I’m leaving. Mon the Germans.”

“God forbid,” says a pundit in response to Rangers’ news about a striker who won’t leave the club

Derek Ferguson says it’s a worry that Rangers won’t sign another striker before the transfer window closes because Cyriel Dessers is now the team’s main player.

Luca Bendoni told X on August 20 that Atlanta United was close to making a £4.5 million deal for the Nigerian international, but they were unable to come to an agreement with him.

And Chris Jack wrote on The Rangers Review’s website on August 27 that since the MLS deal didn’t go through, a new number nine isn’t likely to arrive before the deadline.

Ferguson is glad the Dessers deal didn’t go through because the Gers have no other options with Danilo being half-fit and Hamza Igamane not having been seen yet. But he is worried that another player won’t be signed.

He only told Ibrox News this: “For a club the size of Rangers, and if you want to compete with Celtic, you need players to step up and play.”

“Right now, nobody is challenging Dessers, which is why you should praise his attitude: he’s been criticised and abused so much that he could just snap out of it and get another club.”

“But he wouldn’t leave last week, so we’re just grateful that he’s scoring goals right now.” Please don’t hurt him, because we’re going to have a hard time, and I don’t see anyone on the B Team either.

“That worries me.” We need something to cover our heads. There are many places where we need cover. But the way Clement plays football makes me worry about what would happen if he got hurt or quit the club.

Cyriel Dessers is the top Rangers striker and turned down a move to Atlanta United

Philippe Clement relies on Cyriel Dessers a lot at Rangers

This late in the window, Rangers are stuck because Dessers is both the only striker they can realistically sell and the player they depend on in that position.

The former Cremonese forward got off to a rough start in Glasgow but scored 22 goals last season while everyone else was hurt or out of form. He has already scored five more goals this season because there are no other options.

For that, he deserves praise, and despite his flaws, the team’s hopes for the future rest on his shoulders. However, with rumours of transfers for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland [Daily Record, 2 August] and now-Sparta Prague striker Albion Rrahmani [Football Scotland, 17 June], it was long thought that a new number one would come along.

It was risky to spend money on a project like Igamane earlier in the summer, but it will have to pay off in the end.

Fans may have liked another centre forward to have been brought in instead of Sam Lammers, even though Vaclav Cerny has done well on loan from Wolfsburg so far.

Chris Jack moots Rangers player exit, because he wants to play for a top Europa League club

Chris Jack thinks that Ianis Hagi will leave Rangers before the transfer deadline. However, Hagi wants to join a team in the top league.

Sky Sports reports that the Romanian player turned down the chance to move from Ibrox to Rapid Bucharest in his home country.

Jack has said that the 25-year-old will still leave Liverpool if a team from a top European league makes an offer.

He said on August 27’s Rangers Review, “We don’t think he’ll be a Rangers player for much longer.” He should be able to leave the club by the end of this week.

“It shouldn’t come as a surprise that he has decided not to go back to Romania.” It would feel like going very far backwards.

„He and his team think he can play well and be in a top-five league. It’s not the fee that matters, it’s the wages. Rangers need to get something for him.

Ianis Hagi wants to leave Rangers for a club in Europe.

The attacking midfielder had a great time at the 2024 European Championships, so it looked like he would be moving on from Ibrox.

Hagi is still stuck in Glasgow, and there are only a few days left in the transfer window. If a deal isn’t made soon, he might have to play for Philippe Clement’s team.

Because of what the Romanian can bring to the team, this could definitely be a good thing for them and their season aims.

After making it clear that he wants to leave, they will have to find a new team for the former Genk player.

He wants to move to a top team in a European league, so it’s not clear what he thinks will happen in the last few days of the window.

Since his time on loan with Alavez wasn’t great, it will be interesting to see who signs the midfielder.

“Why not?” Andy Halliday urges Clement to make a major change for Rangers against Celtic

Andy Halliday has recommended that Rangers manager Philippe Clement think about making a significant formation change for the team’s trip to Celtic the following weekend.

After three rounds of fixtures, the Gers trail Celtic, their bitter rivals, by two points going into their first Old Firm match of the season.

In their recent meetings with Celtic, Rangers has fared poorly too frequently; Halliday thinks this can be improved with a different tactic.

