Let's be straight: you can't judge a manager in isolation, especially when most of the squad was put together by the previous regime. The core group Danny inherited was largely the dozen or so players Mark and co kept and the remnants from before that. If a manager is working with other people's signings and a patchwork squad, expectations should be measured.

Context matters

To be fair, you only get so far blaming the manager when the building blocks aren't his. Lots of those transfers simply weren't good enough to walk straight into the team, and that weakens your starting point. Look at examples like Gio, Clement or Beale — their strong early runs came from stepping into relatively healthier situations, not teams that were already struggling. You can see why comparisons are unfair.

Don't mistake fortune for progress

And another thing — just because the favourite trips up, it doesn't mean you suddenly have speed. Celtic's wobble doesn't magically elevate Rangers' quality. A rival's collapse might open an opportunity, but it doesn't change the underlying standard of the squad or the difficulty of the job. The manager is doing the best with what he's got. There will be mistakes; that's inevitable while trying to steady things mid-season.

Judge properly next season

Who knows if he'll end up like those who came before? I don't either. I'm sceptical we should expect silverware straight away, but I'm not arguing for perpetual patience either. The sensible approach is to judge him on a proper sample: a transfer window, the chance to shape the squad and a full season. If he can pull something off this season, great. If not, then next summer will be the time for a clearer verdict.

Truth is, fans want progress and quick results, but football isn't tidy. Give the man a fair crack and let's assess him on what he actually inherits and changes, not on what a stumble from another club might imply.

Written by Kaisercaillaud: 27 March 2026

Tags: transfers spfl tactics