Where has the quality gone?

There’s a proper feeling of frustration among fans right now. You point to McCrorie not being able to match Tavernier, Raskin producing moments that attract interest, and a line-up of moves and hires that don’t feel like upgrades. That’s understandable. Let’s unpack it without getting melodramatic.

McCrorie and the right-back issue

On the face of it, the comparison with Tavernier is harsh but fair. If both were at the club together, the standard was obvious — and you’re right to say McCrorie didn’t lay a glove on him. Trying McCrorie at centre-back and even as a holding midfielder tells you the staff were looking for solutions, but they didn’t stick. The swap for Scott Wright felt like admitting a plan hadn’t worked, and supporters celebrated because it looked like correcting a mistake.

Managers, pedigree and what it actually means

You mention Rohl as a Champions League winning coach held in high regard by big names, and that McInnes has a title with Kilmarnock while Devlin hasn’t won much. Worth saying: pedigree matters for confidence and reputation, but it doesn’t automatically translate to right-now quality on the pitch. A manager’s name can buy time and attract respect, but squad depth, recruitment and coaching all decide whether that pedigree pays off.

Raskin, departures and the transfer headache

Raskin creating a goal for Lukaku last night is the kind of moment that puts a player on other radars. If he does head to the World Cup and interest follows, we’ll need a real replacement. That’s the crux — losing key players without like-for-like returns is what feeds the downgrade feeling. So far the moves you list don’t convince that the club is actually upgrading where it matters.

To be fair, a few signings and managerial tweaks take time to bed in. But fans aren’t wrong to ask where the quality is. Until the recruitment and coaching produce consistent performances, scepticism is natural. We can hope for better, but right now the questions need answering.

Written by RohlWithCheese: 11 July 2026