Following a victory over Hibs and a draw in Prague, the Belgian manager immediately left his mark on the Ibrox folklore.
Even though Philippe Clement is new to Ibrox, I think he’s the straight man the Rangers have been waiting so long for.
To borrow a phrase from the past, “I like the cut of his jib,” he has added a little gravitas and class to the position. Go back to last Saturday, when the reporter asked him if he was pleased with the performance against Hibs, stating that it might have been the best so far this season. In a direct response, he stated that he preferred to use the word “happy” instead of “impressed,” as it was a large word.
It was wonderful to hear him respond in a sober manner. He is well aware of the magnitude of the mission he has undertaken and what needs to be done in the coming months throughout Europe as well as at home. He’s had two games under his belt with respectable performances, but he’s keeping it low key. He won’t have any trouble going overboard. I was pleased with our Europa League tie against Sparta Prague; it wasn’t great, but it was a step forward from previous results, so that’s something.
When the squad onto the pitch, every member appears to know their roles and how to perform them. Although Clement hasn’t spent much time on the training field with the players yet, it appears like they have received excellent coaching under the new manager.
You can see the minor adjustments he made, as well as how he clarified his requests and made a few tweaks. Rangers are still a work in progress, but the supporters will notice the difference he’s making, so they should be pleased with these two victories. There are little steps being done.
Positive initial indications exist, and there are grounds for optimism regarding Europe. With four points already earned, a plan is in place to go through this group. Up next are two home games against Sparta and Aris Limassol.
The goal should be nine points since, in my opinion, it’s the amount that advances you to the knockout stage. At Ibrox, Rangers should be keeping an eye on both Sparta and Aris. There’s no good reason not to.
That would be six points, and you would then be looking at playing in Europe after Christmas, which is something Rangers should always be aiming for. It would also greatly inspire everyone associated with the club. Although the squad’s performance in the final stretch was far better than it was in Prague, I was inside the Epet Arena when the second half seemed to indicate that there would only be one victor and it wasn’t the home club.
It was amazing to see while seated and watching it live. The Rangers were the team in the lead if you watch the latter part of the match. Sparta was holding on, and it was great to see Rangers displaying their authority and playing a lot more like they had when they traveled around Europe in previous seasons.
The only critique is that more than anything else, this is the reason why there weren’t three points to show for what was a true team effort. The goal threat should also be increased, and opportunities should be finished with more ruthlessness. While Sparta undoubtedly had their chances and showed creativity in the last third, Clement will also be pleased with his team’s performance even if he knows it still needs improvement.
He mentioned that a tale wouldn’t be written in ten days, but the last two games have been very different from the previous ones. I stand by my statement from before the game that I would gladly take a point in Prague. A draw is a respectable outcome in this league, regardless of the opponent you face away from home, and that was the case on Thursday night.
When you combine that with the fact that it was yet another clean sheet, you have yet another enormous advantage over a respectable team that was sure to produce chances and control a significant portion of the game. Observing Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers in action over the past several weeks has shown that these are two players in need of assistance, and it appears that they are receiving it.
Building players’ confidence when they are unable to perform at their best is a part of management. I’m hoping Clement is working quietly and gaining the group’s confidence because I have a positive impression of him.
With a new manager in charge, everything is fresh and the team has until January to try to make sure they are included in his plans after that, which always encourages players to give their best.
The attention now shifts to another exciting week, starting with Hearts at home on Sunday, followed by Dundee on Wednesday, and finally the League Cup semi-final against the Jambos at Hampden on Sunday. There will be a huge stretch of games and pivotal moments for the season, but Clement won’t be making any audacious claims or forecasts, which is ideal for Rangers.
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