He stated on the Clyde 1 Superscoreboard [26 August] that “Celtic would have identified Rangers’ weaknesses going into the game this weekend, and I don’t really know what Rangers can do to counter that to Celtic.”

Sometimes, someone will call in and ask to “play two up front?” Actually, I think I might give something a try this weekend. The Rangers have a lot of personnel, so why not try a 3-5-2?

Celtic can attack both of your full-backs from a defensive position. Rangers should go with two up top since Celtic will only have two centre halves available. How about using Rabbi Matondo up above?

Halliday responded, “It would be harsh on Tom Lawrence, but he’s showed in Old Firm games that athleticism lets him down,” when it was brought up that it would mean leaving someone out. How about attempting something different?

For Celtic vs. Rangers, Philippe Clement might try something different.

Last weekend, Clement used his tried-and-true 4-2-3-1 against Ross County, and it was a great strategy—albeit against a weak opponent.

Both Matondo and Cyriel Dessers scored twice in the team’s victory, which raised everyone’s spirits.

It would be a huge risk to tear that up, but in recent derbies, Celtic have far too frequently had Rangers under siege.

In the end, a point from Sunday’s match on September 1 would be regarded as a favourable outcome; three points would be even better.

It is much more likely that Clement will start with the same lineup that faced Ross County, injury permitting.

😷 “I think it’s just masking the problems that we’ve got”

🤷‍♂️ “What are Rangers identifying as Celtic’s weakness just now because I don’t know”

🔵 Billy in Clydebank is fearing that Rangers’ result against Ross County is just papering over the cracks at Ibrox pic.twitter.com/u70mcCIZL5

— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) August 26, 2024

Although Matondo, Lawrence, a consistent starter, and Dessers still have their detractors, they will all be feeling very positive following their performance over the weekend.

To make sure there isn’t a five-point difference at the end of the ninety minutes, whoever is chosen just needs to give it their all.

Pundit opinion: Star striker desired to join the Rangers, and Clement attempted to sign him once more

Derek Ferguson claims that Brighton has retaliated against Rangers by striking an agreement with Brest for Abdallah Sima in advance of the deadline.

Although it was not feasible to afford the Senegalese forward earlier in the transfer window, Philippe Clement acknowledged that he wanted to bring him back to Ibrox this season [Rangers Review, 15 July].

After communicating with the attacker, the Belgian thought a deal might be possible later in the summer. However, he has now completed an official loan move to Ligue 1, which comes without a buyout option [Foot Mercato, 20 August].

Ferguson is frustrated that he hasn’t been able to rejoin Rangers, but he thinks Brighton is trying to increase his visibility in a wider market.

In an interview with Ibrox News only, he stated: “Yeah, but I think that’s Brighton pulling rank.” Sima would have been thrilled to be playing for Rangers again in Scotland.

“The supporters adore him. I find him genuinely endearing. He has produced and scored goals during his playing career.

However, Brighton has a player that they most likely want to let go of and receive some cash for.

“So, he moved to what is likely a better league—well, that league is better—over there. He will play football in the Champions League. They must take care of their own needs.

Would he have preferred to be up here, Sima? Yes. Would the manager have cherished having him play for the Rangers? Naturally. He has said very nice things about him.

However, I believe that’s just Brighton pulling rank and trying to get the best deal possible for a player who will be entering the final year of his contract [upon his return] and needs to try and get paid a little bit of money.

Brighton star not signed by Rangers after confirmed departure from Brest

Given that Sima made multiple indications of wanting to return to Glasgow during his 16-goal season with the Light Blues, it isn’t wishful thinking to assume he would have made that decision.

The 23-year-old then posted a message on Instagram on August 23, thanking the supporters and his manager at Ibrox, suggesting that he was still considering a return until his France switch was officially announced.

If he hadn’t planned on returning, the letter probably would have arrived months ago when his first loan expired.

Sima and Clement will therefore be disappointed by the confirmed Brest deal, especially given that Oscar Cortes sustained an injury not long after taking his place for the second time.

View: Rangers projected starting lineup vs. Ross Co.: Clement to bench three players, exit-linked ace to start

When Philippe Clement’s Rangers team plays Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, August 24, he is anticipated to make four changes.

