Philippe Clement ‘cannot survive’ as Rangers sack on cards after Ibrox revolt
Rangers fans have endured a tough season which has largely nosedived into desperately familiar disappointment.
Former players and pundits from far and wide have dished out scathing and unfortunately justified criticism to Philippe Clement and his side, who are marooned in second in the Scottish Premiership and now out of the Scottish Cup thanks to lower-league Queen’s Park.
Clement has the backing of the board after a recent announcement from Patrick Stewart but has almost entirely severed his relationship with the supporters.
Rangers fans have nearly all turned against Clement says Walker
Andy Walker has delivered a brutal assessment of the current state of play between Clement and the Rangers fanbase.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (12 February), the former Celtic man admitted he is unsure now how the Belgian survives much longer in his role due to the mounting pressure.
With Ibrox pressure on both Clement and Stewart – the Light Blues have never been in a title race this season and saw the Scottish League Cup wrestled back by their bitter rivals.
“For me, it’s very unpleasant to listen to that from the Rangers supporters. He’s done a lot of good things, but when you lose to Queen’s Park, you’re 13 points behind Celtic even when you’ve beaten them, you’re not close,” Walker explained.
“When you think back to the title Rangers could’ve won last season and blew it at the top of the league when they regarded their draw with Celtic like a win, then dropped points to Dundee and Ross County, all of these things are going against them.
“Too many Rangers fans have turned against Clement now and I don’t know how he survives.”
Gers must win at Hearts to instil positivity back
For years, a trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts would often be a predicted victory even if less comfortable than most league fixtures for Rangers.
Like most of the football calendar, the Light Blues would make the trip across to Edinburgh and return to Govan with three points in the bag. But now, the whole attitude and dynamic has changed.
While Celtic still expect to win every game in the Scottish Premiership without exception, Rangers appear fearful and almost on the lookout for banana skins before they happen.
Clement is at fault for allowing this mentality to creep in. The board haven’t helped; some of his players certainly haven’t helped.
Sunday’s visit to Tynecastle, where Gers started the season with a drab goalless draw which seems an eon ago at the start of August, gives Clement a chance to gather a fifth-straight league win, but a bigger picture is at play here.
A strategy at Rangers is claimed to be in place but improvements have to be made, the floorboards ripped up football-wise and a blank canvas on a positive financial footing incorporated into place. Then, and only then, will the blue half of Glasgow make a serious challenge again.