Rangers are still a long way from having the type of starting XI and depth that would instill even a modicum of confidence that success is a possibility.
Philippe Clement is having to work with what he’s got in terms of the squad he inherited but will have been buoyed by the new additions, particularly, Connor Barron, Vaclav Cerny and Robin Propper.
What he also must do though, is improve the players that he has at his disposal.
Not an easy task when you consider some of them.
Philippe Clement makes do as he tries to fix Rangers wing problem
It is a point considered by the manager as he reflects on the signing of Vaclav Cerny as Rangers look to navigate the Champions League qualifiers.
Asked if Cerny is the type of quality that he is looking for, he said:
“Of course. That is logical. You have ideas in your head how you want to play football and he is the kind of player, the creative one, that can make a difference.
“We need to raise our quality there. We spoke a lot about efficiency there last season and we are working hard on that.
“Players are making really good steps in that. One example, six months ago if Ross played on the right side he never came into shoot in his left foot. He never did it a year before.
“But we have been working on that the last couple of months, he is conscious of it, he is very motivated and that’s why he got a good shot in Kyiv and hit the post because it is getting more and more natural but it takes time.
“With all the players, doing different things next to their collective training. Of course Vaclav is experienced, who went through this trajectory to become a better player and so I hope to get a few more like that, it makes everybody’s life easier.”
Clement can’t work miracles and needs quality like Cerny
Clement spoke about this last season when Rabbi Matondo fired two similar efforts against Hibernian and Celtic in consecutive weeks.
McCausland does seem to have more intent this season and attempted a similar type of shot against Motherwell at the weekend.
As a right-footed player playing on the right, he will always look to go to the byline and onto his stronger side so, when he does cut in, it is his weaker foot that he is shooting with.
What is encouraging is that Clement fully appreciates what tools he has at his disposal and, until others move on, must try and squeeze every ounce of ability out of the current squad.
It nearly came off last season, but the efforts weren’t enough and only the league cup trophy returned to the Ibrox trophy cabinet.
Hard as they might try on the training ground, McCausland, Scott Wright and Rabbi Matondo simply aren’t going to be at the standard Rangers need to succeed.
He needs more players like Cerny, players who can be trusted to execute when they have one opportunity or even when they are having a bad game.
Until he gets them, Clement is banging his head against a brick wall.
