Robin Propper Is The Worst Rangers Defender Since 2012 And Rangers Must Secure Sale | OneFootball

Robin Propper may well go down as the worst Rangers defender since the dark days of 2012. The Dutch centre-back has been nothing short of a disaster since arriving from FC Twente, with even the likes of Emilson Cribari, Darren Cole and Ross Perry producing more coherent and composed defensive shifts than he has shown in a Rangers shirt. The Robin Propper Rangers transfer has been a catastrophe that the club must not repeat and must not prolong. He simply has to go.

When he was signed, there was some expectation given his Eredivisie pedigree, but Rangers fans quickly saw the truth. He is slow to react, poor in the air and utterly lacking the positional awareness needed at the top level. Whether it was in friendlies or competitive action, Propper never once looked settled or convincing and gave off the impression of a man lost in the spotlight. The Robin Propper Rangers transfer has turned into a cautionary tale for the board and management as they look to rebuild a defence capable of winning the Premiership again.

Supporters have been quick to notice the glaring flaws in his game. From awkward clearances to being muscled off the ball by average opposition strikers, Propper has failed to meet even the basic standards expected at Rangers. His performances were a throwback to the darkest defensive days at Ibrox when the likes of Cribari and Perry were being forced to carry the badge under desperate circumstances. Now, years later and with significantly more resources at the club’s disposal, there is no excuse for such a signing. If the plan was to replace the likes of Connor Goldson or John Souttar with Propper, then it was doomed from the start. The Robin Propper Rangers transfer was never logical and has only highlighted the recruitment errors made this past year.

It is clear from multiple reports that Propper is angling for a move back to Twente and this time, Rangers must not fumble the bag. There can be no excuses, no delays and certainly no soft negotiations. Propper was signed for around £1.5 million and the club should do everything possible to recoup at least some of that. What cannot happen is another situation where a misfiring signing lingers around the squad, contributing nothing and draining wages that could be spent more wisely elsewhere. This is not about blame or scapegoating but about standards. And Robin Propper has fallen well below them.

The real danger for Rangers is that keeping him could set a precedent that mediocrity is acceptable at Ibrox. It is not. The shirt demands a certain level of pride and performance. When defenders like Leon Balogun were criticised last season for inconsistency, they still showed more application than Propper ever has. Rangers cannot afford to carry passengers. Not in Europe and certainly not domestically where every dropped point matters. If Twente are ready to take him back then Rangers must jump at the chance and make sure the deal is done properly and fast.

There are already murmurs among fans that the club are learning lessons under the new management structure. Russell Martin has made it clear that anyone not up to scratch will be moved on and that statement now faces its biggest test yet with Propper. If the new era is to mean anything then he must be part of the outgoings before this window closes. Time to move on and wipe the slate clean. Rangers have wasted too much time and energy on failed projects like Propper. Let’s not waste any more.