Former Rangers star questions Danny Rohl after Hearts defeat as comparisons drawn with flop Ibrox boss
The defeat at Tynecastle has left Rangers’ title hopes in tatters
Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson has compared boss Danny Rohl to his predecessor Russell Martin after their defeat to Hearts, claiming he lacked an ‘edge’ going into the game.
The Light Blues were defeated 2-1 by the Jambos at Tynecastle, despite going a goal up in the first half, once again leading to questions of their mentality in the midst of a title race. The result means they now sit seven points behind their Edinburgh rivals at the top of the table with just three games to go.
Rangers have seen progress under Rohl, whose side at one stage were 13 points behind Hearts. The German boss inherited a side from Martin that’d won just one league game of their first seven. Not the most passionate of managers, the former Rangers boss had a demeanour in interviews which occasionally rubbed Rangers fans up the wrong way, particularly after poor results. Thomson believes he saw similar traits in Rohl prior to the Hearts all-or-nothing clash.
Thomson questions Rohl’s conduct
Rohl’s opposite number, Derek McInnes was clearly fired up for the game, kicking every ball on the touchline in his normal fired-up fashion, whereas the Rangers boss had a more considered, moderate approach. While in context, it’s unsurprising that the Hearts boss would be more up for psyched for the game, which was perhaps the most important in their recent history, however Thomson was hoping for a bit more for Rohl. The Gers boss has come under scrutiny from sections of his own fans after back-to-back defeats to Motherwell and Hearts.
Speaking on the Breakdown podcast, when asked whether he thinks Rangers fans have turned on the manager, Thomson responded: “It’s mental how quick things change. Such a cut-throat nature. I mean going by social media there looks like there’s a bit of pressure on him (Rohl), but that’s not like we’re going about asking every single Rangers fan.
Rangers boss’ calmness taken for weakness
He continued: “Remember when Russell (Martin) was here and he would sometimes do interviews and at times be a wee bit too smart? I felt from Rohl even before the game there was a lack of belief in his voice. And then you listen to Derek McInnes. He’s got that fire in his belly and that grit in his voice. I know with Rohl it could be the language barrier, but he speaks brilliant English. Okay, he was calm. Maybe if Rangers win, in hindsight you think, ‘okay, he’s calm, he knows what he’s doing.’ But I just felt for that game, the build-up of it, the atmosphere. It just felt like it needed that edge.”
The Rangers boss also came under criticism for his substitutions, or lack of during the game. McInnes introduced Blair Spittal at half time to give Hearts more numbers in midfield but Rohl was unable to respond. Thomson added: “Spittal was a revelation but I thought the Rangers midfield three, Nico Raskin, Tochi Chukwuani and Mohamed Diomande worked really well first half. Saying that I think Connor Barron should’ve started.”
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