Much of the talk surrounding Rangers at the moment is the speculation over the future of Philippe Clement.
Names have been thrown about by fans as possible replacements should the board pull the trigger on the manager, however, despite the appointment of a new CEO and chairman, it appears to be status quo.
One obvious name doing the rounds is Steven Gerrard, with Sheyi Ojo recently explaining his leadership qualities and how they still make Rangers a good fit for the title winning boss.
Philippe Clement could learn Rangers lesson from Steven Gerrard
Gerrard was always open about his own, limited, coaching experience, which is why he hired Michael Beale as his head coach and why he has appointment him again at Al Ettifaq.
Ojo picked out the personal qualities that the former Gers gaffer possessed to adapt to different situations and it was easy to see how similarities were drawn with Graeme Souness.
Gerrard always seemed to be a motivator, a manager who would pull players aside in training and give them advice or a quiet word in their ear.
This seems to be the problem that Clement is having just now. The difference between first half and second half performances suggests that something isn’t right in terms of the message being given to the players.
It is either too complicated or the players simply aren’t buying into it.
Why Clement’s coaching team raises questions
What Gerrard got right, was that he surrounded himself with subject matter experts, including; a set-piece coach and a well respected fitness and conditioning coach.
Clement doesn’t seem to have any specialists who are in his team of four first team coaches.
There is a promising young coach in Brian Gilmour, Clement’s long-term friend Stephan van der Heyden, Alex Rae is there due to his status as a former player and then Andries Ulderink arrived in the summer.
With Clement leading the set-piece sessions, what the other four are doing is anyone’s guess when you look at performances.
If the Rangers manager can’t set up sessions on the training ground geared towards how he wants his team to play, then someone on the coaching staff must be able to.
Given what has been served up this season, there are serious questions about Clement’s ability to motivate and his team’s ability to coach.
At least Gerrard recognised what he was and wasn’t capable of.
