There are no two ways that Danny Rohl is currently still enjoying a grace period. There’s a domestic new manager bounce in the league, with three wins on the spin. But his big game management is poor, with three losses in Europe and v Celtic. And none of them were close. Danny Rolh’s grace period continues.
Rohl, of course, is coming from the Championship, where he secured survival with an acceptable 38% win level in those circumstances.
This means his experience is dogfighting against other small teams trying to survive. The big matches, such as his poor loss to Russell Martin’s high-flying Southampton, was predictable.
He just isn’t a coach for big-time matches yet, being only two years older than James Tavernier. A young coach can be brilliant, look at Xavi Alonso, but guys like him a rare.
Rohl isn’t at that level yet.
But the reality is he’s got a lot of forgiving fans these days, his being in ‘new’ territory.
Indeed, when Rangers win he gets the credit. When Rangers lose Kevin Thelwell gets the criticism.
Being still a little unknown Rohl is getting that slack.
And even when there is something fans don’t like on the pitch, Thelwell still gets the blame. Be it for selections, formations, recruitment.
But then Thelwell hasn’t earned much aside criticism given the Chermiti and Fernandez scandals which still haunt the club.
The quality of Rangers’ squad is so poor and a lot of that is on Thelwell – it’s not a Rangers level squad and it will struggle against upper SPL teams, Hibs notwithstanding.
Fans cannot stand Thelwell or CEO Patrick Stewart, while Rohl is more likeable, so he’s got a big grace period.
It may last for some time given he’s not the arrogant narcissist Martin was, an appointment which scarred fans for life.
Then there’s the 49ers. Ibrox Noise was against their takeover from the start, but they’ve outshone even our worst predictions.
They had a short grace period, but for as long as Thelwell and Stewart remain their stormtroopers, fans will never be onside with them.
And for us at Ibrox Noise, the club is in a limbo with all of that.
Fans behaving toxic, a deeply unpopular board, owners with a lack of empathy or understanding, a rotten squad, a head coach with hands tied and a sporting director who appears to be a borderline criminal.
A win over hapless Dundee hasn’t changed THAT much, but it has given us 3IAR in the league. Danny Rolh’s grace period remains.
But a lot more has to happen before there is any sign of anything like the Rangers we all recognise again.