Rangers can rack up points and still leave you feeling uneasy. That’s where I’m at. The wins matter, obviously they always do at this club, but too often it feels like we’re getting through games rather than putting teams away with any kind of grip.
xG is nice, but control is the real test
The Motherwell numbers might look impressive on paper, but xG on its own doesn’t tell you who actually controlled the match. We still struggle to turn pressure into the same type of chance again and again. It’s not a steady stream of clear openings, it’s bursts of activity, second balls, half-breaks, shots from bad angles and the odd moment of chaos that might fall kindly.
On a good day, that can end up 3-0 or 4-0 and everyone’s delighted. On plenty other days, it doesn’t. And that’s where the forward line becomes a constant thorn. If you’re not creating high-quality chances regularly, you need ruthless finishers to make up the difference. We don’t always look like we’ve got that.
Hearts wasn’t a one-off, it’s a pattern
The bigger concern is what happens when the opposition raise their level. Hearts isn’t just “one blip” you brush off. Whether it’s Hearts, Celtic, or European ties, Rangers too often fail to impose ourselves when the tempo goes up and the other side fancies it. Top teams still find a way to look like the main event in those games. We’ve had spells where we look like we’re reacting instead.
That’s not about one manager, one system, or one selection either. It’s been hanging around for a while. You can see why fans keep coming back to it, because it’s the difference between being good domestically and actually winning the biggest prizes.
Structure helps, but where are the leaders and match-winners?
Yes, defensive improvement is welcome. Nobody wants chaos at the back. But Rangers can’t be built purely on organisation and being “harder to play through”. We need personality, leadership, and match-winners. And right now it feels like we’re short in that department.
It’s also fair to say responsibility has to sit with the players. Several were brought in to be difference-makers. If you’re signed for Rangers, you can’t hide behind the system when things get tight.
The talk about loan defenders being easy to move on might be practical, but it doesn’t fix the immediate quality gap. And it’s the same with January: additions might help, but it’s hope, not a guarantee. The fact we’re even discussing the need for a playing captain tells you plenty. Leadership shouldn’t need to be imported. It should already be on the pitch.
Winning without convincing, without control, and without leaders isn’t a sustainable model. Improvement feels incremental, not transformational. Until the performances match the results, especially in the games that matter most, the doubts about this squad’s ceiling will remain.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
