Rangers Need Goals, Not Excuses

When you come away from a European defeat and the first thought is “we were never beating them anyway”, that tells you plenty about where Rangers are at just now. Porto looked a level above, fair enough. But the bit that stings is how familiar the story feels: we’re not clinical enough up front, and we’re too vulnerable when teams run at us with pace and purpose.

Five at the back felt like an invitation

I get why managers do it in Europe. You try to stay in the game, keep it tight, hope to nick something. The problem is, a back five can quickly become a back seven if your wing-backs are pinned and your midfield can’t get out. Against a young, highly technical side, it’s asking for overloads and chaos in the wide areas.

That’s what it looked like here. Porto didn’t take long to find the soft spots and keep piling bodies into the same channels until someone cracked. When you’re constantly defending your own box, mistakes follow. And once you’re chasing the game, it’s even tougher because we don’t have that consistent forward who turns half-chances into a goal and changes the mood of the match.

The hard truth: the forward line still isn’t dependable

Rangers can’t go through a season hoping the goals spread themselves around nicely. You need at least one forward you trust to score regularly, and ideally more than one option with a different profile. Right now, it feels like we’re still stuck in that in-between place: plenty of effort, plenty of running, but not enough composure when it matters.

That’s why the point about bringing in two forwards rather than one lands. Whether it’s a starter and a rotation option, or two who push each other, we’ve seen too many spells where we’re one injury or one dip in form away from looking toothless.

Loans and positions: Rangers can’t waste what they’ve got

There’s also the squad management side of it. If Curtis is genuinely considered a better option than Antman on the right, then sending him out on loan feels like weakening ourselves for no reason. Same with Gassama. If he’s struggling on the right, why keep forcing it? Sometimes a player’s best contribution comes from a secondary role, and moving him to the left or even through the middle could be worth a look if the manager wants more threat between the posts.

And the wider point is obvious: if the club believes a target is worth the money, then get it done early. Clocks ticking is exactly right. Rangers can’t keep drifting into the important months still short in key areas.

Europe’s gone and that’s bitter, especially when you think back to better runs not too long ago. But there’s no time for sulking. League and cup now. That’s where Rangers have to respond, quickly, and with a lot more edge.

Written by LAUDRUPHAGI: 30 January 2026