Rangers’ latest Old Firm loss and where it leaves the club | OneFootball

What has Rangers’ latest cup loss and Philippe Clement’s latest match loss to Celtic taught us as Rangers fans?

Unfortunately, that a sizeable portion of our fanbase, despite our history of Walter, and despite 55, is now willing to accept ‘progress’ as opposed to demanding victory.

That in loss, for many fans it’s not outright rage, it’s a pat on the back for effort.

That regardless of the nature of the loss, a penalty shoot out (Ibrox Noise has long-lobbied for a change to this format), supporters are willing to turn the other cheek on the fact Rangers sit on the edge of the abyss, continuing to lose when it matters and never getting the win when it is so vital.

The same fans who loathe Aaron Ramsey for missing that penalty in 2022 are the same ones praising the squad for effort on Sunday, patting them on the back and saying well done – not a one of them is slaughtering any of the penalties, or the action in 120 minutes, just saying it was bad luck. A few are saying ‘who let Ridvan take one’.

There’s a few arguments about a dodgy penalty Rangers might have had, but ultimately, however many cases the Happy Clappers make, Clement is a proven loser manager who cannot beat Celtic and cannot win the league.

Six matches v Celtic, one draw. It’s a record that would have any previous manager resign in shame.

Rangers managers are judged on their results v Celtic, and Clement is a ghastly fail. Over a year in charge, just one single point and 5 losses.

But some fans cling onto hope and see progress, see effort.

They don’t seem to quite see the result, the abysmal 3 trophies in 13 years, and they don’t think like club legend Allan McGregor, himself disgusted with that number and not shy in saying so.

Ibrox Noise and our people do, we see that this is not a Rangers we can relate to these days – that true Rangers do not accept this level of submission to Celtic.

Talk about their superior money all you like, but financially poorer sides than Rangers have beaten Celtic in the past 12 months and won trophies. We just can’t do it, not under this manager, and not with the loser squad he’s put together.

Not a single champion in that team, aside Tavernier from 55 – the rest a botched squad of mercenaries who can ‘put in a shift’ now and then but can’t win like a Rangers team.

We’d rather win playing shockingly, as we did many times under Walter, Dick, Eck et al, than lose having ‘competed’ and ‘put in effort’. That mentality is more Hearts than Rangers.

Winning is all that matters for Rangers, and the day we accept effort and second best is the day we’re not being Rangers.

Winning was the bedrock in the past.

It’s a sad day when for so many fans they can find comfort and ‘progress’ in losing.