It might actually be worth Rangers’ while to lose to PSV…

And no, that’s not some attention-seeking headline from the Daily Record quoting some ex-Rangers player with a deliberately provocative statement, it’s an Ibrox Noise suggestion in light of current events.

Last season, a hastily and shambolically-assembled Rangers scrambled their way past PSV into the massive money of the Champions League group stage. We were absolutely slaughtered, and aside from Napoli, our group was absolutely abysmal (look at the seasons both Ajax and Liverpool had).

Even in what really was a rubbish group (despite all those claims of a group of death) Rangers couldn’t lay a single glove, apart from one very good first half v Liverpool before the untimely injury to Connor Goldson ended the UCL dream entirely.

We were abysmal – negatively managed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who himself was held back by a shocking injury blight meaning he only really had James Sands, Ben Davies and Leon King at the back in the Champions League…

It wasn’t great.

Fast forward to today. Our defence is ghastly, and much better teams than PSV await should we manage the staggering and actually overcome Peter Bosz’ colossal Dutch giants, themselves hell-belt on revenge after last season.

With the 100% certainty that Michael Beale, again, will select James Tavernier and Connor Goldson on the right side, or find some other bizarre system with which to confuse and bewilder the players who might step in, the chances of beating PSV are already pretty low.

Which means while if, IF we actually get to the UCL group phase, yes, we get anywhere from £20M to £40M (ignore Stewart Robertson’s nonsense from last season, he was literally lying out his backside) and that’s big money, but it will end there.

Rangers will get absolutely pounded in the group phase – six matches against sides much, much better than us, with managers in most cases deeply experienced at that level.

We had a manager last season experienced in the UCL – losing in it, that is, in Giovanni, who got humped at Feyenoord at that level, and that didn’t really help us a lot – Beale would be a rookie at this level, and Rangers, aside the failures of Tav, Barisic and Goldson from last season, would have very little UCL experience to draw on in the squad.

So, after all this, wouldn’t it actually be better for Rangers to quite simply lose to PSV and drop down to the Europa League Group stage?

We would never actually promote losing, we should still give PSV a good shot, but it might actually be better for our club and its growth if we just drop into the second top club competition.

It’s our level – we all know how mesmerising Gerrard then Gio have been at that level for 4 seasons, it would feel much better for Rangers to do well at that level, make good money, and then see where it can develop from there.

Chucking this club, this squad and this manager straight into the group phase of the Champions League?

It’s lambs to the slaughter, surely…