Philippe Clement might just be out there on his own now as a Rangers manager.
Unmatched, even by the club’s greatest gaffers including Walter Smith, Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – you read that right. It’s quite possible the Belgian is now a unique Ibrox boss, different to all the rest. Not because of trophies won or honours achieved. Not because of European success or memorable victories. Instead, Clement probably now stands alone as the only manager in Rangers’ history to be told to work with what he’s got.
“Just play the kids if you have to.” That’s the message that’s been made abundantly clear from the top of the marble staircase. And by the way, given the financial problems this club has encountered in recent years, maybe that’s the RIGHT road to go down.
Let’s be honest, it’s what should have happened in 2012 when Rangers went bust and had to fight their way back up the leagues. If they’d adopted this approach then, Rangers as a whole might be in a far better place now.
Instead, they dished out £6k a week contracts to Kevin Kyle. So perhaps they’ve finally seen sense. Or it’s that gross mismanagement and poor recruitment since winning their last title in 2021 have left them in a mess.
Whatever it is, Clement’s the guy who’s picking up the slack. So if it goes badly wrong and doesn’t yield trophies in the next two seasons? Or if some of the Auchenhowie babes simply aren’t good enough to cut it at Rangers? Don’t blame Clement.
He’s been justifiably criticised here at times this term for poor decisions or ill-advised comments that haven’t helped him. Whether he likes it or not, the whole sports science farce which resulted in Vaclav Cerny not playing against Dynamo Kiev – or Kieran Dowell getting the nod at Fir Park not so long ago – have cost them. Deep down, Clement will know that now.
But when he spoke last week about what he needed before the January transfer window shut – it was a plea for help. He didn’t want the board to splash out fortunes on transfer fees or wages. Clement was telling them that to win the Scottish Cup and potentially progress to the quarter-finals or beyond in the Europa League – he needed at least an extra body in the building.
With Dowell and Rabbi Matondo finally off the wage bill for the time being, it shouldn’t have been too big an ask. But he was let down on deadline day. This Rangers team badly needs two things right now. A strong, powerful, box-to-box midfielder to take some weight off the shoulders of Nico Raskin and Mo Diomande.
And a player with pace, either in a wide area or up front. Clement’s squad is devoid of genuine speed, someone who can offer them something different – particularly away from home in the Scottish Premiership or in Europe. But all he got was young defender Rafa Fernandes on loan and Lyall Cameron on a Bosman for June.
And again, if the Ibrox hierarchy felt there was no value for money out there, who are we to argue? After all, that’s been the strategy from the summer when they shifted the goalposts on their manager. He accepted the change of conditions, which was admirable.
But given his success in adding serious value to the squad in the shape of inexpensive additions like Hamza Igamane, Jefte and Clinton Nsiala – Clement deserved a bit of backing in this window and didn’t get it. That’s why the board should be grateful that he’s still in charge.
It was only a couple of months ago, some supporters wanted him out the door. And when Rangers effectively ruled themselves out of the title race by shipping points in Paisley and Motherwell, of course he was under scrutiny. But if this club is genuinely serious now about dealing in bigger pictures, Clement should probably be held on to for as long as possible.
Which other Rangers manager has been forced to cut the wage bill, shop for bargain buys and play youngsters from the academy? Can you imagine a Smith, a Souness or a Gerrard buying into that? AND being told to deliver success at the same time.
A few gaffers over the years have obviously had to cut their cloth accordingly, with Alex McLeish one that sticks out. But he started with a multi-talented squad and the free transfers he was able to pick up were of Dado Prso and Jean-Alain Boumsong’s ilk.
That can’t be compared to Clement’s current situation. In the last 30 years, nothing has come close. This season’s title has gone and – irrespective of what cash he might get to play with in the summer – he’ll be expected to challenge Celtic for it next time.
That’s par for the course here and he knows that. But the fact that Clement has got this squad into the last-16 of the Europa League is a remarkable feat and one which shouldn’t be under-estimated.
He’s taken plenty of flak since he arrived in Glasgow. And he’s still under pressure to deliver. But given the restraints he’s currently working under? It might be time for the Rangers supporters not to moan about the players they haven’t got. And instead appreciate the manager they have.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football.