Philippe Clement’s assessment of a Rangers player who was unaware of the identities of his teammates

PHILIPPE Clement has revealed Nedim Bajrami didn’t know the names of all of his team mates when he made his Rangers debut against Dundee United today and predicted the Albanian winger will become influential for the Ibrox club in the coming weeks.

“Nedim is just in the building,” he said. “So he had two short sessions with the team. He doesn’t even know all the names of his team mates. So he’s just here. But we know what kind of player he is, what he can do for the team. He showed some things, but he can show much more still in the future.”

Clement was also pleased with the impact which Hamza Igamane, the Moroccan forward who was signed from AS FAR in his homeland for £1.7m in July, made when he replaced Cyriel Dessers in the second half.

“Like I said when we signed him, it’s a big talent,” he said. “We had to do it now because if it would have been one year later, we could never afford that kind of players.

“He’s coming straight out of a Moroccan competition, Moroccan culture. Everything is new for him. He was also injured when he came. So it took time to get him more fit.

“And that’s what we’re going to do the next weeks and the next months, to give him opportunities to grow as a young player. But you see already a lot of good basic qualities.”

The Belgian was pleased that Rangers, who were missing Vaclav Cerny, Danilo, Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz for the trip to Tayside, won their first game since the 3-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Celtic at Parkhead a fortnight ago.

“It’s the only reaction that I demand, that I expect, he said. “It was a difficult couple of weeks, yes, but that was that one result. And it was a really bad result. But it was a long time before we could get another game.

“I said it before this game, I would have preferred to play three days afterwards. But it was not the case. It was international  week, so a lot of players left. So it’s not easy to come then to Dundee and to play that way with a lot of players who are new in the building and a lot who have been away with national duty.

“So I’m really proud of the players, what they did today. And you saw already direct back the synergy with them and the fans. So that’s a crucial thing also.”

Clement added: “That (Tannadice) is a hard place to come to. We knew that United is in a really good dynamic, winning promotion, then after having a really good start in the Premiership and they deserve the points that they have until now. So we knew it would be a hard game.

“We started very well on the ball, with the things that we had done in training. We took the domination of the game and scored a really good first goal. And then you miss a little bit the chance to score a second goal. In the second half, it was more a fight because Dundee United pressed higher and were more aggressive.

“And then those moments we need to be better to score the second goal or the third goal to kill off the game. But there were a lot of positive things if you see how many new players were on the pitch today. We are building and it’s getting better week by week.”

Clement is urged to think about benching his teammate and £4.5 million player, but the new addition is the “shining light.”

Philippe Clement has a couple of big decisions to make as Rangers prepare to resume their Scottish Premiership duties on Sunday.

The odd ‘massive call’, to quote former Ibrox stalwart Derek Ferguson.

For instance, does he persist with James Tavernier, in the hope that the captain can rediscover his mojo again?

Tavernier, not for the first time, struggled badly against the pace and the irrepressible intensity of Dazen Maeda as Rangers suffered their first domestic defeat of the season away to Old Firm rivals Celtic before the September international break.

Dujon Sterling is in line to take Tavernier’s place, should Clement opt to shuffle his pack. The versatile Neraysho Kasanwirjo will also be in contention to make his debut.

The Gers boss has already confirmed that the long-serving right-back – having played a minimum of 55 games in each of the last three campaigns – is likely to spend a little more time out of the XI over the coming months in order to avoid a burnout.

And dropping Tavernier away at Dundee United is a decision Ferguson would back.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement faces big James Tavernier call

“Listen, we can talk about his passing – he’s been brilliant with his stats and all that – but at the moment he isn’t playing well,” the two-time Scottish Premiership champion tells the Open Goal podcast, via their official YouTube channel.

“It’s a massive call. But sometimes you’ve got to make these calls. I think this is probably a good game to take him out and give him a wee breather.”

Tavernier is not the only one who may be glancing nervously over his shoulder with that painful Parkhead collapse still fresh in the memory.

Ferguson feels that Mohamed Diomande – ineffective against Celtic – could also be facing a battle for his place with Nicolas Raskin returning to fitness.

Big things were expected of Diomande after he completed a £4.5 million move from Nordsjaelland – Ferguson’s namesake Barry tipped him to hit an all-new level this term – but the Ivorian has been overshadowed so far by summer signing Connor Barron.

“There’s a few (who could be dropped), even talking about Diomande. He’s a talented boy but he’s got to show a bit more,” Derek Ferguson adds. “You could point the finger at quite a lot of them apart from the wee fella Barron in the middle of the park.

“He’s been the shining light.”

Connor Barron certain to start at Dundee United

Clement has barely missed a chance to praise Barron during an excellent first few weeks in Rangers blue.

Stepping into the shoes of another Aberdeen export in Ryan Jack – who himself has lauded the youngster’s early performances – Barron is comfortably the most impressive of Rangers’ ten summer signings so far.

Tavernier, meanwhile, continues to be linked with a move to Turkey with the Super Lig window not closing until Friday.

HITC reports that Istanbul Basaksehir were interested.

So too were Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and Turkish champions Galatasaray.

Tavernier has opted to stay put, however, despite the prospect of a big pay rise in Istanbul. While criticism of his performances can be justified, there are no doubts about the skipper’s commitment to the Rangers cause.

“I just don’t want the fans to turn like that,” Ferguson adds, keen not to see Tavernier depart under a cloud. “He’s been brilliant for us.

“If he did get a move that would be good for him, go with the fans having a good feeling about you.”

Rangers ‘need’ a £3 million playmaker, and the former Ibrox stopper hinted at conflict behind the scenes.

