Rangers crashed out of the Europa League after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok, leaving the Light Blues to drop into the Conference League for the first time, where only a win over Czech side Jablonec will guarantee league phase action. The result heaps fresh pressure on winless boss Derek McInnes and the club's embattled American board.
Pressure Mounts on Board and Manager
Derek McInnes had warned Rangers they were playing with fire after failing to address the gaps in his defence, and this result will only pour fresh fuel on the flames threatening to engulf the club's beleaguered board. Andrew Cavenagh and his American regime felt the heat at Monday's shareholder meeting as punter after punter lined up to take a dig at the club's ropey recruitment record.
The US directors were praying they could grab a result that would overturn last week's 2-1 defeat in Poland and douse the growing sense of anger sweeping the fanbase. But tempers are beginning to boil over again in a manner all too similar to last year's toxic reaction to Russell Martin's failed appointment.
Shankland's Goal Not Enough
McInnes was hoping Lawrence Shankland's first goal for the club 19 minutes in from the penalty spot would spark his team into life. But it was lukewarm stuff after the break, and Gers paid the price as Nik Prelec fired the crucial equaliser that put the Poles back in front.
It's now four games played under McInnes and still no win on the board. The furious Ibrox fans lashed out at everybody in sight as they booed their team off at the end. McInnes got it too, but the punters really should be targeting their ire at the American board who have spent millions of dollars and delivered nothing but mediocrity in their 12 months in charge.
Klopp Comparison Raises Eyebrows
Ibrox CEO Jim Gillespie left punters at the club's shareholder meeting this week scratching their heads when he compared McInnes to former Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp. Given there's not been much sign of the German's trademark brand of 'heavy metal' football at Ibrox so far this season, you could understand the confusion. But the Gers chief was trying to draw a line between Klopp's inspirational style of leadership and McInnes' own man management skills.
This week, however, has pushed them to the limit as everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the luckless boss. The double injury blow to Youssef Chermiti and Tuur Rommens proved too much for a squad already lacking ideas and leadership despite the addition of three former captains.
Shankland's Maiden Strike
Birthday boy Shankland celebrated turning 31 on Monday, but there was a belated gift three days later from former Celt Kobayashi. Quite what he was thinking as he dangled his hand out while trying to stop compatriot Yokota's cross, only the Japanese stopper will be able to explain. But his moment of madness teed up the Ibrox skipper to stroke home the goal he's been dreaming of his entire life.
The two-week wait for that maiden strike must have felt as long as the 31 years since he made his big arrival. There's no doubt it's been a tough start for the former Hearts ace. And it will likely continue to be a hard slog unless McInnes can find the creative talents Shankland relies on for service.
Striker Woes and Transfer Concerns
With Chermiti out for the season after rupturing knee ligaments, Rangers could really do with Ryan Naderi justifying the £5m it cost to recruit the German from Hansa Rostock last January. With only three goals to his name since then, fans are already questioning the deadline day rush to get him signed. McInnes clearly concerns himself, hence why he's got the Ibrox recruitment team weighing up a move for Portland Timbers frontman Kevin Kelsy as they consider a list of possible replacements for their crocked £9million hitman Chermiti.
This was another display when he failed to live up to his costly price tag. For a big lad standing 6ft 4ins tall, there are too many occasions when he flails about like a punch drunk boxer. Naderi is not the only one living under the threat of added competition. But while the striker desperately needs to up his game, Yakota already looks like he'll be tough to budge despite McInnes admitting he's still looking for another right winger.
Constant Changes and Tactical Shifts
The only constant of the McInnes era so far is the never-ending changes to his team selections. Having made five changes to the side that drew with Dundee United at Tannadice for last week's first leg in Poland, there was another six made for Sunday's defeat to Hibs. This time there was five alterations to the starting XI, and a change of shape as McInnes switched to a 3-5-2. And with Thelo Aasgaard being replaced at half-time by Ross Mc, that made it seven interval subs in four games.
The shortage of defensive options was clearly behind the switch to a three-man backline, but Gers never looked comfortable in the shape. Djeidi Gassama was in at wing-back, but the Mauritanian international has never been the most diligent of defenders, and that left acres of space for Bialystok wideman Rodrigo Conceicao early on. It was no surprise to see McCrorie introduced as McInnes returned to a flat back four for the second half. But with the change of shape came a change of tempo. Rangers failed to attack with the same pace and intensity as they had in the first half, and that's what allowed Jagiellonia to grab a foothold, and the goal that sees them progress.