Following their goal-scoring cameos against St Johnstone last weekend, Cyriel Dessers and Ross McCausland are anticipated to return to the starting lineup, along with Connor Barron and Leon Balogun.

After suffering an injury in the Scottish League Cup match, Robin Propper is the biggest doubt to play, with Kieran Dowell, Rabbi Matondo, and Danilo all likely to be left off of Clement’s starting lineup.

Before facing Ross County, Philippe Clement needs to get the Rangers lineup just right.

At Hampden on Saturday, Clement cannot afford to make a mistake in his selection, and the Belgian custodian Jack Butland, who is currently ranked first, provides him with a strong platform on which to build.

After suffering an injury against St Johnstone, Clement would be prudent to avoid taking a chance on Propper in this game. As a result, Balogun, along with John Souttar in central defence, should start in place of the Dutchman.

Due to injuries and a lack of alternatives, the defense’s flanks choose themselves. After receiving a controversial red card against Dynamo Kyiv, Jefte played the entire ninety minutes against Saints and is still on the left side.

Despite rumours of a move elsewhere, Captain James Tavernier is also a clear choice on the right [TEAMtalk, July 19]. Dujon Sterling is expected to continue playing a utility role in midfield for the team.

The absence of an obvious number six and number ten for the Gers leaves Clement in need of versatile options, and Barron is expected to replace the unimpressive Dowell.

Since his £4.3 million transfer from Nordsjaelland was finalised over the summer, Mohamed Diomande has been a constant. He will probably start alongside Barron and Sterling as the most advanced midfield player.

Vaclav Cerny has had a great start to his Glasgow career. He will continue to play on the right even though McCausland replaces him against Saints; minutes later, the young player makes it 2-0.

Although McCausland has earned a start, it will probably come in place of Rabbi Matondo, who is linked to the exit, on the left rather than the right, so that Clement can take advantage of both Cerny’s and his speed out wide.

The most accurate change the Belgian will make up front is to add top scorer Cyriel Dessers back into the lineup. Dessers replaced Danilo on the bench during halftime against St Johnstone.

Although Danilo’s first start of the season after an injury is encouraging, Clement only needs to look to Dessers as his number nine if the Gers are to stay competitive.

Frustrated Rangers player posts a defiant message on Instagram as he strives to become his best again

Please pardon Rangers supporters for feeling uneasy about Brazilian forward Danilo.

The 25-year-old striker has spent the better part of nine months recovering from a serious injury that kept him out of competition.

That’s not precisely what the former Feyenoord striker would have expected following his £6 million summer transfer to Rangers.

Going back to the Ibrox fold in the Premier Sports Cup victory over St Johnstone, it’s possible that the optimism surrounding Danilo’s recuperation was lost amidst the Govan situation.

However, the striker’s medical history, which dates back to a horrific facial injury he suffered against the same opponents the previous season, guarantees that the club’s support isn’t ready to get out of hand.

Danilo has now asked for patience as the devout hitman reiterates his resolve to return to his peak performance by quoting a Bible passage.

Danilo asks for endurance after the Rangers’ comeback.

Danilo may have scored a hat-trick in the first half of the match against the Perthshire club, but there was enough to suggest the striker will get opportunities at Rangers.

The Rangers have the backing of some of the harshest football judges, but the jury will not be out until the Brazilian starts turning away opportunities.

Danilo, unfazed and ever the defiant one, has taken to social media to remind the Rangers supporters to be patient with him while he returns to full fitness.

Romans 8:25, which is cited in the post, states that we must wait patiently for what we hope for in order to obtain it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Danilo Pereira (@danilo_pereira)

Could a Brazilian striker make a difference at Ibrox?

Since the striker has never been healthy enough to truly have an impact on the team, Danilo is somewhat of a forgotten quantity at Rangers.

But the striker did show glimpses of his potential before that serious injury suffered against Hearts in December, which is why Rangers paid such a high price for the hitman.

With 21 appearances (ten starts) and six goals and five assists, Danilo was scoring for the Gers approximately every 166 minutes prior to the injury.

In the coming weeks, Rangers supporters will be hoping to witness the best of the Brazilian, and there is reason for optimism regarding the forward.

