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Seven years ago after a historic collision that lost management his job, Gers might seek retribution

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October 2017 finds Rangers supporters visiting Hampden to see Pedro Caixinha’s team face Motherwell in a League Cup semi-final.

Following a difficult start to his contentious Ibrox tenure with a spot in the “Betfred Cup” Final up for grabs, the Portuguese manager was under growing strain.

Only success can ensure Pedro Caixinha’s employment as many failed signings increase and pressure on a faltering start to the 17/18 season intensues.

On October 23rd, it would be a 2-0 loss to the Steelmen, costing Caixinha his job just three days later.

Seven years from now, Rangers will have an opportunity to extract some retribution in the revamped Premier Sports Cup.

It follows Rangers’ drawing of Motherwell for the semi-final of this season’s competition.

Motherwell against Rangers repeats seven years of production.

Fans of Rangers will still show some scar tissue from the League Cup semi-final loss to Motherwell all those years ago.

Motherwell overtook Caixinha’s weak Gers side with Portuguese defender Fabio Cardoso notably leaving with a fractured nose.

Saying that it was “fun” to see Cardoso “weeping” after a vicious elbow by Ryan Bowman, who amazingly avoided a red card, Motherwell captain Peter Hartley subsequently generated controversy.

The defender was then had to apologize.

Following the incident, Motherwell boss Steven Robinson and Rangers manager Caixinha were sent to the stands.

Motherwell striker Louis Moult also won the game; he scored a lethal double to beat the Bears 2-0 at Hampden in a contentious national stadium battle.

Moult shot the ball into the net’s ceiling first, it ricocheted around following a curve, then the second was a brilliant long-range chip imprinted in Motherwell fans’ memory.

Rangers scheduled to defend League Cup championship

Fascinatingly, Motherwell upset Louis Moult’s Dundee United team to reserve a spot at Hampden, Rangers-linked Lennon Miller the injury-time hero at Fir Park.

After Louis Moult leveled against his old team after Zach Robinson’s early goal on the stroke of half, the Scotland U21 international emerged to score a late winner.

Inspired by a 3-0 victory against Dundee at Ibrox with striker Cyriel Dessers the hero on the day, Rangers advanced to the semi-finals.

While Dessers also earned a penalty which James Tavernier properly executed, the huge Nigerian international bagged a double to increase his total to seven for the season.

The present holders of the title, Rangers, will now square off against Motherwell with that notorious seven-year semi-final still vivid in mind.

In the second semi-final, Celtic—who twice came from behind to beat Championship Falkirk—will meet on-form Aberdeen, who easily overcame Spartan.

Scotland player propels league newcomers to the top of the table while Il Toro thrive under former Rangers back

A striker defeats Verona in a thrilling victory.

Scotland striker Che Adams, who has made a great start to his new life in Italy, came in as a substitute in Torino’s 3-2 victory over Verona to lift the team up to the top of Serie A temporarily.

After Adams’ contract with Southampton ended in the summer, he moved to Turin. Last month, he scored his first goal for Il Toro against Atalanta, and he later scored the game-winning goal in a thrilling encounter at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

Adams was benched for this match after starting the 0-0 draw with Lecce the previous weekend. However, manager Paolo Vanoli, a former Rangers defender, was justified in his choice as both forwards, Antonia Sanabria and Duvan Zapata, scored goals in an exciting first half that followed Grigoris Kastanos’ goal for Verona. With Pawel Dawidowicz sent off, the hosts had 10 men at the conclusion of the first forty-five minutes.

After replacing Sanabria on minute 67, Adams scored 12 minutes later by driving a loose ball into the lower corner. Torino managed to hold on for all three points even though Daniel Mosquera scored for the hosts in stoppage time to guarantee a tense conclusion.

Torino is leading Serie A heading into the weekend and is still undefeated in all competitions this season. But if Napoli triumphs against them at home on Saturday, they can take the lead back. Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, Adams’ teammates from Scotland, are anticipated to play and may make their home debuts.

