Why does Michael Beale just refuse to sort Rangers’ defence out?

When ‘them’ manager Ange took over in Glasgow’s east end, the first thing he did was to overhaul the defence.

Out went pretty much everything they had, in came Starfelt, Vickers and Juranovic to name but three. That ended up being their first-choice defence and they won the title with it.

Just like Walter in 2007, bringing in Weir, Thomson, Ehiogu and Webster, their new boss quickly earmarked defence as a key area and before too long they were miles away in the league, even if they had teething issues.

Rangers? Michael Beale?

Doesn’t bother doing anything with the defence in winter. Summer, he brings in a Coventry reject in Dujon Sterling and a panic Bosman in Leon Balogun. Defence already a shambles, and he doesn’t really properly bother with it.

Then not only sticks with that ‘plan’, spending £15M on strikers and forwards, but emphasises that he’s happy with defence and will only sign someone new if ‘injuries don’t clear up’.

The final insult? A defence yesterday starting with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic. Souttar was helpless surrounded by these losers.

We find it beyond ridiculous this man absolutely, positively refuses to deal with the rearguard, instead just letting goals in left right and centre, sticking with the same dross at the back and then looking all sad and dejected when his team loses.

This is starting to remind us of the infamous Lee McCulloch days – while there were media denials, we do understand McCulloch had a clause in his contract meaning he always played, unless injured. He even ended up a defender, it was that desperate.

The persistence with Tavernier, Goldson and Barisic when all three of them are not up to scratch and have proven that since post-55 time and time again is just completely bewildering.

And the refusal to sign a top quality couple of defenders or fullbacks is just flabbergasting.

Will it cost Michael Beale his job?

Maybe it already has.