Danilo has already demonstrated incredible mental toughness by recovering from his injury and joining the starting lineup.

The next task is to go back to playing at his peak and show Rangers’ supporters that he can make a difference even though they are still not convinced.

Report: Rangers are “open to five sales” in order to finance the final details of their summer rebuild

Rangers will need to sell before they can buy during this transfer window, as Philippe Clement has stated time and time again.

The Belgian manager has occasionally presented a frustrated image while trying to turn around his Ibrox squad on a tight budget, spending every dollar like a prisoner in Govan.

Speaking over the weekend, Clement reiterated that before Rangers can focus on any other targets, they must release players from the team.

The issue is that Clement “cannot hold a gun” to the heads of the players who have been told they can leave the Rangers, as he himself stated.

Leading Scottish football writer Chris Jack has now asserted that Rangers are prepared to let go of at least five players this summer.

Rangers are “open to five departures.”

Chris Jack has been writing about the Rangers team’s exits and the current status of play in the Rangers Review.

Jack mentions five players as being for sale while talking about the tectonic transfer plates that need to move under Ibrox before the team can afford to sign any new players.

First on the list is international playmaker Ioanis Hagi of Romania, who was informed at the start of the summer that Clement had no plans for him.

It has been suggested that the Rangers could sell Hagi for nothing in order to clear space on the wage bill. Hagi spent the previous season on loan at Alavés in La Liga.

Hagi is still competing for the Rangers B team, but it’s still unclear how close the Euro 2024 player is to working out a deal to leave Ibrox.

Todd Cantwell, the English playmaker who has expressed his desire to move on this summer, is also mentioned.

Supporters of the Rangers will be hoping that occurs sooner rather than later.

The other three individuals that Chris Jack brought up are Scott Wright, Ben Davies, and Rabbi Matondo.

Links between Leeds United and Rabbi Matondo were scuttled as soon as they surfaced, and Ben Davies is, in terms of value, among the worst signings in Rangers history.

Despite being a homegrown talent on the team, Scott Wright is in the last year of his contract and has been “offered” several times to play in the lower leagues in England.

Rangers’ window for transfers is still open.

The fact that these five players might still depart Rangers before the transfer window closes demonstrates the extent of this summer’s changes at Ibrox.

Additionally, the severity of the team’s recent season-long deficiencies.

Rangers’ finances have been chronically mismanaged, and the team’s transfer market activities are still under intense scrutiny.

Rangers great Ally McCoist says he is “truly devastated” by the situation the Ibrox team is in this summer.

Numerous previously important first-team players, such as Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson, John Lundstram, and Kemar Roofe, have already been let go by the Rangers.

Rangers fans have been waiting a long time for this transformative summer as they try to rise above the disappointments of the past few seasons.

Hopefully, we can get these guys out of the team so that we can sign players that Clement has identified in advance of the upcoming season.

Pundit says it “would not surprise you” if Rangers allow a last-minute exit for a Clement regular

Rangers can’t sell James Tavernier right now, but Leanne Crichton thinks the Light Blues would let him go if a last-minute offer came in.

There has been a lot of talk about the Gers captain during the summer transfer window. Reports say Trabzonspor have made several attempts to sign him [Rangers Review, 23 July].

The English player has been a regular in Philippe Clement’s team so far this season, but Go Radio host Crichton thinks the Ibrox board would be swayed by the money his departure could bring in.

She said on The Go Radio Football Show (August 15, 1:04:20): “For example, the talk about James Tavernier has gone pretty quiet.”

“There was a lot of talk about whether he would leave or not. Imagine if Rangers also sold James Tavernier before the end of the transfer window?

“At a time when the players on the pitch aren’t quite good enough and the players on the bench aren’t fit and available, the players who are out don’t look like they’ll be back any time soon, and then there’s James Tavernier, who’s always fit, always available and always on the teamsheet.”

“It’s likely to happen because that’s the kind of choice that wouldn’t surprise rangers right now.” There’s no way they can sell him, but they might if they could get the money for the club.

Will James Tavernier leave Rangers amid rumours of a move to Ibrox?

Even the most pessimistic Rangers fans will agree that Clement can’t afford to lose the Englishman at this point in the window. Fans have been split on Tavernier for a while now.