“Huge Infighting Within The Rangers Boardroom” – Keith Wyness reveals shocking Ibrox revelation

Rangers will experience “massive infighting” as a result of John Bennett’s resignation, according to former Aberdeen manager Keith Wyness.

The 66-year-old, who led Aberdeen from 2000 to 2004, also held extended periods as the head of Everton and Aston Villa, and currently operates a football consultancy offering advice to elite clubs, stated there will be a “huge battle” for the top position at Ibrox in an interview with Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.

Rangers said on Saturday, September 14, that Bennett, the chairman, has resigned “with immediate effect due to health reasons.”

John Gilligan, the former director, will fill the position in the interim until a permanent replacement is named.

Former Geordie chairman Dave King has declared that the team is “in crisis” and that he is “available” to take on his previous position.

James Bisgrove left the Glasgow giants earlier this year, leaving them without a CEO.

A fight between the chairman and the Rangers is causing “massive infighting,” according to Wyness.

Wyness said on Football Insider’s Insider Track podcast: “I imagine John Bennett’s health has suffered greatly as a result of this job.”

“I heard in an interview that the former chairman, Dave King, expressed his desire to return.

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“He has a 15% stake, making him the major shareholder, but there will be a fierce fight.

“I fear there will be severe internal strife within the Rangers boardroom.”

“It will not be enjoyable.”

Barry Ferguson challenges Dave King over three demands from the Rangers, highlighting a crucial ultimatum for the Ibrox board

The former chairman has expressed interest in rejoining Ibrox to take John Bennett’s place.

Enthusiastic Barry Ferguson dissected Dave King’s most recent speech, stating that Rangers will have a difficult decision to make if they choose to name a CEO before a new chairman arrives.

Following John Bennett’s departure from the club, the former chairman, who oversaw the team from 2015 to 2020, has been vocal in recent months and has now declared his intention to return. Bennett has been temporarily replaced by John Gilligan, but South African businessman King believes the Rangers need new leadership with a long-term plan, so he is suggesting he takes the helm for the first two years.

King went on talkSPORT to address a number of topics he wants to discuss with Jim White as part of his ongoing pitch to return to the Rangers boardroom. Ferguson, the icon of Ibrox, became interested in them.

In response to King’s proposal to limit his tenure as president to two years, Ferguson initially said on Go Radio: “I saw that it would only be for a couple of years, and wouldn’t be a long-term plan.” John Gilligan has taken over at this point, and we just need to wait and see what happens after John Bennett steps down due to health concerns.”

After the former chief executive moved to the Saudi Pro League, he mentioned that he would like to see Gilligan choose James Bisgrove’s replacement: “What I do know is Rangers need a chairman in place pretty soon and a CEO – they are the most important person at the club. John has taken over as the carer, so that will be his top priority.

Ferguson concurred, responding to King’s assertion that someone must rapidly designate someone with Rangers’ connections and ascertain “what is actually going on” behind the scenes at Ibrox: “At Rangers, it’s not a case that you can wait months.”

“I believe that this needs to be resolved pretty quickly because the CEO, who the Rangers have been without since James Bisgrove left, is directly below the chairman, who is the most important position at the club. I fully expect Rangers to have someone in the upcoming weeks. Not only does the candidate need to have prior experience in the field, but they also need to be connected. That is, in my opinion, crucial.

King listed obtaining investors as one of his two-year pitch’s goals, and Ferguson concluded, saying, “It’s obvious that they need to find an investor. Finding new, fresh investment to help the club advance is the role of a chairman and CEO when they join, whether that comes from Britain or overseas, who knows.

It will undoubtedly be an interesting few weeks, that much is clear. There is undoubtedly a tonne of work being done to make sure the best leaders (arrive) at the club, but John needs to step in and right the ship.”

Kris Boyd was taken aback by the Bajrami news that Rangers defeated Dundee United today

A new Nedim Bajrami update was revealed at Rangers during the Gers’ match against Dundee United, which left Kris Boyd “surprised.”

