Philippe Clement remains firmly in the spotlight as Rangers prepare to face Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League.
The Ibrox boss is facing extreme heat after some poor recent performances which has left his side trailing Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the Premiership by six points after just eight games. Clement goes into the clash with the Romanians with supporters still hurting at the lacklustre loss to Kilmarnock last weekend.
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “The chance to catch up thrown away, but Kilmarnock’s big strikers Kyle Vassell and Marley Watkins, who’ve had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus, played well. Watkins did what strikers are there for. To put away chances. Bringing either one of them to Ibrox in January may solve the serious No.9 problem and Derek McInnes could solve the managerial one.” Joe Hailey, Baillieston, added: “So, now Kevin Muscat is the new chosen one! Funny how he was ignored last time the panic button was pushed.
“Not that long ago, the Ibrox support was screaming to get Michael Beale into the hotseat because ‘he was the real football brain’ behind Steven Gerrard. How did that one work out guys? It’s all panic and bluster.”
Seamie Gallagher, Glasgow, said: “So contributor Alan Fleet thinks Celtic are rubbish because Aberdeen are going toe-to-toe so far on a much skinnier budget? Well I’ve news for him. The mighty Rangers have the second biggest budget in league and have been nowhere near the mighty Celtic for years barring a botched COVID title. So what does that say about his lot?”
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: “Rangers fans need to stop blaming their manager and accept that they just aren’t as big and rich a club as Celtic. Most of their fans were brought up in a false era where the club spent money it did not really have and it cost them the pain of watching their club be liquidated. What they are watching now is the harsh reality and FFP means it will stay that way, so start living in the real world.”
John Bruce emailed: “It may be a new Rangers team this season, but it’s still beset by the problems of last season. Too many key injuries, no creativity, no physicality, no hunger, not taking chances, etc, etc.
“But we are also in the bizarre position of not having a full-time chairman who can make the decision of sacking the manager, and not having a CEO (and Sporting Director) who can make the decision of appointing a new one. So it looks like we now find ourselves in a situation of being unable to stick or twist.”
Bud Hay, Dumfries, said: “Clement will not walk out the door like the board, he will be leaving with his P45. Rangers blew it on Sunday I think I could score against Jack Butland. He could be getting his P45 before Christmas as well.”
However, not all were on Clement’s case as Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “At the risk of sounding repetitive, can I say again, Clement needs time. He will get it right, but only if he’s given time. There may well be other defeats ahead, but the players need to take a long hard look at themselves.”
Across the M8, the Edinburgh Derby is looming and Neil Renton, Leith, took a pained look back to last season. He said: “Just over a year ago Hibs played Aston Villa in Europe. The fortunes of the two sides since then couldn’t be more different.
“One of them is bottom of its domestic league while the other is at the top of the Champions League. It’ll be a few good years until the Leith team face an opponent of such quality.”