Rangers need all the help they can get just now, and fans could do with a lift after losing the Old Firm derby in such dismal fashion.

Philippe Clement spoke about possibly signing a number six after the gap in midfield was evident once again.

What would also be welcomed, would be the return of Ianis Hagi, not necessarily because he is a world beater, but because he is better than several players who are currently playing week in, week out and him sitting in the stands just doesn’t make sense.

Dorin Goian claims Rangers boss has fallen out with Ianis Hagi

According to former Rangers centre-half and Romania international Dorin Goian, Hagi’s ommission has nothing to do with wages or ability, as reported by The Daily Record:

“Ianis Hagi is a valuable player. Unfortunately, he is not having a great time at Rangers, given that he is not on the best of terms with the manager there.

“His summoning to our national team is also to do with helping his morale and I think that our manager Mircea Lucescu did the right thing by picking him. It gives him a confidence boost and there is now extra pressure on Rangers to play him.

“Rangers are not playing great, they have just been outclassed in the Old Firm by Celtic and things are not rosy. I know their supporters are demanding the return of Ianis Hagi to the first team.

“The facts are that Rangers have a talented footballer who, until he got injured, was playing very well there. And now that he has been called up and played after doing so well at the Euros puts extra pressure on the Rangers manager to use him more, because when things don’t go well something needs to change.

“I think Ianis should play for Rangers. He is a technical player, who can beat a man. He can make a killer pass too and in Scotland there are not many players of his ability. Rangers are mainly on the attack so they need players like Ianis Hagi.”

Rangers need to find a way to get Hagi back playing

Hagi should play for Rangers.

Regardless of any contract clause, the £3m signing isn’t going to bankrupt the club on an extra £6,000 per week given that Scott Wright left the club and wasn’t replaced.

A late move for Samuel Edozie on transfer deadline day shows that the money is there.

Even if it is true, Clement could be getting a new player for just £6,000 per week.

When you see it like that, it seems like a bargain.

Is Hagi worth being one of Rangers top earners?

The answer is, they won’t know until they play him.

What is known, is that Rabbi Matondo is going to be out for the next two months at least, and Rangers need more depth in attack.

‘Sink or swim’ – Jo Potter shares Champions League verdict for Rangers Women

Jo Potter has insisted it is sink or swim for her Rangers side ahead of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers against Arsenal.

The Gers take on the Gunners on 4 September in tournament three of the qualifying rounds to reach the group stages, with a final match against Atlético Madrid or Rosenborg as their reward for a victory.

Rangers Women completed the perfect preparation with a 10-0 win over Dundee United as Potter’s side moved two points clear at the SWPL summit. [Rangers, 1 September].

Speaking to RangersTV, as shared by Forbes (3 September), Potter said: “You go out at this stage, you’re done. It’s kind of a sink-or-swim stage for us.

“We’ve been back in our season for a few weeks now, we’re not in pre-season now. We’ve got to make sure that we use that to our advantage as well.

“(Arsenal have) been at the forefront of the women’s game for such a long time, they do everything right.”

Rangers Women in red-hot form ahead of Arsenal test

Starting a league season unbeaten with five straight victories is one thing, but to do so by scoring 43 goals and not conceding a single one is on another level.

However, that’s the electrifying rate at which Potter’s side has kicked off their campaign, and such dominance could prove to either be a help or a hindrance before her side faces Arsenal.

A 10-0 victory isn’t even the biggest recorded by the Gers so far this season – that was an 11-0 thrashing of Aberdeen on the opening weekend – but the lack of competitiveness may not be the best of omens.

Arsenal, finishing third in the England Women’s Super League last season, have nearly two decades of experience playing in the Champions League, and will undoubtedly be the Gers’ toughest test yet.

Philippe Clement’s men’s side fell at the penultimate hurdle against Dynamo Kyiv in their bid to reach the group stages of the Champions League, and Potter’s side can go one better by upsetting Arsenal on Wednesday.

Rangers star is accused by Keith Jackson of “throwing in the towel” against Celtic

Following Sunday’s disappointing 3-0 loss to Celtic, Rangers captain James Tavernier was accused by Keith Jackson of “throwing in the towel” (1 September).

With all the pressure Philippe Clement is already under at Ibrox, the defeat to Celtic, their Old Firm rivals, will not help him at all.

Tavernier, who was rumoured to be leaving Ibrox during the summer transfer window, has been praised for his play and has managed to hold onto his position this year.

“The truth is – as unpalatable as it may be for them to swallow – is that these fans are now on the point of throwing in the towel, in the same way, that captain Tavernier did yesterday afternoon while his team was being taken apart by the neighbours,” Jackson wrote in a piece published by the Daily Record on Monday, September 2.

After Rangers vs. Celtic, James Tavernier bears the majority of the blame.

Tavernier shouldn’t mind being singled out by the media and supporters because he is the club captain.

After switching from Wigan to the Gers in the summer of 2015, the 32-year-old has committed nearly ten years of his life to the team, but it appears that his time there is running out.

Many supporters thought the right-back would be leaving Ibrox this summer after clubs approached him, but he is still a member of Clement’s starting lineup.

Fans are frustrated by Dujon Sterling’s involvement because they feel that he should be playing midfield to gain experience rather than starting at full-back.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement

Although Tavernier has received harsh criticism for yet another appalling performance, the manager ought to bear the majority of the guilt as he has ready his team to play at Celtic Park against Brenden Rodgers’ squad.

The fierce supporters of the Gers have every right to be worried about their chances of winning the Scottish Premiership title already, as the team has only triumphed once against their Old Firm rivals in the previous 12 meetings.