New Rangers Dawn As Far Away As Ever In European Groundhog Day

May 30 was meant to beryllium nan time of a caller opening for Rangers.

New investment. New regime. New head en route. A caller outlook, each triggered by nan arrival of a US-based consortium vowing to get nan nine "back to nan top".

Already nan Trumpesque "Make Rangers Great Again" merchandise seen backmost past has been parked. The star-spangled banners successful nan Ibrox stands now replaced pinch statements of protest, accompanied by howls of dissatisfaction.

Five harrowing months connected from erstwhile nan group led by Andrew Cavenagh walked successful nan large doorway successful nan Bill Struth Stand, nan feel-good has been has been banished amid interminable disappointment.

It's been catastrophic truthful far. A caller caput coach, Russell Martin, has been and gone - smuggled distant successful nan backmost of a car - aft 123 days.

The process of appointing his replacement garnered ridicule arsenic candidates were successful and retired for illustration a managerial Hokey Cokey, each earlier Danny Rohl re-emerged to return complaint aft earlier withdrawing from nan race.

Fans person been seen accosting committee members successful edifice lobbies and airports, while connected nan transportation nan squad languish 14 points disconnected nan Premiership acme arsenic Europe continues to to beryllium a traumatic experience.

The latest torturous section came courtesy of a Roma squad who played astir of their 2-0 Europa League victory astatine Ibrox successful 2nd gear.

In truth, location was nary existent request to scope for a 3rd against a Rangers squad which was again complicit to enactment anchored connected zero points.

There person been flickers of betterment nether German Rohl, who has won 2 of his first 5 games.

Some Rangers fans will beryllium consenting for a January model to travel quickly, but is location immoderate existent religion that it will beryllium their redeeming grace?

A seventh successive European conclusion successful a statement was meted retired connected Thursday, achieving an embarassing nine record.

Giant tifo displays of Rangers' Roman warriors pre-match made measurement for banners reference "This is not a hobby this is our lives" arsenic nan crippled followed a akin European shape founded connected aforesaid destruction.

An unmarked Matias Soule nodded Roma into nan lead aft 13 minutes. The slayer 2nd came done a sumptuous Lorenzo Pellegrini finish, assisted by Artem Dovbyk and a gawping Rangers defence. There was nary request for a third.

Rohl, who already seems much celebrated than nan man he replaced ever was, shuffled nan manus his predecessor had dealt him. Five substitutes - 1 astatine half-time - were made and nan strategy changed much than once.

To an extent, he sewage a reaction. Rangers sewage into bully areas but acold excessively often nan last shot was poor. You sewage nan belief Roma could person upped it if request be.

"It was uninspiring," said erstwhile Rangers striker Steven Thompson connected Sportsound. "They huffed and puffed successful nan 2nd half. It was improved, but not bully enough."

He added: "You tin spot he's guardant thinking, consenting to effort things and return babe steps, and they mightiness improve. But they're not going to amended to nan level that will fulfill nan supporters."

That second constituent is possibly nan cardinal 1 for nan Rangers support, nan caput coach, and Cavenagh. A squad which has already undergone awesome activity requires further surgery.

In June, nan American businessman said of nan nine being "impatient" successful their thirst for occurrence arsenic £20m of finance was announced.

A batch of nan communicative astatine nan clip surrounded whether that would beryllium capable to constrictive nan spread to Celtic and would location beryllium much coming?

It's safe to opportunity plentifulness of money has been poured into this Rangers squad - whether it's been done wisely aliases not is unfastened to awesome debate.

A reported interest of £8m was fixed to Everton for Youssef Chermiti, who had not scored for 28 months anterior to joning. Twelve Rangers appearances later, only 1 extremity has followed.

Oliver Antman, Oscar Cortes, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Djeidi Gassama person besides travel successful for reported important fees. But to what impact?

Hamza Igamane near for a interest reported to beryllium northbound of £10m. The maligned Cyriel Dessers besides near for large money aft scoring 29 goals past season. Vaclav Cerny and his 19 goals departed upon completion of his indebtedness deal.

"Have Rangers signed anyone amended than who they've fto go?" Rangers fable Ally McCoist asked connected TNT Sports. "Forget 1 transportation model for Rangers, it mightiness beryllium three. It's a large job. A big, large job."

"Rangers are crying retired for help," added Alan Hutton, referring to reinforcements successful this January window.

For Rangers to bring players in, you'd expect immoderate will request to spell retired successful what is traditionally a harder transportation model to manoeuvre in. Especially erstwhile supporters are truthful captious of what they've already seen nether this regime.

Chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting head Kevin Thelwell person been nan subjects of protestation from nan club's support. Banners protesting against them returned connected Thursday, arsenic did much cries from nan crowd.

There's nary hiding spot for either, peculiarly now Martin is nary longer location to beryllium nan superior target for nan ire. They removed him, but it has not been capable to alleviate nan unit mounting connected them. Only wins will do that, and quickly.

Rangers' privilege will beryllium nan home scene, and it should be.

On Sunday, they competed pinch 10 men for a ample spell of their extra-time League Cup semi-final conclusion by Celtic. There's positives they tin return from clinging to a triumph astatine Easter Road, and besides shaking disconnected a Kilmarnock resurgence to easiness to victory.

Rohl said post-match astir seeing a squad "willing to move things around" and being "totally convinced" nan tanker tin beryllium turned.

Remarkably they are only 5 points adrift of Celtic, albeit a agelong measurement further backmost from Hearts. The play is acold from a mislaid cause.

But that is simply a agelong measurement disconnected correct now. Five months connected from that caller dawn, amended days look further distant than they did that time successful May.

In that impatient pursuit to nan top, location whitethorn good beryllium much testing days ahead.