Rangers’ fragility and why Rohl needs time
A better tempo but the same old issues in both boxes has left Rangers fans exasperated, with faith in Bo Henriksen Rohl’s longer-term rebuild now the only real source of optimism.
Rangers look fragile at both ends of the park just now and it is draining to watch. The tempo has improved a bit, the side is getting into good areas, but the same shortcomings in both boxes are killing any momentum.
Tempo up, quality missing in the final third
The most annoying part is that there were signs of life in general play. The passing was quicker, the movement was sharper and Rangers did work the ball into promising positions. Yet when it came to the final pass or the finish, the quality simply was not there.
Supporters can accept the odd bad miss, it happens, but what we are seeing feels more like a pattern. Chermiti’s chance summed it up. It did not look like a player lacking belief, more a forward who just does not have that clinical edge at this level. Everyone knew he was a gamble when he came in and right now the return on that risk is not showing.
Danilo and Miovski are not bailing anyone out either. That is three strikers who, at the moment, look like they could play all night without scoring. When your main forwards are not contributing, you end up relying on goals from midfielders, full-backs and set pieces. Over a season, that is a horrible place for a title-chasing Rangers side to be.
Soft at the back and big calls on senior players
The problems are not just up top. Defensively, Rangers look far too soft at basic jobs like tracking runners, closing down aggressively and sensing danger early. Teams do not need to be brilliant to cause trouble, they just need to be organised and willing to run in behind.
The call to start James Tavernier will divide opinion, but on this showing it felt like the wrong decision. He looked off the pace and when your captain is struggling, it spreads uncertainty through the back line. There comes a point where sentiment and past service have to give way to picking the side that best protects the team.
Bright spot in Bahjrami and the need for patience
Amid all the frustration there was at least one positive. Bahjrami put in a decent shift and looked like a player who deserves a run in the team. He brought energy and a bit of composure, and at this stage anyone showing that level of application should be in contention to keep their place.
Looking ahead, there is a real fear that by the time January comes the league leaders will be out of sight, well into double figures ahead. Realistically, Rangers are unlikely to overhaul an entire squad mid-season. One or two signings in January feels far more likely, with a bigger clear-out pushed to the summer window when better options are usually available.
That is why sticking with Bo Henriksen Rohl is so important. He needs several windows to reshape this squad into one that can genuinely compete. The recruitment so far has been a mixed bag, and he must have more say in the exact type of player Rangers are targeting if this is going to move in the right direction.
It is grim just now and the anger is understandable, but constant short-term resets have got the club nowhere. Rohl needs time, proper backing and a smarter transfer strategy, or nights like this will keep repeating. Rangers News Views aims to give supporters honest, thoughtful coverage without the usual rumour mill.
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