Subtle Clement Q&A clue gives Rangers fans cause for cautious optimism – but £8m reason means he ISN’T off the hook
Clement came through the Q&A pretty unscathed but he’s not off the hook in the eyes of fans
It was one of those ideas that probably looked great at the time.
The planning for the audience Q&A with Philippe Clement the other night kicked off when the Belgian was top of the league. By the time it rolled around he was down in the dumps. Clement would have had the date circled in his calendar along with other dreaded appointments, like root canal treatment and a colonic. Yet the Rangers manager came through it pretty unscathed.
Let’s be honest, it was never going to be a Frost v Nixon job. These events never are. It’s more like a Donald Trump interview on Fox News, with questions heavily vetted. Even the ones that got through were never going to be stingers. It’s the same when it comes to AGMs, pretty much for every club. The stadium could be on fire but the punters who have the stones to stand up tend to complain about the pies being too cold. And that meant Clement could state his case without too much hassle and emerge without any further damage.
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The real court of opinion is in the stands though. And there are tougher questions for him to deal with in the coming weeks. Clement has undoubtedly been handed a raw deal and the job probably wasn’t what it said on the tin when he pitched up a year or so ago.
Slashing the wage bill, emptying experienced performers and replacing them with young projects is not a gig most top gaffers would sign up for in a hurry. Not while their main rivals are rolling in dosh and not afraid to show it.
Chuck in the uncertainty off the field with the Ibrox carry-on and the lack of a chief exec or director of sport, and Clement has been kicked out on to the floor of the Coliseum armed with a teaspoon. That doesn’t get him off the hook though. Clement should still have the resources to take on most of what Scottish football has to offer.
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He can hardly plead poverty when he got to spend £4.5million on Mo Diomande and £3.5m to snap up Nedim Bajrami. It’s okay admitting Celtic have a head start but he doesn’t need to face them in the league until January 2 – and there will be more than 20 games until then.
It’s those games that will decide whether he can regain the fans’ faith. It’s a tortuous path, with tricky trips to the likes of Pittodrie and a perilous Europa League draw too. Excuses are not going to cut it though. Talk about xG, possession or thumping wins over Ross County won’t wash.
It was interesting Clement hinted in a little aside on Friday he had the option to bail out in the summer but chose to stay and fight. That should encourage punters but let’s not be naive. He stayed but made sure there was a stiffer insurance policy in the form of an extended contract.
Clement isn’t going to quit, that’s for sure, no matter what happens and regardless of the heat coming from fans. Rangers need to build up a head of steam to reduce the overall temperature.
Clement might have had some answers at the Q&A but you get the feeling the tougher questions are to come.
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