And now, only five matches remain — five largely meaningless fixtures under a manager who won’t be leading Rangers next season. The current squad has already shown signs of struggling for motivation even when vital points were on the line. Expecting them to rally now purely for pride feels unlikely. In fact, stringing together five wins at this point could feel more like an insult than an achievement, especially if Rangers end the season with a 3-1 winning record over Celtic but still finish more than 10 points behind.
First up is a trip to Paisley to face St Mirren, a side with little left to fight for given the gap between them and the European qualification spots. However, Stephen Robinson’s teams are known for their grit and resilience; they have already beaten Rangers twice this season, including a win at Ibrox. A tough, physical encounter can be expected, and so can several changes to the Rangers starting lineup.
As for team selection, while Liam Kelly has performed reasonably well in goal, Jack Butland remains the club’s undisputed number one. He should return to the starting XI for the remainder of the campaign to rebuild his confidence — especially given his well-known frustration with sitting on the bench. The experimental 3-5-2 formation should be abandoned, particularly with injuries limiting the full-back options to just James Tavernier and Jefte.
In central defence, John Souttar and Clinton Nsiala impressed against Athletic Club and deserve an extended run together. Midfield options are similarly thin, but one important change could make a difference. A flatter midfield trio would allow Bailey Rice to join Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande. Rice has performed commendably when given opportunities, and starting him over the final five games would offer valuable experience. We already know what players like Connor Barron and Ianis Hagi bring to the table — and with Hagi’s future uncertain, now is the time to give Rice a real chance.
The attack is also likely to see some adjustments. Vaclav Cerny, who has shown promise and could be a candidate for a permanent signing, should retain his spot on the right wing. On the left, Oscar Cortes has been back in full training for some time. If he’s to rediscover his best form, he needs minutes on the pitch. Leading the line presents an interesting decision between Hamza Igamane and Danilo. Cyriel Dessers has had ample opportunities without cementing his place. Igamane, one of the season’s standout performers when deployed centrally, has the attributes to lead the attack effectively. Still, Danilo also deserves more chances than he has received so far.
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