Rangers in gruelling Standard Liege stalemate as Philippe Clement's pre-season task becomes clear – 3 talking points
The Light Blues ramped up their pre-season preparations in the Netherlands during the 0-0 draw with the Belgian outfit
Sited at a strategically important crossroad between the Dutch and German borders, the town of Venlo where Rangers are basing themselves this week has found itself repeatedly besieged over the past 500 years.
The beleaguered Ibrox board will know how the townsfolk must have felt given the battering they’ve taken in recent days. The catastrophic construction cock-up which means the Light Blues face having to move out of Ibrox for the opening weeks of the campaign has sparked a predictably furious response from the fans. Quite what Philippe Clement makes of the whole affair has yet to be made clear.
But while the Ibrox directors wait for their delayed steel delivery, their manager is forging ahead with his squad rebuild. The closed-door kick-about with Liege was their second work-out of pre-season after putting five past Hamilton in an Auchenhowie bounce game last week.
But having been put through a gruelling training session on the morning of this one, it was no surprise to see the leggy Ibrox side struggle to cut through Nico Raskin’s old side. They almost snatched a winner late on when Alex Lowry rattled the base of the post but it was you typical pre-season affair where topping up fitness levels was the name of the game.
Clement has made five new signings so far but only Connor Barron was included from the start as the former Aberdeen midfielder lined up against a Liege outfit boasting former Celtic flop Boli Bolingoli in their team.
Oscar Cortes - out since suffering a serious knee injury against Kilmarnock back in February - was also back in Clement’s team but it was no surprise to see the Colombian looking rusty after his five-month lay-off. The on-loan Lens winger was eased back into action with a half-hour run out before making way for Robbie Fraser in a pre-planned switch.
The rest of the starting outfielders made way at the break as Clement made swapped everyone bar Jack Butland in goal. but there hadn't been much to excite the big Belgian.
In fact, the only emotion as the teams headed for the dressing room would have been concern as Mohamed Diomande went down holding his knee just as the half-time whistle blew. Thankfully for Clement, the Ivory Coast kid was quickly back on his feet.
Aside from a couple of wayward strikes from Cortes and Tom Lawrence, Gers didn’t create much while Jack Butland coped well with strikes from Issac Price and American youth cap Marlon Fossey on the few times they bothered to up the tempo.
The second half saw new signings Clinton Nsiala and Jefte join the returning Connor Goldson in a re-jigged back-line as kids Cole McKinnon and Findlay Curtis also got the chance to impress. McKinnon was keen to take his, coming close to an opener with a deflected shot that was tipped round by Liege No1 Matthieu Epolo’s fine save.
The additions of Rabbi Matondo and Lowry in the final half hour allowed Gers to turn up the heat. The Welshman was first to threaten, cutting in from the left before zipping wide, while Lowry was denied only by the woodwork after taking aim from 20 yards out.
Mood change required
Ibrox is a fairly gloomy place right now as the fall-out from the Ibrox construction cock-up piles fresh frustration on a support already scunnered by last year’s title collapse. It’s down to Philippe Clement to lift the mood but the manager will be first to point out that there’s no point reading too much into pre-season games.
This lacklustre kick-about with Liege came after the big Belgian had put his players through their paces with a gruelling morning training session and it was no surprise to see them looking leggy. Connor Barron was the only new recruit to start but the Scotland Under-21 international looks to have settled quickly into his new surroundings.
Tidy on the ball and tough in the tackle, there’s more than a passing resemblance to another former Aberdeen star who has just checked out of Ibrox in Ryan Jack. Clement, though, will be hoping he can count on his new signing from Pittodrie a little more regularly than he could the recently departed Scotland midfielder.
Clinton Nsiala and Jefte were introduced at half-time. It was a low-key run-out from Brazilian full-back Jefte but former AC Milan kid Nsiala showed a level of calm and composure which suggests he might be ready to step up to top-team level having never made it off the Rossoneri’s bench.
Transfer clock is ticking
It’s been a busy summer so far for Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen. The Ibrox boss and his recruitment chief have already wrapped up the signings of five new faces - but they know plenty more are required before the season kicks off against Hearts on August 3.
No movement in or out is expected while the team is in Holland but the clock is ticking towards a huge first month of the season that could include two huge Champions League qualifiers worth up to £60million. Liam Kelly arrived in Venlo just in time to watch the game kick-off having been given some extra time off after Euros duty with Scotland, while Hamza Igamane will join up with his team-mates next week
Dessers dilemma remains
Cyriel Dessers has been linked with a move to Italian side Calagri this week but Record Sport understands Rangers have yet to be contacted by the Serie A outfit. The Nigerian hit 22 goals last year but if he had converted the sitters he should have scored he’d have registered nearly double that.
If the Ibrox faithful were hoping for signs that he’s been working on his touch and control over the summer then they’re bound to be disappointed. While he wasn’t exactly spoiled with service, the few times the ball did make its way up to the striker it was swiftly turned over to Liege as Dessers’ carried on where he frustratingly left off last season.