The post mortem after any Old Firm defeat is usually extensive. When it's a mauling like Rangers suffered at the hands of their rivals and champions Celtic at Parkhead then it's likely to be quite deep.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst admitted he was at a loss to explain how his side could concede goals from areas of specific danger they had highlighted from the Hoops. Namely, the fact Ange Postecoglou's men are quick-thinking and the Light Blues weren't alert to it.
The Dutchman will now try to find answers to that. But issues run deeper than that. To lose in such a manner could almost be accepted if it was a one-off. It has happened to managers over the years - Dick Advocaat when Van Bronckhorst was a player and went down 6-2 at Parkhead. Martin O'Neill who lost 5-1 at Ibrox. But the problem for Van Bronckhorst is that it was a repeat performance of his derby dug-out debut at Parkhead back in February. And failing to learn from mistakes is a bigger issue.
But how did it manage to happen again seven months on? Have Rangers regressed in the last 12 months? How big is the gap to Celtic now apart from the obvious five-point advantage in the table. Champions League qualification can't be ignored as the club prepare to return to European football's top table for the first time in 12 years. However, after a 4-0 defeat in the manner of their derby drubbing fingers will be pointed. Here, Record Sport looks at five possible contributing factors to the rout including areas that might need addressed going forward.
Goalkeeping situation
The debate over who would start this season as Rangers No. 1 stretches right back to the Scottish Cup final. When Allan McGregor was introduced for a late Hampden cameo, many felt it was a farewell from the veteran. However, he was given time to mull over his future before opting to extend his stay shortly before the squad returned for pre-season. The question then was whether he would be first choice or back up to Jon McLaughlin. Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted for McLaughlin and it was a big call.
The feeling among many fans is that he is an able deputy but doesn’t have the quality to be the Rangers number one goalkeeper. He was plying his trade in England’s third tier before moving to Ibrox. He had a howler for Celtic’s fourth goal but the game was done by then. Could he have done more to prevent the three previous goals? Definitely. But rather than making errors like his one big blunder, he just doesn’t appear to fill the defence with the same confidence as McGregor and there are now calls for him to be reinstated. Kris Boyd is one of them.
He said: “You need big players, big players who are going to stand up and be characters at times like this and you might need to put Allan McGregor back in goals.” McLaughlin spoke of having the presence of McGregor hanging over him because of his legendary status at the club and it’s an area Van Bronckhorst should have addressed in the summer.
Recruitment
We have to start by saying the injury to Tom Lawrence was a huge blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s pre-match plans as the former Derby County man would almost certainly have started. However, only two of Rangers’ summer signings were in the Light Blues XI at Parkhead - Antonio Colak and Malik Tillman. So how much did they strengthen? Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo were huge losses to the side that went all the way to the Europa League Final.
Ben Davies and John Souttar both remain unavailable but Ridvan Yilmaz cost around £5 million and didn’t get off the bench - albeit Borna Barisic was one of the few to earn pass marks - and Rabbi Matondo was nowhere to be seen. Fans felt they were short wanted to see a deadline signing but it never came and it didn’t go down well considering the end of the window came shortly after many had shelled out for three-match Champions League packages.
The perception is that the board were happy to rake in the cash without reinvesting but they can point to the news that emerged of the club being on UEFA’s FFP watchlist. Sporting director Ross Wilson could point to the misfortune with injuries and the fact many of the signings are young and could come good. But Old Firm fans demand instant success.
Excelling against the cream but failing in bread and butter
Van Bronckhorst’s time in charge of Rangers has been a mixed bag and can pretty much be divided into two - Europe and domestic. He got off to a flyer as he steadied the ship after the turbulence of Steven Gerrard’s departure. But then the Light Blues hit a real wobble domestically towards the end of 2021 and into the new year. And they never recovered as that period cost them the title. Yet all along they progressed in the Europa League and took some huge scalps to go all the way to the final in Seville.
And again this season he has excelled in leading Rangers to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 12 years. Yet in the league they find themselves five points behind Celtic after just six games with a trip to Aberdeen to come. They are already in that kind of territory where there is little margin for error and with their rivals not looking like dropping many points then Postecoglou’s men are already odds-on to secure back to back titles.
The Dutchman has been accused of being too cautious in league games, showing rivals too much respect and not being willing to go toe to toe with Celtic. It’s now four Scottish Premiership derby games without a win, including three defeats in that run. His only victory against the Hoops came in that Scottish Cup semi-final after extra time.
Gers are flagging
One thing about Rangers last season was their fitness and ability to go until the end. They won back to back games after extra time against Braga in the Europa League and Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final. It seemed to be a real squad strength. That, however, seems to have dropped. Celtic’s mantra of ‘we never stop’ is fitness-based but there have been occasions even this early in the season where they seem to have struggled.
Ropey Ryan
Ryan Kent was a man Rangers often looked to on the big occasion - and particularly on derby day. He set up Ryan Jack’s goal in 2018 that earned the Light Blues a first win over Celtic in 13 attempts with a cut back and netted on a couple of occasions at Parkhead. The former Liverpool man never seemed short of belief as he repaid that £7 million outlay under Steven Gerrard. But the 25-year-old seems to have lost that spark and was a shadow of his former self against the Hoops. With just a year left on his deal his contract situation, along with Alfredo Morelos, should have been resolved as he could be in a position where he leaves for free.
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