All players have dips in form and some struggle when they move to a new club and, in Jose Cifuentes, Rangers seem to have a player who is going through both.
The Ecuador international clearly isn’t a bad player given his recent reputation and the teams that have been after him but he has yet to show the sort of performances that had the previous Gers manager saying he was going to be a player who could take us to the next level.
Against both Aberdeen and Aris Limassol, Jose Cifuentes drifted in and out of the game for Rangers and he has to learn quickly that he can’t do this, especially with a player like Bailey Rice waiting in the wings.
Jose Cifuentes place in Rangers starting XI should be in danger
Philippe Clement only had Cole McKinnon as a recognised central midfielder on the bench.
There were other options like dropping Todd Cantwell or Tom Lawrence deeper but there is no way that the summer signing should have seen the 90 minutes on the pitch.
John Lundstram was trying to build attacks one minute and put out fires the next and got next to no help from either Cifuentes or Sam Lammers.
Look at Ross McCausland, given his chance through injury to others, he has shown that there is quality in the academy and Bailey Rice should be next to be given a chance.
There is no point persisting with a senior player in a key position if they continuously lose possession the way that Jose Cifuentes is for Rangers just now, even if he is playing an unfamiliar role.
Let Rice play in his natural position and give Lundstram more freedom.
Clement is short of bodies in midfield just now but this doesn’t mean that players should be immune from being dropped.
Jose Cifuentes might one day be a good player for Rangers but that day doesn’t look like being any time soon.
