Rangers under Danny Röhl are definitely a better watch, but when you look right through the side you can still see why we’re coming up short. The system looks sharper, the ideas are there, yet too many key areas of the pitch just aren’t at the level they need to be.

Goals, Influence and the Miovski Comparison

There’s been plenty of debate about our forwards and how much influence they really have on the league campaign. For me, if a striker isn’t scoring enough league goals, he simply can’t be called truly influential in the title race. That’s the bottom line.

You only have to look at the way Miovski has been playing recently. If he keeps that form up over a full season, you can easily see him matching or even beating what CD produced in his first year. That’s the sort of threat we need leading the line every week, not just in spells or in certain competitions.

Concerns From Back to Front

The truth is, the issues aren’t just about one striker, they’re all over the park. Even Butland, who’s been one of our better performers overall, is starting to feel like a small concern at times. Whether it’s decision making, confidence, or just the pressure of constantly having to bail us out, it doesn’t feel as rock solid as it did.

In front of him, the defence is still a major problem. We’ve got very few players you’d genuinely call defensively solid in the purest sense. Too many are good on the ball but fragile without it, and in this league you get punished for that every other week. When teams turn us, or put us under a bit of pressure, we don’t look comfortable enough.

Midfield isn’t much better. Most of our options do their best work in our own half: taking it off the centre-backs, recycling possession, keeping it neat. That’s fine to a point, but we’re crying out for a couple of proper 8/10 types who can break lines, arrive in the box and link midfield to attack with a bit of purpose. Without that, the play just dies before it reaches the forwards.

Then you get to the front line. Chermit, at the moment, doesn’t look fully at it. Whether that’s confidence, fitness or just adaptation, he doesn’t give off the vibe of a striker desperate to grab games by the scruff of the neck. On top of that, the wingers aren’t contributing nearly enough in terms of goals or real end product. It’s all a bit safe and predictable, which makes us easier to defend against.

Röhl’s System Is the Big Positive

The flip side, and it is important to say this, is that you can see a massive improvement in the overall system since Röhl came in. The build-up play is miles better: more structured, more patterns, more idea of what we’re actually trying to do when we’ve got the ball. It’s not just hit and hope or waiting for a moment of magic.

With players who have a stronger mentality and a bit more quality in those key positions, this style of football could really work. You can see the framework of a proper team there, which we couldn’t always say before. Fix the spine, add those attacking midfielders and wide men who can really hurt teams, and Röhl has a fair chance of doing well.

For now, though, it’s hard to ignore that the problems run from back to front. The system is pointing in the right direction; the personnel still has a long way to go.

Written by zikos: 15 December 2025

Tags: tactics injury