James Tavernier, John Lundstram, Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic blasted, have to go under new manager – 4 Lads
Stevie Clifford has directed his “palpable” anger after Rangers lost in Europe towards a group of senior players who he says will “cost any manager their job”.
The 4 Lads Had a Dream man wrote for Rangers Review on 6 October a furious reaction to the 2-1 defeat by Aris Limassol in Steven Davis’ first game in charge that captain James Tavernier, midfielder John Lundstram, and defenders Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic had to be dropped by whoever the new permanent manager is.
He claimed the skipper is being targeted at “every opportunity” by the opposition, while he called Lundstram “excruciating” and accused him of “towing a caravan” as he was easily run away from for what proved to be the winner in Cyprus.
Goldson was also at fault for Limassol’s opener on the night, while Barisic is accused of being “ineffective” on the ball and “anonymous” off it.
While new signings Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers were also singled out for criticism it was the well-established group of four that were the target of most ire, as Clifford wrote: “This group of senior players will cost any manager their job unless the new man is brave enough to drop them and rebuild for good.”
Harsh but true?
It would be wrong to hold these four responsible for absolutely everything that is wrong at Ibrox, and it has to be acknowledged that on their days they are all good players.
But it’s also hard to say they are adding much of anything amid the current struggles, and when Abdallah Sima seemed to be the only player on the pitch showing any desire to get something from the game in Cyprus the so-called leaders of the team have questions to answer.
It is no-doubt demoralising to be at the centre of a storm once again when the club is going through yet another managerial change and are once more trailing behind Celtic at home.
But those things aren’t mutually exclusive so they have to take responsibility, and it also comes with the territory at Rangers that there are standards that are supposed to be upheld so at a time like this players either become part of the problem or the solution.
Sima and Jack Butland kept the Gers in it on Thursday night but weren’t supported by their teammates, and it is only really the latter who can justifiably expect to get a start every game right now.
Nobody should be untouchable if they aren’t producing when the situation has got this bad, and since there was essentially no change between the end of the Michael Beale era and the start of Davis’ caretaker period it suggests the next manager in will indeed have some major decisions to make.
In other Rangers news, a major European trophy winner now wants the Ibrox job and has launched an 11th-hour attempt to disrupt the final interviewees.