Ally McCoist labels himself 'Doctor doom' after latest Rangers rant while reflecting on Europa League capitulation
The Ibrox legend said the capabilities of the current squad is a ‘big concern’.
Danny Rohl’s side drew with Braga on matchday five despite being a goal and a man up, in a match where they should’ve taken maximum points.
James Tavernier converted from the spot on the stroke of half time to give the home side the lead, before Rodrigo Zalazar was sent off for a head-butt on Nico Raskin. However, in a bizarre turn of events, Rangers appeared to switch off after the red card and were made to pay when Gabri Martinez took advantage of a Nasser Djiga mistake to equalise.
Although the goal was an individual error, Rangers’ general reaction to the red card worried former striker, Ally McCoist, who was on commentating duties for TNT Sports. He believes that Rangers are on the right path, but is worried about the ceiling of the current squad.
‘I’m not sure that group of players can take Rangers to the next level’
Speaking on TNT Sports after the game, McCoist said: “I think the club's moving in the right direction. I think they're taking one or two forward steps. But tonight, it's terrible because every time I come on here, I feel as though I'm like Doctor Doom and I don't want to be! But that's a game Rangers should have won and would have won a couple of seasons ago. There’s no doubt about that.
“My concern is, and it's a big concern, I'm not sure, sadly, that this team is capable of a lot better than that. You've no idea how much I hope I'm wrong. But I'm not sure those individuals and collectively as a team can be a lot better than that.
“Yes, they can do different things and selective things better. For example the Braga goal, you can't make mistakes at the goal that they did and that's just really poor defending. But I'm not sure that that group of players or that team can take Rangers to the next level or the level that they want to be at. Time will tell but I think there's an awful lot of work to be done.”
McCoist congratulates captain after landmark goal
The Tavernier penalty means he is now equal with McCoist in terms of European goals for Rangers with both on 21. The Rangers skipper is now just eight goals behind all-time top scorer, Alfredo Morelos. When co-commentator Jamie Lyall asked McCoist how he felt about his tally being matches, the Rangers hero was full of admiration for Tavernier.
‘To be honest, it was only a matter of time and I’m delighted for him. It's an absolutely remarkable goalscoring return that he’s given the football club. And as I say, many congratulations him and most credit to him. I’ll be brutally honest, I hope he now goes on and catches Morelos!”