Rangers' European Exit: What's Next for McInnes and the Squad?

Rangers have been eliminated from all European competitions, and they are currently five points behind league leaders Celtic, with it not even being September yet. This has significantly increased the pressure on both the squad and manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox.

The team is set to face former club Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The central question is whether McInnes can inspire a turnaround from his players, who he himself admits are struggling. The article delves into what might be going wrong at the club.

Reaction to the European Exit:

Manager Derek McInnes expressed his feelings of being "mortified" and "embarrassed" following the defeat to Jablonec. The performance that led to this outcome was particularly concerning, with only one shot on target throughout 120 minutes and less possession than their opponents. The team appeared to lack attacking ideas and defensive confidence, especially against a team that finished fifth in the Czech top flight last season. Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd has labelled this period an "all-time low" for the club.

McInnes has taken full responsibility for the result, acknowledging that his players are "miles short" of the required standard. The reality is that Rangers will not be participating in any European group stage football this season, a situation not seen since 2017.

Assessing Blame:

While some fans are directing criticism towards the manager and others towards the players, the defeat is presented as a collective failure. Rangers had a full week to prepare for the Jablonec match, with their league game against St Mirren being postponed. McInnes even maintained the same starting eleven for the first time this season. However, he made three substitutions at halftime, a tactic he has employed frequently this campaign when players weren't performing as expected. Rangers struggled to gain control of the game, and despite McInnes altering both the formation and personnel multiple times during the 120 minutes, none of these adjustments proved effective.

McInnes admitted that the team does not appear comfortable with the ball, lacks effectiveness on the counter-attack, and is unsettled when playing direct. Boyd suggests that McInnes may lack trust in some of his players, indicated by the frequent changes, and believes these players are currently lacking self-confidence.

The Severity of the Season's Start:

While every season presents unique challenges, comparisons are inevitable. Derek McInnes's current record does not fare well when contrasted with his predecessors.

Russell Martin, who managed the team at the start of the previous season, secured three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being sacked after just 10 more matches. Danny Rohl, who replaced Martin, achieved four wins and three losses in his initial seven games. McInnes, who took over this summer, has a worse start, with only two wins and three losses from his first seven matches.

The next fixture is an away game against one of McInnes's former clubs, Aberdeen, on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Call for Calm or Immediate Change?

As has been observed previously, dissatisfaction among the Ibrox supporters can quickly escalate when a season begins poorly. Some fans are already advocating for a change, while others recognize the need to break the cycle of frequent managerial changes and believe that achieving success will require time.

The club has seen seven different permanent managers in less than five years, a pattern considered unsustainable. However, the possibility exists that the issues extend beyond the manager's position, potentially explaining why McInnes might be given more time.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the US consortium that took over the club stated their ambition was "sustained winning and winning sustainably." However, Cavenagh recently acknowledged at a shareholders' meeting that the club had allowed "finishing second and sometimes worse to seep into every corner of this club." Over the past 15 seasons, Celtic has dominated the league, winning 14 titles, and in the most recent campaign, Rangers finished third, behind both Celtic and Hearts, managed by McInnes.

Significant changes have been implemented behind the scenes at Ibrox over the past year to address these issues, including a new CEO, recruitment adjustments, and the appointment of a new manager. While Cavenagh admits the start to the season has not been ideal, he expressed more optimism now than a year ago. This sentiment suggests that a period of calm might be the preferred approach for now.

Will Rangers Continue to Support McInnes?

The evidence indicates that they will. The club's significant investment in player acquisitions this summer suggests confidence in their manager. Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who led the managerial search, stated that McInnes was the "only one name that ticked all the boxes" when he was recruited from Hearts in June.

While results are expected to improve quickly, Gillespie has consistently expressed his belief that McInnes will lead Rangers to success. The club has already signed 12 players this summer, with Kevin Kelsy reportedly close to joining in a £9.2 million deal for the striker. This forward-thinking approach was reinforced by McInnes himself after the Jablonec defeat, where he acknowledged his team's youth and inexperience and stated that the club was actively seeking further signings to address these areas.

What Lies Ahead?

The upcoming schedule for Rangers offers a quick succession of matches as they aim to recover from their recent setbacks. McInnes has admitted that there are "huge improvements to make" and will be hoping for a better performance and result when the squad travels to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Three days later, they face Falkirk on Wednesday, also live on Sky Sports, before hosting Motherwell at Ibrox the following Saturday. The period before the international break includes two significant Old Firm derbies: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13, followed by a Premiership clash at Celtic Park a week later, live on Sky Sports.