Kris Commons tears into Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst ahead of Napoli clash
Kris Commons has heavily criticized Rangers ahead of their Champions League clash against Napoli.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in the Scottish Daily Mail (24 October) that he would be astonished if the Bears get anything from the game.
Commons has slammed the Gers as “dreadful” and added that Giovanni van Bronckhorst would be lucky to survive till the World Cup.
“Rangers have been dreadful for weeks. That result had been coming,” wrote Commons (24 October, page 70).
“They were booed off last midweek on the back of a 1-0 win over Championship side Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup. Fans then vented their fury once again on Saturday and I don’t blame them. I’d rather watch paint dry than watch this Rangers team. Honestly, if they were playing at the bottom of my garden, I wouldn’t open the curtains. They are so slow and one-paced in possession. It’s boring, pedestrian and predictable.
“Van Bronckhorst is now almost a year into the job, but I don’t see any clear evidence of what style he’s trying to coach into this Rangers team. Whereas, with Celtic, you could see a clear style and identity within a couple of months once Ange Postecoglou took the job.
“I would be astonished if Rangers got anything other than another hiding in Naples. As we approach Halloween, it’s got a horror show written all over it. But it’s the Aberdeen game next weekend which now looks pivotal for Van Bronckhorst. If the Dons go to Ibrox and win, I reckon he’ll be toast. The club are obviously trying to limp through until the World Cup period, with a view to strengthening the squad in the January transfer window.
“But, if results and performances continue like this, Van Bronckhorst will be lucky to even make it as far as the World Cup. The fans will hound him out.”
Big ask
At the moment, it feels like the Bears are completely lost and it needs a reset.
The heavy defeats in the Champions League have damaged their beliefs completely. This is a team that reached the finals of the Europa League last season.
However, they are just falling apart. And Van Bronckhorst is struggling to arrest the decline.
The summer signings have been poor, and they have not done enough to replace the likes of Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey.
It’s painful to watch at the moment. There is a lack of intensity in their game, and it’s been going on for months as if the players have mentally given up.
Can they get a point in Italy? As long as they don’t concede, there’s a chance but that looks difficult.
Rangers are missing a host of key players at the back, and it will require a herculean effort to defeat Napoli.
The Dutchman promised so much when he arrived, but it seems his time at Ibrox is coming to an end.
In other Rangers news, van Bronckhorst is “finished” at Ibrox.