Headline: Rangers Struggle for Form as McInnes Faces Early Challenges
Nine days, three games, zero victories and five goals conceded – Rangers are yet to get going under Derek McInnes.
Dundee United, Jagiellonia Bialystok, and now Hibernian have all taken first-half leads against the Ibrox side as they struggle to find a semblance of form during a rocky start to the campaign.
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While issues persist across the park, from their profligacy in front of goal to their inability to penetrate organized defenses, their continued defensive lapses will undoubtedly be a growing cause for concern.
As former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan noted on BBC Radio Scotland after the 2-1 home defeat by his former side: “Based on today, I’d be very surprised if Derek McInnes knows what his best 11 is and we’re into the big games already – and that’s a problem.”
‘No consistency in how Rangers play’
After their Europa League qualifying loss in Poland, McInnes called on his side to “be far more stingy with our work, defend the goal with our lives, don’t give our opponent opportunities,” lamenting that the squad showed the same worrying characteristics that plagued the club last season.
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His team showed little sign of improvement in the brief period since their European outing.
Against Hibs on Sunday afternoon, his third different back four of the season struggled to maintain shape, and summer signing Vanja Dragojevic quickly committed a foul, bringing down Josh Kerr for a penalty, as the errors continued.
These issues, coupled with a lack of consistency among playing partners, compound the misery.
The draw with Dundee United featured a backline of Ben Godfrey, Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Tuur Rommens.
Away in Poland, the defense included Ross McCrorie, Sterling, Fernandez, and Rommens.
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When David Gray’s team visited, it was Dragojevic, Olwethu Makhanya, Fernandez, and Rommens.
The coaching staff needs to resolve these problems quickly as their Europa League qualification hangs in the balance ahead of Thursday’s second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
McInnes regarded the defeat by Hibs as “really harsh on us,” asserting that “we were the better team” and “deserved far better than we got,” particularly in a match where Hibs took the lead through a penalty he questioned.
“It’s damaging in the sense that we came here to win and we expect to win,” he explained.
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“What we’ve got to do now is just dust ourselves down because that was a blow for us.” He added that the team’s response towards the end of the game had been “terrific.”
The inconsistency in selection reflects on their performance on the pitch as well.
Allan commented: “Performing consistently is what [brings] results and winning silverware, and I know it’s very early on, but there is no consistency in how Rangers were playing today.”
‘Serious questions for Rangers’
A McInnes side throughout his tenures at St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts has often been described as hard to beat.
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This current iteration of his Rangers squad is decidedly the opposite.
The 55-year-old has lost more home league games in his short tenure at Rangers than he did during his entire time at Tynecastle.
As former Ibrox midfielder Ryan Jack noted: “For Rangers to be at home in their first league home game of the season, Derek McInnes’ first home game in charge, and to score only through an own goal while failing to create much with two strikers on the pitch will be frustrating.
“I mentioned before the game, if you go one without a win it’s trouble, then two, now three – usually that’s crisis time and people start asking serious questions.”
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“It’s early on in Derek McInnes’ reign and a lot of new players are in, so you need time for that to gel. But as that happens, you need to secure results as this football club demands it.”
With nine signings already made, McInnes aims to further enhance his squad.
In light of Youssef Chermiti being carried off on a stretcher amid reports that Rangers rejected a significant bid for the striker, complications may arise in squad building, particularly as another winger and extra defenders are among the manager’s priorities.
Speaking before the match, McInnes stated: “We’ve got a few bids in for several players, and a few things are ongoing at the minute.
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“Ideally, a lot of these things would have come to fruition a wee bit quicker. But hopefully, if there is any news to share, it’ll be in the upcoming days on a few of our targets.”
Nine days, three games, zero victories and five goals conceded – Rangers are yet to get going under Derek McInnes.
Dundee United, Jagiellonia Bialystok and now Hibernian have all taken first-half leads against the Ibrox side as the Ibrox side struggle to find a semblance of form during a rocky start to the campaign.
Advertisement
While issues persist across the park, from their profligacy in front of goal to their inability to penetrate organised defences, their continued defense lapses will undoubtedly be a growing cause for concern.
As former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan said on BBC Radio Scotland after the 2-1 home defeat by his former side: “Based on today, I’d be very surprised if Derek McInnes knows what his best 11 is and we’re into the big games already – and that’s a problem.”
‘No consistency in how Rangers play’
After their Europa League qualifying loss in Poland, McInnes called on his side to “be far more stingy with our work, defend the goal with our lives, don’t give our opponent opportunities” and lamented the squad for showing the same worrying characteristics that were the club’s ruin last season.
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His side showed little sign of turning this around in the short space of time since their European trip.
Against Hibs on Sunday afternoon, his third different back four of the season struggled to hold their shape and summer signing Vanja Dragojevic soon grappled Josh Kerr to the ground for a penalty as the errors continued.
These faults, coupled with a lack of consistency in playing partners, is compounding the misery.
Their draw with Dundee United started with a back-line comprising of Ben Godfrey, Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Tuur Rommens.
Away in Poland, it was Ross McCrorie, Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Rommens.
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When David Gray’s team came to town it was Dragojevic, Olwethu Makhanya, Fernandez and Rommens.
These issues need ironed out quickly by the coaching staff as their Europa League qualification hangs in the balance prior to Thursday’s second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
McInnes thought the defeat by Hibs was “really harsh on us” as “we were the better team” and “deserved far better than we got” in a game in which Hibs took the lead through a penalty he disputed.
“It’s damaging in the sense that we came here to win and we expect to win,” he said.
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“What we’ve got to do now is just dust ourselves down because that was a blow for us.
“The response of the team in the latter part of the game was terrific.”
Their selection inconsistency is mirrored in their form on the park too.
Allan added: “Performing consistently is what [brings] results and winning silverware, and I know its very early on, but there is no consistency in how Rangers were playing today.”
‘Serious questions for Rangers’
A McInnes side throughout his spells in charge of St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Hearts could all be described as hard to beat.
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This early iteration of his Rangers squad are the opposite.
The 55-year-old has now lost more home league games in charge of Rangers as he did in his whole time as Tynecastle boss.
As former Ibrox midfielder Ryan Jack suggested: “For Rangers to be at home in their first league home game of the season, Derek McInnes’ first home game in charge and to score thtough a Hibs own goal and not create too much with two strikers on the park will be frustrating.
“I touched on it before the game, if you go one without a win it’s trouble, then two, now three, usually that’s crisis time and people start asking serious questions.
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“It’s early on in Derek McInnes’ reign and a lot of new players are in, so you need time for that to gel, but as you do that, you need to pick up results as this football club demands it.”
With nine signings already in the building, McInnes wants to further bolster his squad.
With Youssef Chermiti being taken off on a stretcher on the day it was revealed Rangers had rejected a big-money offer for the striker, that may complicate matters further.
Especially as it appeared that another winger and extra defenders were the manager’s priorities.
Speaking pre-match, the manager said: “We’ve got a few bids in for several players and a few things are ongoing at the minute.
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“Ideally, a lot of these things would have came to fruition a wee bit quicker.
“But hopefully, if there is any news to tell, it’ll be in the upcoming days on a few of our targets.”
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