Pundit on how smaller Premiership clubs are putting Rangers to shame off the pitch
12/29/2024 09:30 AM
Rangers were the masters of their own downfall in losing to St Mirren.
It would be a stretch to suggest the Buddies deserved it on the balance of play but it is also true to say that Gers can’t really bemoan losing due to continually shooting themselves in the foot.
Rangers missed a lot of chances while St Mirren’s goals came from serious lapses from both Jack Butland and Dujon Sterling.
Kris Boyd raised concern about the displays of two Gers summer signings, Connor Barron and Nedin Bajrami, branding the latter a “disgrace”.
While he also reckons Philippe Clement’s decision to sub them both off tells a story about the recruitment.
Now, another pundit has highlighted how the way things are going do not reflect well on Ibrox chiefs.
Ryan McGowan critical of Clement and Rangers ‘hierarchy’
Livingston defender Ryan McGowan isn’t buying Clement’s excuses about not having a big enough squad to cope with an intense fixture load.
And reckons St Mirren are a much smaller club putting Rangers to shame with how organised and well-drilled their team and squad are.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he said: “They’re just not at the level to even compete with Celtic in anything. One off games, yeah possibly, but as an overall squad over a campaign it’s clear to see how far ahead Celtic are.
“As painful is that is for a lot of Rangers fans, it’s just reality at the moment. And Philippe Clement said he doesn’t have those types of options off the bench.
“Like Stephen Robinson and St Mirren and how well run they are, it’s almost the complete opposite at Rangers.
“For a club the size they are to not be able to cope with the amount of games they have. This season it’s not as if they’ve just suddenly woke up and they’re going to play so many games.
“Before every season they understand that, if they want to do well in Europe and get to cup finals, this is the amount of games that they have to play.
“They have to have a squad that’s capable to handle that. Yes they’ve had injuries but every squad has injuries.
“I think it’s a lot on the hierarchy and how the club’s run that he’s having to say he doesn’t have those options off the bench when we’re in December and it isn’t as if they’ve had a hugely crazy fixture period.”
Barron and Bajrami dropped for Rangers
It is no surprise that Barron and Bajrami are both dropped among SEVEN changes for the Motherwell game.
Jefte, Vaclav Cerny, Ianis Hagi, Hamza Igamane and the injured Leon Balogun are the others to drop out.
It means Dujon Sterling and Robin Propper start together at centre-back after failing to convince in Paisley.
