John Bennett could already kickstart Rangers boardroom talks over Michael Beale future as ‘big problem’ simmers at Ibrox
Rangers are in a state of peril following the Celtic defeat and club chairman John Bennett may begin talks surrounding Michael Beale’s over the international break as a “big problem” simmers at Ibrox.
The Gers fell to another disappointing loss against Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday [3 September] in the opening Old Firm of the Scottish Premiership campaign, a defeat which already hands Brendan Rodgers’ men the title bragging rights.
Kyogo Furuhashi struck a sucker punch just before the interval with a well-taken volley that proved the decisive moment of the contest, but Rangers lacked the quality to get back into the game despite having a controversial goal rule out.
The Gers had two goals ruled out in the first half – the first a clear offside decision for Rabbi Matondo’s tap-in in the opening minute, the other a far more controversial call as Kemar Roofe had one chalked off after Cyriel Dessers appeared to have fouled Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke.
The defeat once again brings Beale’s future at Ibrox into disrepute with the former QPR manager yet to taste a single victory over their Old Firm rivals for which Rangers’ transfer business throughout the summer was supposed to carry them over the Celtic obstacle.
Bennett backed Beale heavily this summer in the transfer market, with nine new arrivals at Ibrox in the hope that it would help them overthrow Celtic, but so far there has been little evidence of success with a “big problem” as pundit Chris Sutton puts it, emerging at the club with Beale’s attack failing to click.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the presenter and Celtic hero was quick to aim blame at the new boys up top who featured in the Gers’ 1-0 Old Firm defeat, noting that Beale “doesn’t need to tell them” what the problem is after the boos around Ibrox made it clear.
Dessers failed to have a single shot in the game, while Sam Lammers, who missed a glorious chance at the death and Danilo proved ineffective substitutes in the clash as Celtic returned to the Scottish Premiership summit.
Sutton said: “In the final third, Rangers’ recruitment comes under scrutiny. They haven’t clicked, they haven’t connected and that’s a big, big problem for Michael Beale.
“Over two legs [against PSV Eindhoven], they were found wanting. Beale doesn’t need to tell them this, you heard the boos at the end. A stadium full of boos and a lot of angry bears in here. He is under pressure.”
When a manager gets backed so heavily as Beale has, those at the top expect instant results but the Gers are already falling behind Celtic with this latest defeat following the PSV Eindhoven debacle compounding matters at Ibrox.
Many perhaps thought these issues had been ironed out after their 2-2 draw to PSV in the first leg of UCL qualification and some improved league performances.
Now, on the back of a 5-1 thrashing in Europe and yet another derby-day defeat, Beale is back to square one in trying to convince the fans, Bennett, the club boardroom and perhaps even himself that he’s the right man to change the fortunes at Ibrox and ultimately topple Celtic to a Scottish Premiership title.
Beale was vocal in his need to revolutionise his squad over the summer but as Sutton rightly points out, things simply haven’t clicked as yet which could well certainly force Bennett to begin talks with the Rangers board over the international break to discuss Beale’s future.
In other Rangers news, James Tavernier has reacted to jeers the Gers faced after the defeat to Celtic