Kris Boyd’s Scathing Critique of Rangers’ Performance and Philippe Clement’s Tactics
The Scottish Premiership’s festive fixtures have been a rollercoaster ride for Rangers fans, and Kris Boyd’s impassioned rant on Sky Sports Football perfectly encapsulated the frustration and disappointment felt by the Ibrox faithful. Boyd’s verbal broadside was aimed squarely at Rangers’ lackluster display against Motherwell, which ended in a 2-2 draw and left the Glasgow giants 14 points adrift of Celtic in the title race.
Boyd, a former Rangers striker, pulled no punches in his assessment of the team’s performance, labeling it “not good enough” and expressing his incredulity at the team’s inability to capitalize on Celtic’s dropped points earlier in the season. His comments were laced with a sense of exasperation and disillusionment, as he struggled to comprehend the team’s inconsistent displays.
“It’s not good enough,” Boyd said about Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Motherwell. “As I said at half-time, there will be people saying ‘at least they showed some fight in the second half’. But for a Rangers team to come here and perform the way that they did in that first half and it’s not the first time it’s happened. 100% (agree with Rangers fans booing their own players post-match). I have never understood it (players going over to applaud away fans). For cup finals, if you win things and go a celebrate with your fans. After a league game, just get yourself down the tunnel and dust yourself down.”
Boyd’s ire was not solely reserved for the players, as he also took aim at Rangers manager Philippe Clement’s tactics, particularly his decision to rest key players and rely on sports science to dictate team selection. Boyd’s skepticism about the influence of sports science on football clubs was evident, as he questioned the wisdom of relying on data-driven approaches to team management.
“I have got an issue with sports science,” Boyd added. “I think they run too many football clubs. We can only look at it when we were players and it has got better, in terms of facilities to recover and everything. When I hear ‘he comes on fresh’. Cerny and Igamane. 45 minutes. 45 minutes is doing absolutely nothing for you. They came on because you needed a result. Sports science won’t get sacked. The manager will get sacked. The fans will be asking questions of the manager as to ‘why he is relying on them’. They will be looking towards this new leadership team at Rangers for decisions because it’s not enough.”
Boyd’s most damning indictment, however, was reserved for Clement, whom he predicted would ultimately lose his job due to his reliance on sports science. Boyd’s words were laced with a sense of inevitability, as he forecast a bleak future for the Rangers manager.
“As a manager, you will lose your job off the back of it,” Boyd said. “These guys don’t care, as long as they are alright. See if the new manager comes in. They will change whatever their thoughts on sports science is to suit the new manager that comes in. They are only interested in themselves, so Clement is going to lose his job off the back of sports science and that is running Rangers football club, at this moment in time, then that’s his issue.”
As the Scottish Premiership season enters its second half, Rangers’ title aspirations appear to be fading rapidly. With Celtic showing no signs of relinquishing their grip on the title, Rangers’ fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s lack of progress. Kris Boyd’s scathing critique of the team’s performance and Philippe Clement’s tactics has only added to the sense of discontent surrounding the club.
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