‘Tell the truth’ – Ally McCoist and Rory Hamilton destroy Kevin Thelwell’s record at Rangers live in Roma loss
Kevin Thelwell’s recruitment record at Rangers was ripped apart live on air by Ally McCoist and Rory Hamilton as Roma won at Ibrox.
Danny Rohl was looking to bounce back from defeat to Celtic at the weekend by recording the first points of the season in Europe, but Rangers were beaten in tame fashion by Roma 2-0.
With the visitors comfortably seeing out the victory in the second half the TNT Sports commentary duo tore into the state of the squad after the summer transfer window, as the broadcaster’s cameras lingered on the sporting director in the Ibrox stands.
Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga was singled out for criticism during the Rangers defeat.
Rangers fail to replace any exits since Andrew Cavenagh takeover
Since Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises completed their takeover of Rangers at the end of last season numerous players have come and gone.
The likes of Hamza Igamane, Cyriel Dessers and Jefte have been sold, Leon Balogun and Ianis Hagi left on free transfers, and former loan star Vlaclav Cerny returned to his parent club, while Oscar Cortes, Ross McCausland and more have gone out on loan.
In have come the likes of Oliver Antman, Djeidi Gassama, Bojan Miovski and Thelo Aasgaard for significant money, with ex-Everton striker Youssef Chermiti headlining the permanent additions in a huge deal worth up to £10 million.
Various others including Max Aarons, Jayden Meghoma, and Mikey Moore have come in loan, but McCoist has suggested not a single one of the new arrivals has been an improvement, especially for unprecedented investment in recent years.
Hamilton asked as the clock wound down on Thursday night: “A lot’s been made of the recruitment, Ally, the quality of the players that have come in, but has there been a naivety at the lack of physicality, to come and try to be a) at the Scottish level which is always going to be physical, but [b)] at this level to be able to try and compete against these types of quality player you need to match them physically, first and foremost.”
The club’s record goalscorer answered: “100 percent Rory, 100 percent. And just look at the physicality that’s gone out the team, whether it’s Dessers, Balogun, these boys were all physical and contributed. And all of a sudden, Dessers, Cerny, Igamane, there’s 60-odd goals out of your team, right? So you’ve got to replace that.
“You’re recruitment has to replace those goals lost and it’s been very, very, very poor.
“In fact, I need to have a think about it, I’m not sure that the players that have left Rangers [they] have replaced any of them with better ones. Because it’s easy to forget, Rory, this club was in a European final three or four years ago.”
Hamilton added: “Well to spend the best part of £30 million, plus loan fees, plus signing-on fees, agents fees, to make the team significantly worse than what it was six months ago. A team that knocked out Fenerbahce, that gave Athletic Bilbao, a very good side, a tough game.”
And McCoist responded: “On another day, we were there, Bilbao, could have got a penalty [against them] and a sending off, and this side is just unrecognisable isn’t it, let’s be honest about it? I don’t take any pleasure in saying it but you’ve got to tell the truth.”
Kevin Thelwell not long for Ibrox after nightmare tenure
It is probably unfair to park all the blame for yet another underwhelming transfer haul at Thelwell‘s door, but Russell Martin has already paid for his role in it with his job.
The former Everton chief has been facing the ire of fans already, along with CEO Patrick Stewart, and only drew further scrutiny on himself by appointing his son Robbie as the head of recruitment at the start of last month.
At least prior to the takeover the endless cycle of managers and recruitment heads could point to tight budgets when it came to failure to land the right players, but this time that excuse won’t hold water either.
So unless Danny Rohl can suddenly get Martin and Thelwell’s summer haul firing out of nowhere, or money is found to land a set of much more impactful signings for the German in January it’s hard to see how Thelwell’s position is tenable long-term.
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