Rangers Need Röhl’s System To Lift This Squad

A fortunate point, a missed sitter and a nine–point gap have left the support somewhere between frustration and quiet hope. There’s still a path forward, but the manager has big calls to make.

The dust has just about settled after that draw, and it still feels like two points dropped rather than one gained. Rangers got away with one in spells, yet could easily have walked off with all three if a huge chance had been taken.

That sitter from Chermiti will live in the head for a while. If he tucks that away, we are suddenly talking about a smash-and-grab win instead of another missed opportunity in a season that already feels like it’s walking a tightrope.

The table, the games in hand and the reality check

So here we are: nine points off Hearts with a game in hand, and the same distance behind Celtic. It is not where anyone wanted to be, but it is also not terminal. There is still time, awkward as that sounds right now.

We still have to play both of them three times. That’s the one big carrot that remains. Take care of those head-to-heads and you at least give yourself a shout of turning this into a proper title race instead of watching it drift away before spring.

But that only matters if by the time those games come round, Danny Röhl has his system properly embedded and the players fully tuned into it. Right now it still looks like a squad caught between ideas: flashes of what he wants, then big spells where we look short of tempo, cohesion and belief.

Bajrami’s rise and the Danilo dilemma

One clear positive has been Bajrami. On current form he looks like he has to start every game. He brings energy, a bit of drive and a willingness to take responsibility that this team badly needs.

The thought of using him further forward, effectively taking the role Danilo has had, is an interesting shout. Some fans have simply run out of patience with Danilo. Whether you think he is a dud or just a player struggling for rhythm and confidence, the truth is we are not getting enough from that position. You can see why people are calling for a change there, and Bajrami offers something different in terms of movement and aggression.

Backline tweaks: Tav, Fernandez and Sterling’s return

At the back, there are more big decisions. Moving James Tavernier inside to a right centre-back role alongside Fernandez is one option that keeps getting mentioned. Tav’s defending out wide has its critics, but his experience, organisation and use of the ball could give a bit more stability through the middle, especially if Fernandez continues to grow with every game.

Fernandez himself looks raw at times but there is a player there. With a consistent partner and a settled shape around him, he should only improve. The hope is that Röhl finds a backline that can actually stay together for a run of matches instead of constant chopping and changing.

Sterling coming back is a big plus. He brings physicality and a bit of bite that we badly miss when he is not there. As for Djiga, a lot of fans are clearly ready to move on. If he does head out and does not feature again, most won’t be losing sleep over it. Sometimes it just does not work out.

January hopes and keeping the head up

That leaves us looking at the upcoming window and hoping there are one or two proper finds in there. Nobody is expecting a full rebuild mid-season, but a couple of genuine upgrades could transform the mood and the competition for places.

Until then, there is not much else to do but keep our chins up and hope Röhl’s ideas start to properly click. The situation is far from perfect, but the fixtures still give Rangers a chance to claw this back. If the system settles, the right players are backed and a bit of quality arrives, this season might yet have some life in it.

It is on the manager now to turn a patchy, often mediocre group performance into something better than the sum of its parts. That, more than anything, will decide where we end up come May.

Written by deecee 4 12 2025