Rangers ‘incredible’ frailty vindicates John Souttar, Kris Boyd makes U-turn on defender
Rangers defender John Souttar may have been wrongfully criticised under Danny Rohl this season.
That’s what Kris Boyd feels after watching the Gers’ recent performances, where they have been too easy to play through.
Instead of the Scotland international being at fault, the Sky Sports pundit wonders whether the Light Blues’ issues lie in front of the defence.
The 29-year-old centre-back has played just once in the last seven league matches, with Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga the German manager’s preferred defensive partnership.
Rohl doesn’t seem to fancy Souttar, but it may be the 37-year-old head coach’s tactics that are failing to bring the best out of several members of the Govan side’s squad.
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Danny Rohl must take full responsibility for Rangers collapse
Speaking on Go Ballistic on 11 May, Boyd said. “I was critical for a period of time about Souttar. I thought his performances had dropped. Maybe Souttar wasn’t the problem when you actually look at it. It might be in front of him. In terms of how easy it is to play through Rangers is incredible.”
Rohl received his flowers after leading the Gers back into title contention, but he should now be ready to face the music at Ibrox.
The German manager has often struggled to make changes in games when the momentum has shifted to the other side, as seen against Hearts at Tynecastle Park.
| Statistics | Derek Cornelius |
| Appearances | 7 |
| Goals/Assists | 1/1 |
| Clean sheets | 1 |
| Tackles per game | 2.1 |
| Clearances per game | 6.4 |
| Total duels won per game | 7.3 (64%) |
Martin O’Neill’s experience has also got the better of the former Sheffield Wednesday boss on multiple occasions this season.
Andrew Cavenagh backed Rohl in the winter transfer window after having spent a significant sum last summer, but some of the German manager’s decision-making regarding his starting lineups has left fans frustrated at times.
Danny Rohl shoots himself in foot at Ibrox
Rohl has had an apparent falling out with Derek Cornelius at Rangers, leading to his exile from the first-team squad.
The Canada international has returned from his injury, but the German manager has been reluctant to use him, just like Souttar.
There’s an argument to be made that the Scottish defender and Olympique Marseille’s loanee could have potentially helped the Gers in the last few weeks.
While Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez have formed a decent partnership at Ibrox, their inexperience has been on show this season.
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