Rangers are very much at a crossroads both on and off the pitch.
On the park, the club’s failure to restore domestic balance following the events of 2012 has cost Rangers their long-standing legacy as the nation’s most successful side.
Despite a brief interlude in 2021, Rangers have offered scant resistance as Celtic romp to three Premiership titles on the bounce, claiming 12 of the last 13 league crowns.
They’ve also been picking up our Champions League cheque in the process and are now one off our World Record 55 league titles.
The critically defiant, loyal support in the stands has been juxtaposed with timid, mediocre displays on the pitch for far too long.
It is a match made in Ibrox hell and too many of these overawed players have struggled to deal with the weight of expectation in Glasgow.
We can only hope for the final time.
Rangers mentality overhaul essential
The bulk of this squad have proven that they do not have what it takes to consistently play, and win, for Rangers at any cost.
That’s why fans have no patience left.
This is a Rangers team largely devoid of mettle, inspiration and most importantly a willingness to put everything on the line for the legacy of the club and the support.
We do not have enough committed, driven figures in our team. We have too many serial losers or average footballers with big egos.
We can see it. This squad is not invested enough in what we need and too many of them are happy to coast to high wages, sitting in the physio’s room, enjoying the luxury and fame that comes with life at Rangers without actually delivering on the minimum expectations of being a player here.
What supporters demand is success and, whilst they just don’t seem to get it, a first League Cup win in 13 years is unfortunately not enough to even remotely satiate thirsty fans.
The win over Aberdeen should’ve been met with subtle applause and the word ‘finally’.
Fans are tired of an acceptance of failure, of a blushing ‘aye but’ when it comes to second place.
The players get applauded far too often for mediocrity, whilst we keep playing guys who are terrified of Celtic to – shock horror – the same results in Old Firm derbies.
Celtic, whilst they have superior finances, are just quite clearly a more well-oiled, cohesive unit with a better club structure, more quality, and a squad who are willing to put everything on the line for their supporters.
There’s not a monumental playing gap between the two squads, but there is a mentality within their team and a unity around their cause which we quite simply do not have at Ibrox.
Playing in Glasgow is about more than football and you get a feeling Celtic – led by Calum McGregor – are better at communicating that to their team than what Rangers are.
They are focused on delivering success, our guys want months or even years to bed in.
They want allowances for off-days and they want to be able to talk a good game on social media and in the press.
It’s not good enough.
Whoever leaves this summer gets a handshake; whoever arrives comes in with the explicit expectation to hit the ground running.
Pressure mounting on Rangers Board
It’s not just on the park that Rangers fans are disillusioned either.
We’ve seen the monumental mismanagement of squads and transfer budgets alongside indulgent pats on the back for little reward.
This our team. We’ve been to hell and back and for some reason we’re to be ok with constantly teetering over the fiery pit, being burned season after season in the pocket and in the chest.
Rangers are a club built on winning and we have not done that enough. There are no excuses and no kickbacks. There are no justifications or explanations.
Our squad is in dire need of major surgery and it sits with those who’ve overseen every transfer window since 55.
The scale of failure since lifting the Scottish Premiership title has been astronomical with big chances missed and wrong decisions consistently taken.
It has put us on the back foot and we’re slipping further and further behind a Celtic team who have all the momentum.
Ahead of what is potentially the biggest transfer window of a generation, changes are not only necessary, but essential.
That’s if Rangers want to keep a fanbase increasingly at odds with a team, management structure and boardroom on side next season.
We’ve seen this movie before. Too many times. Sometimes with our eyes excruciatingly pinned open a la Clockwork Orange.
Everyone’s neck is on the line this summer and the board better take the correct turn at the crossroads we’re about to meet.
Otherwise, we expect there might be more than a few Rangers fans left voicing their opinion outside New Edmiston House next season.
And we know how that ends.
