James Tavernier was the first. It’s Derek Cornelius now.
Naturally, there are always two sides to any story, but this most recent instance of a seasoned, well-known player speaking out in public about how the treatment they receive has harmed or mistreated them only serves to confirm that head coach Danny Rohl is not the right choice for the Rangers.
Cornelius’ description of the later part of his loan from Marseille is undoubtedly a little confusing. It was embarrassing what had transpired to Tavernier earlier in the month before what was meant to be his last show at Ibrox after 11 years.
Before suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Canada on international duty in November, Cornelius had appeared to be quite stable in his 12 appearances. He appeared to be a capable part of the team, an older, more experienced player who could support a defense that had seen a difficult period.
He was never seen again, though. He was entirely locked out of the first team lineup at the end of the season. It was always feared that Nasser Djiga and Manny Fernandez, who had formed a true Keystone Cops alliance at the back earlier in the season, would melt in the heat of a title battle, and it turned out to be the case.
Naturally, Rohl should have done much more than just recruit Tuur Rommens at left-back during the January transfer window to strengthen the rearguard. That was visible to anyone who was paying attention. The final seven games of the season have seen seventeen goals shipped, which speaks for themselves.
Danny Rohl, the manager of the Rangers, suddenly has a lot of unanswered questions.
Although Cornelius was still sidelined due to injury in January, it was obvious that he would return when healthy. Rather, he discusses how Rohl didn’t communicate with him when he was in treatment. He claims that after being excluded from first-team training a few sessions ago, he was never given an explanation for why he wasn’t taken into consideration.
His claim that he felt “disrespected” when he quit the club doesn’t look good. Not with everything else that has been happening lately.
In March, after releasing Cornelius early to join his national team, Rohl was questioned about his version of events. He mentioned that he needed to speak with the player one more time to see how things worked out.
Really, it was all as transparent as mud. As is frequently the case with Germans.
Take a look at the mayhem that enveloped what should have been Tavernier’s final Light Blue game versus Hibs at Ibrox.
Put aside the fact that the Englishman was at Rangers for at least a few years too long. Ignore the fact that it was evident in the previous season that he had run out of steam.
Before injury struck and his time at Ibrox ended, Derek Cornelius appeared to be a strong contender.
For Rangers, the Hibs game was meaningless. They were already collapsing. The title had long since eluded them and, in a somewhat pitiful manner, vanished over the horizon.
It’s okay to argue that no player is more important than a club, but what was the damage in allowing Tavernier to leave the team for the final time in front of his children and the rest of his family? Ultimately, everything turned into a disorganized jumble.
The 34-year-old described feeling “deeply hurt and let down.” Rohl ought to have given him that final start, but the entire process of arranging and rescheduling an injection prior to the Hibs game is still unclear. He didn’t. He informed Tavernier that he would be placing him on the bench.
In the end, the 34-year-old didn’t participate at all. Before the game, he showed up in his suit and tie for an odd, modest, and slightly depressing presentation by John Greig.
Before the game, there were rumors that he had departed Ibrox and would not participate in the matchday squad at all. It was insane.
In a statement denouncing Rohl’s account of events, he acknowledged that “a lack of communication allowed matters to escalate unnecessarily.”
In the end, Rohl had to refute rumors that there was a schism inside the team due to several Rangers players, both current and former, endorsing Tavernier on social media.
When John Greig gives James Tavernier a farewell plaque, he wipes away his tears.
“It demonstrates the strength of the players’ relationship,” he remarked. “I don’t take it personally, and it’s more about likes and reposts.”
He is free to express his preferences. Towards the end of the season, the team obviously didn’t perform as though it was supported by solid relationships.
When it all came to an end with a victory against Falkirk, Rohl had only won eight of his previous eighteen games across all competitions. He won seven of his seventeen games against Premiership sides in the top six. It’s terrible for a team that spent £10 million on it during the January transfer window and was still unable to prevent Weans from winning.
Due to his inability to provide specifics about injuries or identify players who were uncertain or undergoing treatment, Rohl was frequently irritated by queries regarding the players’ mindset during press conferences that were growing odder and increasingly cryptic.
According to my recollection, there were also no explanations for why John Souttar was abruptly benched from the squad for the championship games, even though it was obvious that the defense wasn’t working properly.
Perhaps, like Cornelius, Nedim Bajrami will go away on international duty at some point in the future and give his all about what happened when he appeared out of nowhere to play in the final moments of the Scottish Cup quarterfinal loss to Celtic, performed passably, and then vanished from sight.
Yes, after Russell Martin’s turbulent rule, Rohl entered a blast zone. The team he was working with needs to be significantly improved. But it’s important to remember that Rangers were just two points behind the league leaders after defeating Hearts in February, with Celtic in freefall, and they botched it.
Martin O’Neill, the manager of Celtic, trained Rohl during a season that raised red flags.
Naturally, the primary characteristic that distinguishes a successful Old Firm management is winning. Maintaining squad satisfaction is also crucial. It’s concerning when well-known players who have never been known to cause issues come out and make fun of you in public.
It’s just a brief glimpse, but have a peek at Martin O’Neill across Glasgow. When Marcelo Saracchi’s loan from Boca Juniors expires, he won’t receive a contract. He hasn’t had much playing time and hasn’t been starting.
However, he has a stormer when he comes off the bench in that final-day matchup with Hearts. contributes significantly to winning a championship and is later hugged by O’Neill in the locker room. aids in preserving harmony in spite of his own circumstances.
Last term, Rohl was taught by O’Neill, an elderly man who had not played football for six years. He pointed out a lot of his shortcomings.
The idea that the former Sheffield Wednesday manager isn’t suited for the unique demands of being an Old Firm manager is strengthened by Cornelius coming out of the woodwork to complain about his treatment.
It’s unclear exactly what transpired with Cornelius at Ibrox. However, the reason chairman Andrew Cavenagh is hanging his hat—and his reputation—on Rohl for the upcoming term is far more perplexing.
