Insistent Philippe Clement arrived a year ago insisting he was no magician.
Well maybe he’s being harsh on himself because eight games into the new season and the Rangers boss has watched his team’s title hopes disappear in a puff of smoke. The Ibrox faithful on the Hotline, however, their team’s latest slip up at Rugby Park could spell trouble for the big Belgian.
John Bruce said: “For Rangers fans, to be six points behind Celtic after eight games is unpalatable. To be six points behind Aberdeen after eight games is unthinkable. After, incredibly, extending his contract until 2028, it’s now entirely possible that Rangers can’t afford to get rid of Philippe Clement. But can they afford to keep him? We’ll soon know, with four season-defining games coming up in the next two weeks in the league, league cup and Europa League.”
George McLeish added: “This is the worst Rangers team I have watched in over 60 years. The players and the manager are a disgrace to the good name of Rangers. Not fit enough, too slow with no pace anywhere in the side and incapable of defending long or high balls. There’s no leadership anywhere and the manager only plays favourites who are all rubbish. The young players must think, ‘what’s the point being here? He’ll never give me a chance’. The whole board needs to go and take the manager with them because this team will be lucky to finish in the top 6.”
Scott McAdam, Glasgow, emailed: “Who remembers the magician saying, ‘Watch us go in October?’ Well here we are Phil and I dread to think what November will bring. The only thing you should be pulling out your magic hat Phil will be your p45!”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “A few days ago John Gilligan spun the fairytale that the club was in safe hands with him and his cohorts. In fact, the opposite is the truth, with the club in crisis. We have one of the poorest teams in living memory, a manager who’s fortunate to still have a job, a board that refuses to tell fans the truth about the problems.”
The travelling fans had the banners out at Rugby Park – but Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “Rangers fans need to get real. Clement is purely a scapegoat for years of mediocrity at Ibrox. Forget all that nine-in-a-row tosh, that ship has long sailed and damaged the club in the long run. Instead of acting like entitled brats, get behind Clement and the team like real supporters.”
Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “How embarrassing was it for James Tavernier, the rest of this useless team to applaud the Rangers fans after another disgusting performance. This is by far the worst Rangers team I’ve seen. Tav and others let their bottle crash last year and Rangers supporters will never forgive that team. We need new investors and a new manager. The fact the league is gone by October is an utter disgrace.”
Clement isn’t the only boss under pressure, with David Gray’s Hibs now rock bottom after the threw away victory at Tannadice. Neil Renton, Leith, said: “He’ll always be a club legend for scoring the goal that won us the Scottish Cup but David Gray isn’t the man to manage Hibs. We needed someone with experience and not a rookie boss. Every game we’re going from disaster to disaster and we’re heading for a relegation dogfight instead of challenging for third place. To make matters worse we’ve got Hearts next. Sadly the only way I can see us beating our rivals is with the aid of a new manager bounce.”