The current Gers team lacks depth and quality, and they won’t be able to close the gap on Celtic at the top of the table unless more players are added before the second-to-last day of the transfer window.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement

Some people will say that Tavernier is part of the problem and call him a serial loser, but he is one of the few players on Clement’s team who is always healthy and ready to play.

He’s not the same player he was five years ago, but he still scores goals regularly, and his delivery from set pieces is dangerous.

It would have been easy to stop his sale earlier in the summer, but now it is a risk that doesn’t need to be taken. We hope that the Light Blues’ board doesn’t make a choice that they will later regret.

Leeds to sign Rangers attacker – report

Rabbi Matondo, a winger for Rangers, is reportedly wanted by Leeds United, per Football Scotland.

According to the news source, Daniel Farke has expressed “strong” interest in moving permanently or in taking out a first loan with a buyout option as of August 15.

According to rumours, Matondo plans to depart Ibrox before the August 30 deadline, following in the footsteps of players like Todd Cantwell and Ianis Hagi.

Rabbi Matondo ready to move to Leeds United

Leeds United’s season has clearly gotten off to a difficult start.

They not only lost to Middlesbrough 3-0 in the EFL Cup, but they also only managed a late draw with Portsmouth on the first day of play.

That’s not the best start for a team that is expected to win the league.

Additionally, on August 17, they have a difficult matchup with West Brom coming up.

Although it would always be difficult to recover from Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray’s departures, Farke believes that the most crucial thing to do is to avoid making rash purchases.

For the Rangers in 19 league games last season, Matondo recorded three assists and five goals (FBref). Even though those are some encouraging numbers, the 23-year-old hasn’t exactly made waves in the world.

Farke can change him into a dynamic attacking lineup, but it will require time, which he might not have at this moment.

Considered worse than Lawrence: Clement needs to mercilessly cut loose the 4/10 Rangers dud following their CL no-show

The Champions League group stages of this season will not feature Glasgow Rangers, as they were defeated 2-0 by Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, the Ibrox giants, who had to play at Hampden Park, lost 3-1 on aggregate after giving up two goals in the 82nd and 83rd minutes of play.

Now, Philippe Clement’s team must try their luck in the Europa League before returning home to take on St. Johnstone in the League Cup this coming weekend.

After his team’s dismal performance in Europe, the Belgian manager must make some decisions. One player who has to be mercilessly dropped from the starting lineup is Ross McCausland.

The Tuesday struggles of Ross McCausland

With Jefte on the left, Tom Lawrence at number ten, and Cyriel Dessers leading the line, the Northern Ireland international was chosen to start for Rangers on the right flank.

Clement’s choice came as a surprise because the academy graduate had been ineffectual in the first leg as a starter, recording 0 goals and 0 assists, and had been benched for the Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell.

Far worse than Lawrence, the 21-year-old forward failed to justify his spot on the squad. Derek McGregor of the Scottish Sun gave the Welshman a 5/10 player rating, praising his teasing ball into the box before the midfielder lost steam later in the match.

The fact that Clement left the former Derby County player in the game until the 85th minute suggests that, for the most part, he was satisfied with his performance.

Conversely, McCausland had a fruitless first half and was hauled off at halftime. The manager’s decision to substitute the winger at halftime implies that he too thought the performance was lacklustre. The aforementioned McGregor gave the winger a miserable match rating of 4/10.

Instead, Clement, the player, needs to unleash

Following his lack of performance in the Champions League, Clement will now have to mercilessly remove the Northern Irishman from the starting lineup. In his three appearances as a winger, including two starts, he has failed to score or provide an assist.

Vaclav Cerny, on loan from Wolfsburg, has the ability to have a bigger impact in the final third from a right wing position, so the former Monaco manager needs to get him back into the lineup.

The Czech international has had a great start to life in the Premiership this season, as the table above shows; the same cannot be said of McCausland.

It was unexpected to see the 26-year-old star left out of the starting lineup at Hampden Park after he produced a stunning assist for Dessers with an amazing inswinging cross in the first leg against Dynamo Kyiv.

After struggling and outperforming Lawrence on Tuesday night, McCausland ought to be cut from the squad to make room for Cerny.

