Kris Commons believes Gio Van Bronckhorst is facing a mammoth fight for survival but insists problems run deeper than the dugout.
TheFormer Celtic star has been left unimpressed by the football on offer from the Dutchman and believes Rangers appear a team without a defined style. However, he believes sporting director Ross Wilson also must carry the flak amid fan fury in the wake of Saturday's sobering 1-1 draw with Livingston at Ibrox.
But Commons also admits Van Bronckhorst has little wiggle room with supporters showering players with boos in consecutive games and Napoli looming in the Champions League after four consecutive European defeats. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Commons said: "Truthfully, I think a lot of fans would get rid of him now, regardless of what happens against Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Saturday's draw against Livi isn't to be viewed in isolation. Rangers have been dreadful for weeks. That result had been coming.
"They were booed off last midweek on the back of a 1-0 win over Championship side Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup. Fans then vented their fury once again on Saturday and I don't blame them. I'd rather watch paint dry than watch this Rangers team. Honestly, if they were playing at the bottom of my garden, I wouldn't open the curtains. They are so slow and one-paced in possession. It's boring, pedestrian and predictable.
"As always with the Old Firm, you're going to be compared with what's happening with your rivals across the city. Celtic are the polar opposite of Rangers. They are well-coached, have a clear style and identity, score goals for fun and quite often blow teams away. Van Bronckhorst is now almost a year into the job, but I don't see any clear evidence of what style he's trying to coach into this Rangers team. Whereas, with Celtic, you could see a clear style and identity within a couple of months once Ange Postecoglou took the job.
"I would be astonished if Rangers got anything other than another hiding in Naples. As we approach Halloween, it's got a horror show written all over it. But it's the Aberdeen game next weekend which now looks pivotal for Van Bronckhorst. If the Dons go to Ibrox and win, I reckon he'll be toast. The club are obviously trying to limp through until the World Cup period, with a view to strengthening the squad in the January transfer window.
"But, if results and performances continue like this, Van Bronckhorst will be lucky to even make it as far as the World Cup. The fans will hound him out."
And while Commons knows Van Bronckhorstf aces a precarious position, he is adamant there must be scrutiny on the man who has made the signings. He added: "The likelihood is that Van Bronckhorst will now pay the price for that by losing his job. But let's not pretend that changing the manager will solve all the problems at Ibrox.
"The issues run far deeper than that. Wilson and the recruitment team also have a lot to answer for. They have allowed the squad to stagnate. The midfield, in particular, is in a state of decay. There's absolutely no creativity in there at all."
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