Clement has to consider Gers drop for 308 game Ibrox struggler: Opinion

15/04/2024 13:30

Rangers only have themselves to blame for not being top of the Scottish Premiership after recent defeats to Ross County and Motherwell sees us behind, rather than in front in the title race.

With six games to go, Gers bossPhilippe Clement will be hoping to get a lot more out of his squad than he saw in Sunday and six goals conceded in two games is a good place to start the autopsy.

The Rangers defence that was once so frugal seems to be coughing up chances without teams having to do much to earn them and the manager has a problem to solve with one individual in particular.

Rangers have a problem that Philippe Clement has to solve

What has happened to Connor Goldson and should Clement make the brave decision of dropping him?

Why is he undroppable, especially in his current form?

He's dropping deeper than the other defenders and playing strikers onside.

Under pressure, he's hitting row z rather than trusting teammates.

Free headers at attacking corners and free-kicks are no longer a threat to the extent that we are as well giving the ball straight to the goalkeeper.

Goldson used to be the one who organised the defence, now he's the weakest member of it.

And that says a lot when Borna Barisic has been playing too.

Rangers need the best version of Goldson in run-in

We need Connor Goldson, with 308 games under his belt for the club now, to be a leader, but if his own form isn't good enough then we have to go to one of the two other senior defenders in the squad who must be wondering what they have to do to get a game.

Leon Balogun would be the natural replacement and move John Souttar over to his preferred right-hand side role where he will be able to bring the ball out of from the back more comfortably.

At this stage of the season, given what is at stake, it really would take a brave manager to drop the vice-captain and Philippe Clement doesn't seem the type.

He'll put his arm round him, tell him what he expects, and send him out with his chest puffed out.