Barry Robson sack questioned with ‘trouble brewing’ ahead of Aberdeen vs Rangers final – Graham Spiers
There is “trouble brewing at Pittodrie” and Barry Robson may be out of a job before he gets to face Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final, Graham Spiers has suggested.
The journalist reacted via Twitter on 6 December after Aberdeen were beaten 1-0 by a stoppage time winner at home to Kilmarnock to leave them second from bottom in the SPFL.
The Hampden final is less than a fortnight away and the Dandies have just held the Light Blues to a 1-1 draw two games ago, but Robson may now not get the opportunity for a rematch, just as Jack Ross didn’t in the run up to the final two years ago at Hibs.
Spiers wrote: “Aberdeen go 2nd bottom of the Premiership. Huge pressure now on Barry Robson. Will he get to lead Aberdeen to the League Cup Final in 11 days time at Hampden?
“Jack Ross didn’t with Hibs in 2021. Trouble brewing at Pittodrie…”
Turmoil
The potential for a managerial change will have an impact on Rangers one way or another but until the day arrives it is impossible to tell how.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the problems at Aberdeen would make it easier for Philippe Clement and his men to take advantage, but a one-off final in such circumstances could even see it have a galvanising effect.
Especially since the outrage leading up to the league draw at Pittodrie over Kris Boyd’s claim that the Dons always try harder against the Gers, and they duly bounced back from a 6-0 trouncing by Celtic for a draw.
If Robson is sacked before the game then it makes his current side even more of a wildcard in the event that they muster up a new manager bounce on top of their extra derby motivation, or a lack of the old manager bounce.
Clement has to win this trophy to set himself apart from Michael Beale last year, since so much of the landscape at Ibrox is depressingly similar to how it was 12 months ago despite many of those involved having changed.
So he needs to ensure his players are totally focused on their own game and don’t see fit to take their eye off the ball due to Aberdeen’s dysfunction.
There has been plenty of that at Ibrox that needs to be overcome in order to complete the task of lifting a first trophy in two seasons, and after narrowly escaping with a point against the otherwise struggling Dons two league games ago a major improvement is needed for the cup final.
In other Rangers news, Clement gave one his players a look that could “kill” for what he did off the pitch at Hearts as Sky Sports broadcasters reacted live to something that would drive him “crazy”.