The pressure is mounting on Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst as fan opinion begins to turn against the Ibrox gaffer.
The weekend’s unacceptable slip-up against Livingston has intensified a negative feeling amongst the support as Rangers fans already begin discussing potential replacements.
As the negativity fails to subside and Rangers’ predictable, laboured, boring and uninspired showings begin to herald the kind of results they’re worthy of domestically, the normally calm ex-Ibrox star will be starting to sweat.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst isn’t quite done at Rangers yet, but there’s a growing feeling that another poor week in charge of the Gers and it’ll be curtains for the Dutchman.
But as plenty already call for the Rangers manager’s head, we hope to provide a little balance by presenting a three-point case in favour of the Dutchman we’re not even sure we agree with.
Injuries have taken their toll
There can be no shying away from this; injuries have decimated Rangers this season and prevented them from showing anywhere near their best.
Whilst there does need to be questions asked of the management, medical and recruitment teams as to why the club has so many high-earning first-teamers out of action, the impact on the club’s performances this season are clear for all to see.
In fact, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenure at Rangers has been dominated by major injury issues and now the club has several key players on the sidelines.
Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, John Souttar Ryan Jack, Tom Lawrence and Ianis Hagi are all out until after the World Cup and aren’t exactly on buttons.
Kemar Roofe is just returning, Alfredo Morelos had five months out, Alex Lowry hasn’t kicked a ball for the first team. Now Glen Kamara also has a problem.
We don’t exactly boast the transfer budget of Man City so whilst depth of squad is necessary, there is no team with our budget who wouldn’t feel their highest earnings being sidelined.
Perhaps if we can hobble to the World Cup break still within touching distance in the Premiership, Giovanni van Bronckhorst can start putting out a stronger Rangers team come December.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has brought success to Rangers
Ok, so the performance in the Scottish Premiership over the piece is unacceptable and the terrified collapses on the road against Celtic are not becoming of any Rangers management or team.
But excusing the inexcusable for just a moment, objectively Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has brought a level of success to Rangers.
Be that through silverware with the club’s first Scottish Cup win in 12 years, or financial and on the European stage with that run to the Europa League Final and qualification for the Champions League.
Conversely the success Gio had in raising our profile with that legendary run to Seville could be shattered by a record-breaking group stage performance in the Champions League, but at least we’re there. I think.
Whatever way you swing it, Van Bronckhorst has brought a level of success to the club and whilst results and performances have been poor so far this season, the Rangers boss has some (rapidly depleting) credit in the bank.
The problems run deeper that the management
Whilst it is the manager who is the fall guy for every failed regime in football, in Rangers’ case there is a suggestion that this isn’t entirely Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s fault.
The club’s failure to properly invest in quality additions post-55 has been well documented and as they stare down the barrel of an expensive pay-off and rebuild they’re surely wondering why they didn’t go to the well one last time.
The recruitment has also been issue, as fans complain about several failed experiments from Ross Wilson and co and the fact that several first-teamers are about to finish their Ibrox deals.
Then there’s the age of the squad, with several players signed up this summer clearly in the twilight of their careers.
Beyond that, there is the current infighting between shareholders Club 1872, Dave King and the Rangers board whilst the club continue to be accused of being out of touch with supporters.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is managing with the hand he’s been dealt and there is a sentiment that he could’ve been offered more help from the higher-ups at Rangers.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans have been impressed with one ex-Premier League alternative.