It’s clear that you can’t get a purse from a sow’s ear, and despite that impressive first 4+ months Philippe Clement’s Rangers has collapsed completely in the last 6+ weeks.
With that said, regardless of manager, it’s time to look at the players who clearly need to leave Rangers, whose times at the club are done, or who just aren’t good enough in the first place.
Or… is it safer to look at who’s actually good enough to remain?
The last month and a half have seen a massive shift. Players being exalted as the answer to it all have been reduced to a pile of rubble.
6 weeks ago Johnny Lundstram was a must-sign, now Rangers fans are practically shoving him out the door, for example.
Things have changed.
So, who WOULD we keep?
Butland, even though he too is having a form dip. We know how good he is, he’s POTY for sure, even if he’s finally having a little lull.
Balogun. Another one mistreated by the second manager in a row, he’s an alpha defender and has a couple of seasons left in him.
Souttar. Great defender, been a dark horse for POTY.
Ridvan. Sadly injured, but surely the best left back in the country.
Lundstram. If he’s in a good mindset he’s a great player, but he has fallen well short in Old Firm matches. He’s not an enthusiastic ‘keep’.
Cantwell. At his best he’s great, and he’s been nowhere near our worst offender recently. He works hard but he’s hamstrung.
Sterling. He’s our best midfielder. He’s massive. But he’s been wasted by this manager.
Cortes. Was absolutely fantastic until the manager put him on Astroturf at Killie, and that ended his season.
Matondo. Being badly treated but clearly more capable than the starters.
Dessers. He’s no miracle worker but he gets goals and assists and works hard.
And that’s about it.
None of the rest of the squad is good or consistent enough.
We’d seriously consider shipping out the rest:
Tavernier is finished, he’s now running on empty and we need a new captain.
Goldson… nuff said?
Davies is a mediocre defender who’s costing far too much for what we get.
Barisic is gone anyway.
Raskin has been a bad signing, simple as. Hasn’t worked out.
Jack is broken.
Lowry has apparent attitude issues and clearly won’t make it.
Hagi also has major attitude problems and has sucked in Spain.
Silva? Seriously?
McCausland has been rank poor, no quality as a winger.
Sima we’re torn on – he scores big and he’s actually passing better but we’re not shelling out £10M on this guy.
Roofe is finished.
Dowell is nowhere near Rangers level.
Wright is nowhere near Aberdeen level.
King is rank poor.
Diomande has been an absolutely meek addition, totally unconvincing. Is there a way to get out of the obligation to buy?
Lawrence flatters to deceive – doesn’t influence matches at all. We also ain’t keen on his character, just do digging into his past.
Danilo has no power as a striker, he’s just a goalscorer which doesn’t really thrive in Scotland. And he’s an injury case anyway.
Now…
The ones we’d keep we’re not saying they’re all Rangers level, but they are the best of what we have, and we’d start from there and bring in a LOT of fresh faces this summer.
Rangers badly need an overhaul, yet again, and once more the squad just doesn’t measure up.