Not All Doom and Gloom at Ibrox

Let’s be honest: there’s plenty to shout about when things aren’t going right, but painting the club as beyond saving is doing nobody any favours. Mistakes have been made, of course they have. Yet in two of the past three seasons we were in the thick of the title race before things fell apart. That shows we’re not some lost ship — it shows moments of promise and moments of failing to see things over the line.

Pressure, expectations and the recruitment reality

To be fair, it’s not easy coming to Rangers. The expectations here are brutal and rightly so — our fans expect trophies, big performances at home and ambition in Europe. That pressure scares some players and attracts others. You only have to think how quickly certain signings would have been labelled "not Rangers class" if they hadn’t delivered immediately. We live in an era where players chase glamour, wages and top-five league football. Losing out to a Burnley or a Hull is galling, but it isn’t a scandal in today’s market.

Owners, managers and the revolving door

It’s easy to blame the board. Equally, it’s fair to recognise money has been put in. You may not like every signing or every move, but investment has been made to try and get us competitive. Management has been a carousel — from Gio to Rohl — and none have yet brought the consistent run of form supporters crave. Who could be the magic fix? Most of the obvious names are unrealistic or simply wrong fits. The truth is this job is a pressure cooker and very few candidates will step into that without reservations.

What we actually need

We need clarity in recruitment, smarter selling and buying, and a manager who can get results quickly. That sounds simple, but it isn’t. Some players won’t adapt — you can’t tell who will sink or swim until they step onto the pitch at Ibrox. Dio may not have been the answer and Raskin might not be the creative spark, but hindsight is always cleaner than the reality of scouting and negotiations. Fans will have opinions — and we should — but constructive criticism is more useful than wholesale despair.

I’ve been a fan since Govan days and I want the magic back as much as anyone. I don’t expect it overnight, but I do believe the owners are invested and that we can get there. The manager needs to start turning chances into wins, and this Thursday is a reminder of how urgent that is. Stay vocal, stay critical, but don’t lose track: the club is not finished. The only way is up, and I genuinely have faith we’ll get there.

Written by Macnaughten: 16 August 2026