If there’s one thing clear, and Ibrox Noise has been preaching it for months, it’s that you have to use your best team at all times.
It’s abundantly obvious that like so many managers before him, Philippe Clement hasn’t been doing that, and one of the most infuriating parts is the continued wasting or non-use of Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun.
We’ve babbled a bit about rotation etc, but the simple reality is that for some reason, Clement uses his weaker players, and leaves the best ones sitting idly on the sideline.
Few can ignore that meme Ibrox Noise alerted the fanbase to yesterday, defender Balogun sat looking miserable behind manager Clement, helpless from the bench and unable to do anything while Goldson and Tavernier flapped at everything.
It’s a recurring theme, that despite having some good resources at his disposal, Clement has frequently chosen to go with weaker players.
Silva, Wright, Goldson, Tavernier, Barisic, Dowell.. these are players who don’t deliver the job they are supposed to, and we can probably include John Lundstram as well here at the moment.
Yet they just keep starting. Our weakest options, all our worst players, in the XI, with the Roofes, Baloguns, Sterlings you name it on the bench.
Sure, Ridvan hasn’t been fit lately, but that’s the only absence we can truly say is weakening the team, aside Cortes. But we’ve been without Cortes since February and been winning without him.
The loss of Ridvan has definitely hurt us for sure, but even lacking your best LB you should not be getting turned over by County.
No, for reasons known only internally at Ibrox, yet another Rangers manager doesn’t use his best players.
Doesn’t pick them, leaves them sitting on the bench, and doesn’t make the needed changes at the important times.
And the most annoying? Balogun and Sterling. Two alpha quality players, one outstanding at the back, the other in the middle.
Neither being used where they can be such assets, both being benched now.
We’ve seen how outstanding Sterling is in midfield, and how strong Balogun is at the rear, yet Dowell, Dio, Hare flipping Krishna gets the nod in the middle anyone but Sterling, while Goldson sits happily ahead of Balogun regardless.
It’s absolutely mind-bogglingly frustrating, and has in part led to just two wins in 7 matches.
Why don’t our best players play?
We couldn’t begin to tell you.