Philippe Clement’s Rangers honeymoon is officially over; now the ex-Monaco manager is tasked with holding off a divorce.
Whilst no-one is suggesting that the Belgian walks in the wake of the club’s latest title collapse, criticism more closely reserved for his team of perennial let-downs, we’re approaching a crucial juncture.
Rangers fans, simply put, will never settle for second place.
The core of this Rangers team – three of whom have just been filleted on BBC Scotland – appear to have accepted it.
In the face of a title challenge, the same old faces are producing the same old results and any patience in their product has waned fatally thin amongst a frustrated Rangers support.
Changes are needed – there can be no argument about that – but Philippe Clement doesn’t come out of his six months in the Glasgow sun with a resplendent tan.
A victim of his own success maybe after making us all believe a title was possible, how these next few months go will define the Belgian’s status at Ibrox with fans already raising eyebrows.
Philippe Clement Monaco tweet raises eyebrows
A tweet about Philippe Clement from well-known French football journalist Robin Bairner has begun circulating online.
The message, sent upon ex-AS Monaco manager Clement’s appointment at Rangers, appeared to give some clarity over the Belgian’s experience in France.
Claiming that Philippe Clement had Monaco firing amid the honeymoon bounce of his appointment in Ligue 1, it’s what happened next which might worry Rangers fans.
Bairner claims that Clement’s time in France collapsed when he failed to “rally his side after key losses”.
That’s a trend which has just extended into his Rangers tenure, the Ibrox side’s title collapse kickstarted by a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox at the beginning of March.
Prior to this game Rangers had won 11 Scottish Premiership matches on the bounce. Including the defeat to the Steelmen, Rangers have only won once in five league matches since.
It’s two in eight in all competitions.
The comments about “questionable” team selection will also be of interest to Rangers fans given the last few weeks.
The persistence with the likes of Connor Goldson and Fabio Silva despite their discouraging contribution, as well as starts for Borna Barisic (Ross County) and Scott Wright (Celtic) in big matches, have drawn complaints from Rangers fans.
Rangers manager faces crucial summer
Speaking after the 0-0 draw with Dundee, Philippe Clement was in defiant mood.
So much so that the Belgian manager has upset a few Rangers fans by insisting his team did bounce back from the Ross County horror show at Dens Park.
Also claiming that Rangers can still win the title – albeit if they do something the club has always found impossible – the Ibrox manager urged fans to get behind the team.
In the heat of the title battle, we’ll give Big Phil the leeway to manage the media and his messages as he sees fit. After all, miracles do happen.
But if Clement seriously believes that the showing against Dundee was in any way acceptable, then we don’t blame you for being worried.
Ahead of a big summer the Belgian has some big decisions to make.
Rangers need more mentally strong matchwinners, more leaders, and more quality in the summer and fans have begun turning on the team for the final time.
Six first-teamers are out of contract with Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin and Leon Balogun all nailed on to leave the club.
John Lundstram – who Rangers want to sign on a new deal – is losing fans with every misplaced pass.
James Tavernier and Connor Goldson are so fragile at this stage of the season that they may as well be playing on stilts.
Their contribution at times has been legendary but when it comes to the crunch, both are not so much prone to making mistakes as they are outright targeted by opposition teams.
Then there are the loan deals for Abdallah Sima, Fabio Silva, and Oscar Cortes.
It means that no matter what happens in this final month of the season, we’re heading for quite the summer of change.
If Philippe Clement wants a long and healthy marriage with Rangers, he’s got to get the big calls on all of these guys right.
