Given there are such striking similarities between Rangers and Manchester United at present, it’s ironic the two find themselves in the news together this week.
Both are the once dominant forces in their respective divisions – although the Premier League is another stratosphere to the Scottish Premiership – and both have misspent in attempts to restore themselves to former glories.
Both are struggling against teams on much smaller budgets, both have increasingly infuriated fan bases and both are getting increasingly uncomfortable at their diminished role in European and domestic football.
Rangers and Manchester United are also both in a rhythm of hiring, firing and throwing money at new managers in a merry go-round of disastrous proportions.
But as Rangers confirm ex-Man United CEO Patrick Stewart as the new CEO at Ibrox, perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim takes over a cursed Old Trafford dugout.
Manchester United fans get painful reminder
As Rangers fans were dreading the return of their club to action following the international break, Manchester United fans had a renewed sense of optimism.
The appointment of Ruben Amorim to replace Erik Ten Hag is being viewed as a positive, progressive move with the young Portuguese coach’s talented Sporting Lisbon side the new Old Trafford blueprint.
But as the hype machine built around the manager, the complex nature of Premier League life came back to haunt the Red Devils this weekend despite an initially bright start.
Marcus Rashford had United ahead within three minutes and fans had already begun to believe that Ruben Amorim was the hero United have been looking for to lift them out the mire.
Such delusional excitement didn’t even last to half-time.
With Omari Hutchison equalising for newly-promoted Ipswich Town, Manchester United fans were sent a stirring reminder that such is the scale of mismanagement at Old Trafford, there is no quick fix to their problems.
As Rangers fans lick their wounds following a devastating 1-1 draw of their own this weekend, perhaps they should pay close attention.
Rangers manager tip of the Ibrox iceberg
Like Manchester United, Rangers are a footballing institution lacking leadership, bravery and ultimately, success.
The first man to get the blame when things go wrong at Rangers normally dons a blue suit and brown brogues and prowls the Ibrox touchline.
Philippe Clement is under huge pressure and is losing fans by the match. Rangers are not only failing to get results, but the club’s tepid, lacklustre and disinterested performances are infuriating fans.
There are huge gaps all over the park. The players look like they’d rather be anywhere else. There’s barely an ounce of bravery amongst them.
But there is only so much changing the manager – as necessary as that may be in the minds of many – will actually do at Ibrox.
The situation is genuinely abysmal. Patrick Stewart is inheriting a mess years in the making when he steps into the top seat at Ibrox, conveniently after the League Cup Final v Celtic
If not exactly a vote of confidence from our fearless investors in our brave young team.
Clement probably has until then to change course with Rangers ambling from one shambles to the next on and off the park.
Between chronic contract mismanagement, lack of player trading stimulation, the Copland Road rebuild, the Hampden relocation and the eternal musical chairs in the club’s executive department, the chaos runs much deeper than Philippe Clement.
There is no quick fix. There is no magic stick. Long-term success takes consistency, stability and trust.
It’s why the fates of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale before Clement were ultimately doomed.
As Manchester United fans begin to realise the same following the appointment of Ruben Amorim, we don’t think it’ll make too much difference with regard’s Clement fate at Ibrox.
But sooner or later Rangers are going to have to stick to their guns – just as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are going to have to do at Old Trafford – with the manager an easy scapegoat.