Big match verdict: empty seats at Hampden indicate apathy on the part of Rangers fans, and things have just gotten much worse

The city did not experience the Ibrox atmosphere as the Light Blues were eliminated from the Champions League.

a sound barrier. When Dynamo Kyiv last visited Glasgow to play Rangers, that’s what they encountered. The Ibrox punters who were there probably still have it ringing in their ears almost forty years later.

The sound was overwhelming. And generally acknowledged as one of the best stadium atmospheres ever experienced, if not THE best. It’s unbeatable for devotees of a particular vintage. The triumph over RB Leipzig on the way to the Europa League Final two years ago will be cited by the younger generation. Or the legendary victory over Parma in 1999, when big Tony Vidmar had the crowd in stitches.

However, no. When asked about the loudest roar they have ever heard while watching Rangers, many people will cite Dynamo Kyiv on September 30, 1987. That night, there were astonishingly just 44,500 in the ground. The guests, however, were unable to hear themselves think. Neither could Graeme Souness or his team in a thrilling second-leg European Cup match.

The audience contributed in that way. Against all the odds, the Rangers defeated the Dynamo team, winning 2-1 overall. Keep in mind, that team was full of USSR superstars. It was therefore hard to avoid drawing comparisons when they appeared in Glasgow’s south side last night. Here in the main stand stood Alexei Mickhailichenko, who had played for both clubs as well as Dynamo in the past.

But there’s no denying that things have changed. To begin with, the Rangers aren’t actually at Ibrox. Furthermore, the atmosphere of the recollections of ’87 was always going to be in stark contrast. Last night, Hampden was not even half full. Their brief, pre-season jaunt was bound to turn off some fans. Not to mention the customary expenses.

But what was really noticeable was how many seats were empty in the old Celtic end. Does it go beyond that? Is this fan base becoming more and more apathetic? Who can blame them if there is, considering the Ibrox debacle, a lack of transfer funds, a glaringly unbalanced and untalented squad, and an overall lack of clarity regarding the club’s true direction?

And what about last night’s noise? It never came close to matching the volume of Kyiv’s previous visit here. The teams did not make the sound of an aeroplane taking off when they came out of the Hampden tunnel. The muted cheers of the fans were drowned out by Simply the Best. In contrast to 1987, the players were responsible for igniting the crowd rather than the other way around.

There was a quiet hush over Hampden after the opening song from the home end. The players could be heard yelling at one another. Barely a second passed thirty-seven years ago without a clatter of some kind.

Even now, when you see Mark Falco score the first goal by taking advantage of a mistake made by the Kyiv keeper, you’ll get a tingling sensation in the back of your neck. And the roof fell when Ally McCoist met a cross from Trevor Francis at the Copland Road end, tricking and confusing the goalie with his header. Very tingling in the spine.

One more recollection from that Dynamo match is Souness’s fly strategies prior to the ball being kicked. Recall how he told his ground crew to close in the lines and narrow the Ibrox pitch in an effort to neutralise Kyiv’s dangerous wingers?

The way the Rangers used that move to exhaust their opponents was quite effective. Strangely enough, last night the punters were clamouring for Vaclav Cerny, the Czech wide player, to provide them some width. However, the atmosphere was further deflated when Philippe Clement chose to start him on the bench. Gers’ doctors reportedly told the Belgian that there would be too great a risk.

Rangers’ Jefte rues a missed chance

If that’s the case, though, how come Cerny, who had been tearing Motherwell to pieces over the weekend, was fired after just 55 minutes? To the delight of the home support, he was eventually introduced at halftime.

And after Jefte’s absurdly harsh red card, they finally raised their voices and stood up in 53 minutes, expressing their sheer frustration and defiance. They stood up once more after James Tavernier won a corner, and Clement motioned for them to stand up with his arms.

They were definitely needed by their team. However, they were unable to stop Dynamo from scoring twice in the latter stages of the game to send Rangers reeling. The farewell had a significant effect. However, in the clear, their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League have been dashed before the play-off phase.

The mood was set in 1987 when Souness and his team believed they could win the European Cup heading into their match against Kyiv. It was an optimistic support for the Rangers. Now? Simply put, that is untrue. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. The events of this summer at Ibrox have only added to the pessimism of the punters. And the outcome from last night made it much worse.