Rangers have endured a tough start to the campaign with no wins from three games leaving some fans restless. A serious injury to striker Youssef Chermiti has done nothing to ease the stress amongst those disgruntled punters. Couhaib Driouech is the latest signing to arrive, but tomorrow night's Euro tie against Jagiellonia Bialystok is another major early-term moment for boss Derek McInnes.
Fans question recruitment strategy
Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, said: “Confirmation that Chermiti will be out for the season means the decision to knock back over £20million from Galatasaray has completely backfired. Of course, I wish Chermiti well, but for us to anticipate a higher offer for the striker was complete and utter madness considering it's not every day Rangers are offered that sort of money for a player. I very much doubt we'll get money like that for him ever again. In fact, we'll probably let him run down his current contract and he can go for free.”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “With Chemiti out for a year and along with £22 million down the drain, they could bring Antonio Colak back from Poland, a fairly good No.9 whom Rangers should never have sold, scored a fair number of goals in the past for them.”
Fitness concerns and support for McInnes
Drew Ferguson, Oban, said: “Let's face it, Rangers recruitment has not been great with a significant lack of quality. But also when employing, any employers always look at the new employee 'fitness to work' and, with all due respect, players like Ben Godfrey, Tuur Rommens, Dujon Sterling and now new signing Drioeuch, their fitness record in the past was not great at previous clubs.”
Jack Armstrong, Bathgate, said: “Just overheard two supporters already saying their mantra: Aye just wait until next season.when McInnis has signed his 124th player, we will get it right.”
Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “I would ask fellow Rangers supporters to hold their nerve just now and stick behind McInnes as he tries to build his own squad and team. However, I accept this becomes more difficult the longer he goes without a win. While I do not expect McInnes to explain his team selections to anyone, let alone me., his selections and in-game changes to personnel and team shape have in recent matches left many fans bewildered.
“Most recently against Hibs he played a midfielder at right back when he had two right backs on the bench, then he further bewildered us fans at half time by replacing the midfield right back with our left winger, who was arguably one of our most dangerous playets in first half, still leaving two right backs on the bench. Changes such as these will turn the fans against him every bit as fast as not winning games.”
Celtic fans look ahead
Stephen Johnsone, Ardentinny, said: “The only Treble one can see coming this season from Ibrox is them going through three managers and McInnes wishing he, Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin had stayed at Hearts. Now all in the last chance saloon.”
Over at Celtic, Stephen Mulhearn, Dumbarton, said: “I was convinced Roberto Martinez was nailed on to rejoin Shaun Maloney when Martin O’Neill stands down. With Martinez in talks with the Netherlands, that looks no longer the case. But with Celtic now having world class Kasper Hogh at their disposal, my money is now on Kjetil Knutsen leaving Bodo Glint in following him to Celtic next season.”
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “It is not before time that the Celtic board seems to have wakened up to the fact that it needs to speculate wisely on bringing in quality to its team squad in order to accumulate. We will only know whether this conversion is genuine when the team knocks LASK out of the Champions' League qualifier by having secured at least three more quality player over and above Haissem Hassan. Let us not have a repeat of last year's failure and aborted AGM.”
