On the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst to the manager’s position at Ibrox, it appeared to herald a continuation of the 4-3-3 attacking football that delivered the club’s 55th title.
Initially, the defence was stabilised and the results arrived, if the performances weren’t quite impressive. Winning is a great habit and a requirement as Ibrox but with the re-start of the season last month, the champions have not progressed and instead have regressed.
This has been highlighted by picking up just five points in the games against Aberdeen, Livingston, Ross County and Celtic with the awful performance in Wednesday’s Old Firm defeat drawing stinging yet justified criticism.
The team has been full of attacking players, but there is little flow or fluidity to Rangers just now. Passive periods in games have been frequent. Too little intensity and incision.
Worst of all has been the lack of application from the players.
When the appointment was made, the message conveyed was one of a degree of continuity, in line with the message of positive, progressive football. Ross Wilson told the official website:
“Gio has already shown himself to be a winner, he knows the club, he knows the quality of the squad and is absolutely aligned with our approach and mindset.”
Doubt
Those words paint a picture which hasn’t been evidenced on the pitch – the lack of alignment has been a worry and an ongoing one.
The next run of games for Rangers has to prouce wins and some continuity before it is too late, the first test comes on Saturday against Hearts and a typically unpatient Rangers support won’t tolerate another sub-standard performance like Parkhead. They will make their feelings known.
The appointment of GvB was a seen as a positive one and generally popular throughout the club including the support but much of that goodwill has now dwindled to an extent that the honeymoon period is now well and truly over. What happens in the next few weeks will have long-lasting consequences overall at Ibrox, Rangers simply must sustain a title chase and much of that responsibility lies with the manager.