The Light Blues recovered from their previous Old Firm loss to Celtic by securing all three points with a 1-0 victory at Tannadice on Sunday, September 15, thanks to Tom Lawrence’s first-half scoring strike.

Lawrence was the preferred candidate for the number 10 position prior to the signing of Bajrami on deadline day. Sky Sports pundit Boyd acknowledged that he anticipated the Albanian international to be involved from the outset following his last-minute transfer.

On Sunday, September 15, at 13:00, he stated during an interview with Sky Sports Football: “I was taken aback that he did not begin, as you would anticipate that a player of his calibre would be involved when you pay him that kind of money.”

“They anticipate that Bajrami will act promptly and initiate action.”

What was the reason for Philippe Clement’s decision not to start Nedim Bajrami in the Rangers’ match against Dundee United?

As Boyd suggests, the majority of pundits and supporters would anticipate that the Light Blues would immediately integrate a player into the team after paying a substantial transfer fee, regardless of their time on the training pitch.

Although Clement had previously indicated that there was a high probability that the Albanian international would not be included in the starting lineup against Dundee United, the majority of fans would have been taken aback when the team was announced.

The Albanian international has been signed to fill the void in the number 10 position, as both Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell are no longer considered.Clement must have faith in him and relinquish control of his lead.

Lawrence’s performance at Tannadice was once again impressive; however, it is evident that he is not capable of securing a title for the Gers. Hopefully, Clement will be more inclined to give Bajrami a start in the future now that he has made one appearance off the bench.

“Pathetic” – Premier League club staff member rages at “Rubbish” Daily Record on Rangers

Grant Russell has labelled Rangers’ debate over footage of referee Ross Hardie and Tom Lawrence from the Ross County game as “pathetic.”

Reacting via X on September 12, the West Ham marketing lead and former Motherwell communications head responded to a Daily Record story covering furious fan reactions to newly-released audio from the 6-0 victory on 24 August.

Referees chief Willie Collum covered the sequence on his VAR Review for the Scottish FA’s YouTube channel on September 11, where he claimed Lawrence missed a “clear foul” but Cyriel Dessers’s subsequent goal was correctly allowed.

Fans objected to the referee yelling to Lawrence to “don’t tackle there, Tom,” claiming Hardie was coaching Rangers during the game, but Russell slammed the “rubbish” framing of something that is accepted practice.

“What a miserable angle to take,” he said. A referee interacts in this kind all during the game. It’s natural. And the show is really added value.

“Spinning into this rubbish is the reason it has taken so long to get refs comfortable with this degree of public communication.”

Review by Willie Collum causes Rangers refereeing debate.

Their whole job is referees trying to avoid players fouling each other; using first names does not immediately indicate they are biassed friends with them.

Officials will come to know players they regularly see in games they oversee, thus outrage at hearing interaction that has probably been going on for years is clearly misguided.

It would be more logical to criticise Lawrence’s behaviour of ignoring Hardie and committing the exact foul he had been advised against the referee then claiming wrongly that the ball had been won.

Normal is Rangers footage of referee interaction with Tom Lawrence.

Ross County may feel somewhat offended at that even if it did not directly result in the goal; nevertheless, more openness about mistakes should eventually be a positive step.

Although Philippe Clement’s side has had a terrible start to the campaign thus far, plenty of refereeing indignation follows them all the same.

Motherwell’s Richard Foster has just been banned for six games for accusing the SFA of “lies” in response to Dessers’ goal against St Johnstone last month [STV, 13 September], for which he subsequently apologies.

Collum also criticised Matthew MacDermid on that occasion, supporting the VAR ruling as accurate.

Clement escapes Rangers chewing out as something strange occurs with probing questions: how the Q&A truly went down?

A disastrous derby loss has badly tarnished his reputation among the supporters who once loved him.

For Philippe Clement, the international break has been quite unique.

