Despite regaining a Premiership status last season, Rangers are still way behind in reclaiming an elite status and have been no match for Old Firm rival Celtic’s excellence in the recent past. The Parkhead club conquered a domestic treble last season under Brendan Rodgers and are now close to replicating the same following a thumping 4-0 win versus the Light Blues in the Scottish Cup semifinal. The Gers had one last opportunity to salvage something from yet another ordinary campaign but suffered a humiliation instead.
They are not blessed to spend millions in transfer activities and have a squad full of mediocrity who are not at all capable of reconquering the lost throne. Yet, there are plenty of other concerns that are restricting the Glasgow giants from challenging Celtic’s domestic supremacy and redefine the age-old rivalry with end-to-end contests. The darkest days in lower leagues saw them losing out several key players and the current squad, therefore, looks like a half-baked amalgamation of youth and experience.
Youngsters like Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos are having a productive campaign in front of goal but indeed too inexperienced to handle the intensity of the prestigious Old Firm derby all alone. Veterans like Graham Dorrans, Russell Martin, and Bruno Alves have significantly underperformed whenever they were asked to step up and deliver which, in turn, resulted in some unforeseen outcomes in relatively easier fixtures as well.
Rangers’ chairman Dave King has been heavily criticized for his business policy and untimely comments that have harmed his side time and again. The passion is unquestionably there, but his antiques have placed his football knowledge under a cloud of doubt. He was not happy with Mark Warburton’s work and replaced him with an unknown Pedro Caixinha who failed miserably to deliver and sent the club backward with his transfer blunders and tactical flaws.
He was replaced by Graeme Murty, club’s U20s boss, who tried to implement a philosophy along with some smart pieces of transfer business in the winter transfer window. Murty had a relatively comprehensive record against the mighty rivals before Sunday’s embarrassing defeat. King, meanwhile, publicly announced the likely appointment of a new manager next season which ensured Murty’s departure upon completion of the ongoing campaign.
These quotes, however, were premature and should have been avoided prior to their most significant clash of the season which could have restored their lost pride to some extent but turned out to be complete shambles when they got humiliated 4-0 at Hampden Park.
Brendan Rodgers, the ex-Liverpool boss, has been a high-profile appointment for the Hoops as he holds complete authority over transfer negotiations and has the final say before cracking a deal. The Northern Irishman is working on a shoestring at Parkhead yet focusing on improving their European record.
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Murty, on the other hand, is no match for Rodgers’ experience, reputation and also had no control over transfer deals during his short stint as the first-team gaffer. The esteemed outfit lacks a serious plan how to strengthen the foundation over rushing for title glory. The Gers, thus, need a high-profile appointment for their managerial role who will be on a par with Rodgers’ stature and must be handed a fair share of time to lure in top talents and establish an enticing football project at Ibrox.
