Where Are We Now | A Year In Review

Where Are Rangers Now?

One step forward and two steps back. That has been the journey of Rangers this season. A 6-0 thrashing of Ross County near the start of the season preceded a 3-0 loss to Celtic. An impressive 1-1 draw against Tottenham and a solid display in the League Cup final (albeit losing on penalties in the end) was followed up with four points taken from the subsequent nine. And now, after a commanding 3-0 win against Celtic in one of the most one-sided Old Firms in years, the team drew 3-3 with Hibs, giving away the lead twice. Inconsistency has spread through Rangers like a grave virus.

For many, the season is already over. With Celtic thirteen points ahead, even the most optimistic of fans have given up hope of closing the gap. That leaves just the trophies for Rangers this season. But even in that department, fans have already been burnt.

The League Cup final defeat was a bad one. For starters, the manner of the loss was painful. The team gave a solid performance throughout, including a late equaliser just a minute after Celtic thought they had scored the winner, just to then be defeated on penalties. Any football fan will tell you; it is one of the worst ways to lose, but to add insult to injury, it is the first time a cup final between the Old Firm has been decided by penalties. A moment in history that Rangers are now on the wrong side of.

But this cup final defeat hurt more than any other. And not just for the way it was lost, but because of what it meant. Celtic’s win means they have now overtaken Rangers trophy haul to become the most successful team in Scotland, and the 2nd most successful in the world behind Egypt’s Al-Ahly. Another record Rangers are now on the wrong side of. The rich, illustrious, successful history of the club was something that featured in songs, the stadium, the entire culture. During the dark days of playing in the lower leagues, it was all fans had. A source of pride to cling on to. And now, even that has been snatched away. With Celtic so far ahead in seemingly every metric, it is hard to imagine anything else other than them widening the gap. At Ibrox, when it rains, it pours.

During recent seasons, Europe has been the bright spot when things got dark. A place where memories are made, and failures forgotten. But it is no longer enough. When the team are so far off it domestically, success in Europe counts for nothing. A mere candle in a dark abyss.

The current squad regularly turn up under the lights of European nights, and that’s great, but when they fail to do the same against the likes of St Mirren and Motherwell, then questions need to be asked. It points to something fundamentally wrong with the mindset at the club. The most recent game at Hibs is the perfect case in point. It is easy to press, run, fight and give it your all in the big games such as the new years Old Firm. But the test of true champions is showing up consistently game after game, irrespective of opponents. This is what Celtic have done in almost every season and it is why they have won the title in almost every season.

Perhaps the most pertinent question at Rangers is not where is the club currently at but rather, what next? How can the once all-conquering, formidable giant of Scottish football make its way to the top of the pile again?

Clement and the players must find belief somewhere, no matter how elusive that has appeared to be this season. Dropping points just days after a momentous display over Celtic hurts. Confidence will have taken a hit. But all the team can do now is take it one game at a time, put a run of good form together, and ensure that the Hibs game becomes an exception rather than a pattern.

If not, then Clement’s time is up. He is treading a tightrope with sharks underneath desperate for blood. One wrong move, and it’s over. Of course, no one wants another sacked manager. If Clement is to go, this would be the third sacking in under three years. The club is swiftly becoming a revolving door for managers. A seemingly never-ending vicious cycle. If consistency is to be attained on the pitch, then it first must be achieved off it. But failure to win against Dundee on Thursday, or St Johnstone and Aberdeen after, and the board (or what is left of it anyway) has its hands tied. Clement simply must go.

2024 has been an abject year for the club and very few can deny that it has reached crisis point. The season has been a rollercoaster ride, only this one has lots of spills and very few thrills. The few highs vastly outweighed by the many lows. Rangers must get off this enervating ride and start taking it slow. One step forward. Then another. Then another. Baby steps are the only way forward for Rangers now.