What began with a small but enraged group of supporters chewing out the Ranger manager on Ibrox’s doorstep ended with the big Belgian having a few hundred punters eating out the palm of his hand a few yards along the road at New Edmiston House. Whether the supporters who forked out forty quid a head to see him speak at Tuesday night’s fan forum will still be lapping up what Clement has to say come Sunday depends totally on whether his side can avoid making another dog’s dinner of this weekend’s trip to Tannadice.

The 50-year-old hasn’t quite reached the age when he had his last meal as Ibrox manager. But the terrible derby loss last week has seriously tarnished his reputation among the supporters who once loved him. With this year’s title bid also apparently in ruins with Celtic five points clear just four games into the new Premiership campaign, he has had five runs at toasting the bitter rivals of the club and failed every time.

As he sat down for this week’s Q&A, there was expectation that he would encounter another furious grilling from the Ibrox legions. That was never going to be the case, though, in the tightly controlled environment he sat next to composer Ali De Foy in. Those eager for explanations on why things had gone so wrong so rapidly this season were invited to write their questions.

Oddly, some of their more probing questions on his team’s never-ending injury concerns, the decision to invest some of the club’s precious few millions into a project player like Hamza Igamane rather than the proven striker his squad has been crying out for, or why Ianis Hagi is good enough for Romania but apparently not for Rangers failed to make it out of the hat. Perhaps it was just chance of the draw.

From all the reports, the evening was polite, friendly even, with no evidence of the seething outbursts Clement and skipper James Tavernier had to face as they returned from Celtic Park last week. Although the treatment directed to the men fronting the football department was bang out of order, it was the outcome of tempers boiling over following yet another day of bitter disappointment against Brendan Rodgers’s swaggering Celts.

Perhaps Clement deserved the opportunity to bat away a few softball deliveries this time; he was brave enough to face those frothing taunts. For the past several weeks, however, his message has stayed constant. The Rangers supporters will simply have to show patience as his new-look team beds in, even if swallowing is difficult.

He advised the Edmiston House audience: “Everybody’s working really hard and they need to realise players coming into this club need time to adapt.” Some of your players need three months, six months, and some adjust after one week. You cannot forecast this quite personal thing. We have definitely brought in a number of quite gifted players who will develop over the next few years.

“Fans have seen already some of that. I prefer to eliminate a young lad like Connor Barron rather than specific people. He didn’t participate in every game Aberdeen offers. He has advanced significantly and received accolades as well for being chosen for the national team for the first time.

“You also have young lad Jefte here. Though only twenty years old, he is already showing positive results; others are to come. Now it’s about working hard with the team to help them to gel and establish relationships. On the other side of the town, they have been playing together and strengthening their squad for more than a year. Although I hate it and I want to change it as quickly as possible, it’s normal they are ahead now.”

With Celtic already vanishing over the horizon on and off the pitch, there is a sense among the supporters that the major prize for this season is already out of reach. Clement, meantime, is not giving up the ghost. Enquired whether he thought his team could launch a fierce challenge for the championship this season, he answered: “Yeah I’m convinced about that – otherwise I would not be here.

Of course, the rebuild is significant. Sixteen athletes quit. Many of the players were older, thus it was difficult to have a good transfer window since seven of them left for nothing. We had to substitute more expensively costing players for them. We are not a club with a large investor stating, ‘we spend £50m now and just go onto the market, it’s not the case’. We, recruitment, board, and myself, must be creative. We also had to cut the pay since it was unsustainable.

“There are many challenges that way but I’m convinced that we bring in several young guys, some who can do the job already, they need to prove they can do it every three days now. We also bring in a few experienced guys who can do the job directly. I am quite sure that this team has more future potential than it did six months ago in that regard.

The most difficult question Clement had to answer was how many transfer windows he thought he would need to get Gers where he wanted them.

The wary reply was “I wish I had the answer to that and had a crystal ball.” “I know many of my supporters enjoy playing Football Manager or PlayStation. Real life is quite different from this. You cannot project since first it relates to your own personal financial situation. Regarding January, I’m not sure yet. It’s about identifying the correct players and persuading them to visit. It relates to relationships between players and their representatives.

