'It hasn't worked' - Rangers hero on why Clement's side are 'so far behind' Celtic despite £16m spend
Ex Aston Villa and Tottenham defender Alan Hutton has also spoken about Aberdeen’s impressive form this season.
Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton says Rangers player trading model in recent seasons simply ‘hasn’t worked’ and that their chances of winning the league this year are already gone.
The ex Scotland international also believes that, despite spending £16m, Philippe Clement has not been able to bring in the sort of players he would have wanted. Now, the 39-year old says the club’s main focus this season must be on winning a domestic trophy and trying to replicate their European performances in the Scottish Premiership so as to try and catch Jimmy Thelin’s red-hot Aberdeen.
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Hutton said: “What's going on at Rangers? I think there’s been a huge shift at the club in terms of finances, and players coming in and out. The player trading model has not worked in recent years, contracts have been allowed to run down and they've lost a lot of experience. That being said, the manager has spent money. They've spent about £16 million this summer but I don't feel that he got the people in that he wanted.
“I thought he would probably want more experience within that squad, and he's not been able to get it. It's obviously taken time, he's had that, but it's still very inconsistent at the moment. Performances are very up and down. They're so far behind in the league.
“If it was just Celtic, people wouldn’t accept it, but they would understand that they're at a different level at this moment in time. Jimmy Thelin has come into Aberdeen and done the same thing, he’s got them flying. That's why the red flags are out and the alarm bells are sounding at this moment in time.
“Rangers, where they are, even at board level, the stability is not there so there's a huge turnaround within the club. Everything's changing and I did feel sorry for the manager at times, because he kind of had his hands tied behind his back, especially at the beginning of the season. Now we should be seeing signs that they're moving forward and we’re still not seeing that.”
He continued: “Nobody would have wanted to see this situation at this moment in time. They’re nine points off Aberdeen and Celtic, so at the start of the season they want to compete for the league, simple as that, and both cup trophies. They want to have a good run in Europe. The league at this moment in time, to claw back nine points, it’s very difficult to bridge that gap against a very good Celtic team.
“Celtic are a different animal and Aberdeen have done exceptionally well, so you have to look at the other two trophies and think those are a must. Rangers, Celtic, these big clubs must win silverware, so that has to be a priority.
“They're doing well in Europe, even though the Lyon defeat was a difficult one to take, but again, Lyon were an outstanding opponent, so you can't really complain too much about it. Rangers are doing well in that competition, but they need to carry that form week in, week out in the league and they've not done that. The performances have been too inconsistent. The League Cup and the Scottish Cup are a must, but you just feel at this moment in time the league, the gap's just getting too wide.”