Philippe Clement’s excuses are wearing thin, not only amongst an irate Ibrox fanbase but also a host of former Rangers players who appear ready to wash their hands with the floundering Belgian.
Billy Dodds pulled no punches as Rangers’ away woes continued at Dundee on Thursday night. Just three wins from 11 Scottish Premiership fixtures on their travels; a ‘scandalous’ statistic and an ‘outrageously poor’ record, to quote the one-time blue-clad hitman.
Kris Boyd’s own post-match autopsy – sticking the scalpel directly into this decaying carcass of a title bid – made Dodds’ comments feel almost charitable in comparison.
Speaking after Rangers needed Vaclav Cerny to rescue a point at Dens Park, Boyd labelled the club’s current predicament – 15 points off leaders Celtic – an ‘absolute disgrace’. As far as Philippe Clement is concerned, the former Monaco boss is ‘done’ with CEO Patrick Stewart under growing pressure to print out the manager’s P45.
In addition to Dundee, Rangers have failed to beat Motherwell, Hibernian and Hearts away from home while losing at St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Kris Boyd wants Philippe Clement gone at Rangers after Dundee debacle
“Motherwell, St Mirren, Hibs and Dundee should almost be gimmes if a Rangers team is doing its job properly,” Boyd argues, speaking to the Scottish Sun. “That’s not being disrespectful.
“It’s just what history tells you.”
It is not just the nature of Rangers’ performances but also the content of Clement’s press conferences which has added to a growing disconnect between the fanbase and the coach.
Clement praised Clinton Nsiala’s long-awaited Premiership debut in midweek while, in a desperate attempt to locate positives like a needle in a haystack, highlighted Dundee’s lack of chances after that sixth minute opener.
Clement also pointed out that this is a Rangers team missing James Tavernier, Jack Butland, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Dujon Sterling and Tom Lawrence, in addition to Nico Raskin’s suspension.
But with Dundee’s absences also into double figures, Boyd had little sympathy for a coach who could still call upon Rabbi Matondo, Ross McCausland, Oscar Cortes and £5 million striker Danilo off the bench.
“After the Dens draw, Clement spoke about being ‘creative’ with his subs after bringing on two internationals in Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland,” Boyd fumes. “That was against a Dundee team who, incidentally, had ten players missing!
“Clement is done. After a bright start, it’s been downhill since the title bid collapsed last March.”
Boyd thinks Rangers fans have lost the faith in Clement
Where Rangers go from here, however, is anyone’s guess. Do they stick with Clement until the summer and limp along to another runners-up finish? Or do they make a change now and try and salvage a season which could still end in a deep Europa League run and a Scottish Cup winners’ medal?
Boyd, it’s fair to say, would have few complaints if Clement was packing his bags this evening.
“The Belgian’s Ibrox reign has to come to an end,” adds the five-time Scottish Premiership Golden Boot winner. “Rangers are broken as a team. Everybody can see it. It can’t continue.
“The Rangers fans have had enough and have turned on their manager. That takes a lot. Those supporters pay fortunes to follow the team all over Europe and they will always back them to the hilt. But they aren’t daft. They can see when something isn’t working and that is the case with Clement.
“What was served up at Dundee is arguably as poor as we have seen all season. As always, Clement came out with the same old excuses after yet another dismal away performance [but] the fans aren’t interested.
“They are fed up of listening to his post-match ramblings.”