“The other clubs, should they wish to let them leave or not. The only thing I can say is that although we lack everything in our hands, we will do it as fast as we can.

Metronome: “Cunning” – Int’L media praised Rangers player following Monday’s actions

Ianis Hagi is presently playing more senior football for Romania than he is at Rangers and Ibrox, and Monday, September 9 marks that continued trend.

During the second round of UEFA Nations League games, the playmaker came off the bench to win a late penalty against Lithuania.

After the game, Hagi promised to be back to Glasgow on Tuesday, September and is eager to fight for his spot under Philippe Clement.

The midfielder was much praised in the Romanian media; Pro Sport dubbed him “Cunning” for his efforts to win the penalty that would have advanced his nation late on.

Impressed as well was Fanatik, who called Hagi a “Metronome” as he worked deftly in the box to produce the end result.

Rangers to decide about Ianis Hagi

It seems Clement has already decided about his future even though the playmaker says he wants to fight for his place at Ibrox.

Hagi, who is stuck on the B team, is far too good for that; something has to be done to correct it.

Though a pay clause would see it rise with another appearance, a new agreement was proposed allowing him to play free from such concerns [David Edgar].

When you take Hagi’s easy superiority over some of the trash currently running every single week into account, it all gets even more confusing.

Regular minutes in the starting side were coming from Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo, even Scott Wright before he left for Birmingham.

Rangers already five points behind Celtic and Aberdeen at the top, and that is nowhere good enough. This helps explain why.

Something has to be changed—perhaps Hagi?

Rangers Manager has entered sack territory at Ibrox, Philippe Clement currently “making no sense”

Gordon Parks says Philippe Clement is no longer making sense and has now entered “sacked territory” at Rangers.

The Belgian’s new contract means he won’t be removed from his post as things stand, according to the Daily Record journalist on PLZ Soccer’s The Journos on 5 September. However, given the team’s performance and his own behaviour, it is getting close given Old Firm officials lack time.

Following the 3-0 loss at Celtic, Clement faced criticism for emphasising the 6-0 victory Ross County had one week earlier [Daily Record, 1 September], and that kind of line drives Parks to claim the manager is now “making no sense”.

“He has got pedigree and when he first came in articulate and spoke a good game, but he’s in sacked territory,” he said (13m 30s). Given time, he must be close.

“He has a new contract, thus it won’t happen.” You speak to Rangers supporters, though; they are not convinced now. And he is now making no sense when he attempts to analyse [performances].

After Celtic loses, the manager of Rangers notes a Ross County victory.

Michael Beale’s writing was most likely on the wall at this point a year ago; Giovanni van Bronckhorst arrived at a similar conclusion a year before.

But the damage of the frequent hiring and firing at Ibrox is part of what has led Clement into this predicament after a transfer window when he struggled to offload costly misfits from a squad made in the image of several managers and couldn’t afford to make all the signings he wanted.

The Belgian deserves some sympathy given his almost impossible situation resulting from past mistakes that preceded his arrival in Glasgow; the club has already decided to dismiss him at this point [The Herald, 27 July].

But even during his own tenure, the side seems to be regressing, with his own signings like Mohamed Diomande apparently reverting just as the likes of Todd Cantwell did for Beale before him.

When Clement replaced the bombast and sales patter of his predecessor last term, he seemed like a man with no time for nonsense.

But he has lost that air of control and maybe started to sound more like Beale did towards the end of his term as the wheels have started to come off.

It cannot be forgotten than he turned the tide last season, took home a trophy, and positioned his side to grab a shock treble.

Though he is not the only one to blame, the declining trend following that point is concerning, and he is casting more questions in his own direction.

View: Following a new medical update, Rangers may have less than 24 hours to seal a free transfer hijack

If Rangers want to steal the Hull City signing of Steven Alzate, a former Brighton midfielder, they don’t seem to have much time left.

On September 4, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealed that Hull was getting close to signing the 25-year-old international player for Colombia, who had already had his medical.

