Rangers host Motherwell at Ibrox today and for Rangers v Motherwell Danny Rohl is just starting to feel a little speck of expectation now.
We’re not quite saying the heat is on, but after yet another big-match crash at Tynecastle, some fans are daring to ask a few questions of Rohl.
Big Match Record
Ibrox Noise did warn about facing top six sides, that Rohl’s previous record of success in the league came against the diddy sides at the bottom. Aside the curious pair of 1-0 wins over Hibs, Rangers’ record under Rohl in big matches has been ghastly.
And the miserable loss at Hearts was more of the same.
Today Rohl welcomes an in-form Motherwell, well-organised and who haven’t lost since League Cup winners St Mirren overcame them in early November. Funnily enough, in the League Cup semi.
It goes without saying a win is beyond critical, but frankly it’s not expected. A truly depressing comment from a Rangers site, but one echoed by many fans.
Rohl’s selections have been utterly bizarre (just like his three predecessors Clement, Ferguson and Martin) and after that initial (sort of) new manager bounce, Rangers are back to climbing the walls.
Fan call
Many fans make the repeated call to judge Rohl on his own players, but unfortunately as Ibrox Noise reported earlier, the players he’s looking at aren’t quite Erling Haaland.
But he can get some festive goodwill again with a win over third-placed Motherwell, who will be robust and steady under Jens Berthel Askou who has the Steelmen solid indeed.
It won’t be an easy ask – Rangers’ defence is porous despite the league numbers, and there remains no steady partnership in there which convinces. Fullbacks always look out of position and vulnerable.
Identity
Fans have said quite a few times recently that they can’t identify the shape or what style Rohl is actually going for.
There’s a lack of identity.
This would be a good match to find Rangers’ feet and a system that works. The problem is Rohl has had plenty of matches to cultivate some kind of direction of structure, and so far there’s very little coherency there.
Motherwell are a sturdy team who will make life very hard for their hosts, and Tawanda Maswanhise is their star man, third top scorer in the SPL who will be hoping to do so again in Govan.
Rohl really needs to put together something that works today for Rangers v Motherwell.