Alzate is reportedly linked to a move to Ibrox, according to Football Scotland’s report on September 4. TalkSPORT journalist Dan Bardell had supported the Gers to sign him back in June.

“Hull City Football Club is currently working to complete Steven Alzate on a free agent move,” Tavolieri wrote on X. Alzate enjoys being active.

“Steven Alzate has already undergone medical testing this Wednesday afternoon, and an official announcement is anticipated within the next 24 hours.”

Rangers need to pursue a free agent signing of Steven Alzate.

Gers may try to pull off a last-minute coup for Alzate by taking advantage of their increased visibility, the prospect of playing in Europe, and first-team football in a league with higher standards.

Rangers might only have a few hours to act, as Hull City’s interest and Alzate’s medical could take him off the market in less than a day.

Better personal terms or a more desirable position on the team that fits with his goals of regular play and development could be their options.

With his recent loan stints in Belgium and his Premier League experience with Brighton, Alzate has the versatility and tactical awareness that could be crucial for the Ibrox team.

His versatility as a midfielder gives him tactical adaptability, which is essential for changing up matchups in the league and Europa League.

In addition, his passing vision and ball-moving ability could greatly improve Gers’ midfield by providing a creative yet defensively sound combination.

A player like him would certainly be a great addition for Clement, and he would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing.

Ibrox View: Koppen’s decision to transfer to Rangers could pay off with his job

After opting not to make a last-minute move for Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland, Nils Koppen may be worrying about his position at Rangers.

Even though the forward had less than 12 months left on his contract, the Gers were unwilling to pay the £3 million asking price, so negotiations over a potential deal continued until the August 30 deadline [HITC].

Following Rangers’ crushing 3-0 loss to Celtic on Sunday, September 1, the team’s transfer policy has come under scrutiny once more.

And after the season is over, Koppen might lose his job as director of football recruitment if the season plays out as many predict it will, with Celtic leading by five points already.

Would Lawrence Shankland cause Nils Koppen to second-guess his Rangers decision?

The 29-year-old led Hearts to third place in the league, 17 points behind Rangers in second place, with 24 SPFL goals the previous season.

With three goals in his first four games of the season, Cyriel Dessers is off to a great start. But the Belgian offered little of a goal threat against Celtic, and if he can’t deliver in the Old Firm derby, his goals against the other teams in the league won’t matter.

Shankland is anticipated to carry over his impressive performance into the upcoming campaign. Although he hasn’t scored a goal yet this season, his stock will only rise as he approaches his free agency status in June once the forward starts to score.

Rangers target Lawrence Shankland scored 31 goals in all competitions for Hearts last season

For the Light Blues, Koppen is already under a great deal of pressure.Jamie O’Hara’s recruitment for Philippe Clement’s team this summer has been completely destroyed due to the perceived class divide between them and Celtic.

In football, goals are the most precious asset, and Shankland is one of the best at finding the back of the net in Scotland. His presence on the pitch against the Old Firm might have made the difference between a crushing loss and an overwhelming win.

It remains to be seen if Shankland will consider Rangers a realistic option by the halfway point of the season, but Koppen will have to make amends in the upcoming months and persuade the forward that his future is in Glasgow.

Rangers’ £40 million failure is blamed on Clement, who made a mistake in the Ibrox boardroom

Gary Keown has criticised Philippe Clement and the Rangers board for not letting them qualify for the Champions League, which would have brought in more money.

Dynamo Kyiv beat the Gers 3-2 over the course of the whole competition, getting them out of the elite level.

Keown blamed Clement for this in his September 1, 2018, column for the Scottish Mail on Sunday (page 99). This cost the Light Blues much-needed money.

He said, “The Ibrox club are back to talking a lot about the long term because of a lot of mistakes made in the boardroom.”

“The fact that current manager Philippe Clement got a new contract even though they lost a £40 million Champions League windfall to Dynamo Kyiv suggests that this is the plan.”

Rangers’ loss is blamed on Philippe Clement

The Gers were kicked out of the Champions League in part because of a controversial event at Hampden Park.

Everyone at Hampden was shocked when Jefte was sent off for a harmless challenge. This turned the game in Dynamo’s favour in the end.

Rangers were then sent to the Europa League, where they will play teams like Tottenham and Manchester United because of this.

There are some good things about being in that competition, but there are also some bad things that hurt the club and its leaders financially.

In the past few weeks and months, people like John Bennett have been criticised for how his actions at Ibrox have caused the club to move farther away from Celtic.

Gary Keown, Scottish Mail on Sunday, page 99, 1 Sep

This money from the Champions League would have been a great boost, but Clement isn’t the only one to blame.

A lot of things are wrong with the Light Blues, and the manager is just one part of the puzzle.

Billy Dodds still can’t believe what he saw in Rangers’ loss to Celtic

Billy Dodds couldn’t believe it when Celtic beat Rangers 4-0 in the Old Firm Derby on 1 August.

Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 at Celtic Park in the first Old Firm match of the season. Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Callum McGregor scored the goals.

For BBC Sportscene [1 August, 18m25s], Dodds looked at the mistakes that cost Rangers the game and criticised Phillipe Clement for how his team played when they were behind.

He said, “Rangers were done as soon as Celtic scored their first goal.” I couldn’t believe how they thought. Rangers weren’t ready for Celtic, and you need to be when they come at you.

The way the Rangers thought cost them in the Old Firm match.

There was a strong feeling that the game was already over when Celtic scored the first goal. This is the main problem Rangers are having this season.

It was a crazy summer for the Light Blues’ transfers, with 10 new players coming in and 10 players leaving. The difference in quality between them and their biggest rivals is still clear.

The loss at Celtic Park is a harsh reminder that Clement will not be able to turn around the Gers overnight. It will take at least a few years of smart hiring to build a team that can compete with Celtic for the title.

When captain James Tavernier sets a good example by turning off and letting Alistair Johnston make a run under the ball to help Maeda score the first goal, it shows a major problem with the current team.

It smelt like blood to Brendan Rodgers, and his team quickly got to work. They were better than Clement’s team in every way, and the Celtic player was much more willing to fight for the badge than any Rangers player.

The Light Blues’ chances of making it to the SPFL are pretty much over. Since they are five points behind Celtic, they will need to win the rematch in January and hope that Celtic makes a mistake in order to make up ground in the title race.

Ace hugs “incredible” Birmingham City limbs after Rangers’ loss; life after Ibrox starts in a dreamy way

He switched teams at the last minute, going from Rangers to Birmingham City.

Scott Wright says he couldn’t have written a better debut for Birmingham City after leaving Rangers for the third level of English football.

In the last week of the transfer window, the winger left Ibrox to join Chris Davies’ team. Davies also got Ben Davies from Rangers. With the last-second goal in a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic, his first game for Birmingham City was a dream come true.

Wright talks about his debut and the days leading up to the game. He says that the scenes of celebration after the winner amazed him, and that the quality of training has been top-notch. For the club press, Wright said, “I don’t think I could have made it up better.”

“Getting a goal on my first game is great.” Three points were the most important thing. The fans stayed with us the whole game. Buzzing. It was amazing, and I think it was the last knee slide I’ll ever do. It hurt my knees, but it was worth it. The limbs were really cool.

“It’s been great. My coworkers and the staff have been great at helping me get in as quickly as possible.” In other words, I can’t wait for the next few days to get my feet under me and start getting to know everyone better.

“I believe the level of training has been outstanding.” I’ve only trained for two or three days, but the level of quality has been great. Now we have to drive those standards every day and bring them into games.

“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.

“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.

Rangers’ Ibrox stadium

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.

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.

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.

Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd. Credit: Sky Sports

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.

Rangers Cyriel Dessers

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.

Ianis Hagi is expected to leave Rangers

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.

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.

Philippe Clement had hoped to secure an Abdallah Sima return to Rangers

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

Rangers manager Philippe Clement

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.

Philippe Clement

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.

Daniel Farke is in his second season as Leeds United manager

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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