Club Brugge's Romeo a key player in a Champions League Shakespearean tragedy for Rangers that left fans screaming ‘why?'

Scottish Sun

19 hours ago

ROMEO, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
He's running clean through on goal after Keystone Cops defending by Rangers.
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Club Brugge's Romeo Vermant opened the scoring at Ibrox
Credit: PA
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An early defensive nightmare saw Jack Butland involved
Credit: Getty
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There's work to do for Russell Martin to win over many Gers fans
Credit: Getty
Club Brugge striker Romeo Vermant was a central character in this Champions League tragedy for Russell Martin's side.
Before the Shakespeare experts pile in, wherefore means 'Why'.
But that's exactly what Gers fans were screaming, with lots of X-rated add-ons, as their team fell to pieces in the first half.
To say Martin wasn't feeling much love from the Ibrox support as it all unfolded would be a huge understatement.
The abuse and boos were off the scale in that opening period as Rangers were outclassed.
In time, Martin hopes the Ibrox supporters will learn to love his team.
But the first half saw the kind of performance that can led to a divorce between boss and club.
That won't happen, of course.
Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers are all-in on Martin as he rebuilds Rangers.
But this was a huge setback for the new Ibrox boss as he tries to convince the doubters he is the right man to take the club forward.
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There is a section of the Gers fanbase who don't fancy Martin, and nights like this do nothing to help him.
Hundreds, if not thousands, streamed for the exits as they found themselves 3-0 down after 20 minutes.
Tactics, team selection, style — it was all being picked apart just as the Rangers defence was in that opening period.
But let's be honest, was anyone really surprised at the way they were cut open?
Gers were torn apart at times by Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in Europe — only to get away with it.
Motherwell, Dundee and even League One Alloa have all been able to get at Martin's fragile backline.
This early collapse was taking things to the extreme — but Rangers had seen 107 shots on their goal in the previous seven games.
Brugge boss Nicky Hayen, whose side had a field day here in the first half of a pre-season friendly just last month, ruthlessly exposed all their failings.
Martin is always bold in his approach and took a gamble with his starting line-up — throwing in Jayden Meghoma for a quick-fire start.
The 19-year-old hadn't played a competitive game in 60 days when he featured for England at the Under-19s Euros.
A penny for the thoughts of James Tavernier when the line-up was announced. You had to feel for the captain as he joined the rest of the subs for a warm-up.
For all his defensive flaws, he's the club's leader with 100 European games under his belt. Yet here he was on the bench, overlooked in favour of a teenage rookie who had been in the building for 72 hours.
You didn't have to search far for a Rangers fan claiming it should have been Max Aarons dropped — not Tav.
Judging by what unfolded amid the calamitous defending of the first half, they were spot on.
But Martin is in charge of this revolution and clearly wanted his own men in for one of the biggest games of the season. Anyone doubting the magnitude of this tie just had to hear the din that greeted the Champions League anthem.
That was matched by the boos for Brugge's Celtic-style huddle as their own tiny pocket of fans roared.
Less than three minutes later, the Gers fans were going crazy after a quickfire opener from Brugge's Romeo.
Was Jack Butland or Nasser Djiga to blame for the mix-up? It's irrelevant really.
This was Sunday league defending, not Champions League, as Vermant raced free to chip the Rangers keeper.
The inquest was barely over when Brugge made it 2-0 after more appalling defending.
Jorne Spileers was completely unmarked as he met a corner and found the back of the net with the aid of a deflection.
Seven minutes had been played and the boos were deafening — but it was only going to get worse.
With 20 minutes on the clock, it was 3-0 as yet more horror defending allowed Brandon Mechele to fire in a cracker.
Rangers player ratings
By ROGER HANNAH
JACK BUTLAND: Horror mix-up with Nasser Djiga gifted Brugge the early lead. Made a great stop to deny ex-Ajax winger Carlos Forbs a fourth goal in the fraught first half... 5
MAX AARONS: In ahead of James Tavernier but well short of the captain's quality. Was cut some slack when on the left, but this is meant to be his best position. Booked... 4
NASSER DJIGA: Stopped running when he thought Butland was clearing at opener. Already out of the weekend game at St Mirren, this was his shakiest display so far... 3
JOHN SOUTTAR: Slight deflection on Jorne Spileers' shot for Brugge's second. Handed the armband but couldn't lead the team back into the game. Big call awaits on his contract... 4
JAYDEN MEGHOMA: Instant debut for on-loan Brentford teen and he won't have many tougher nights. Created the goal for Danilo at the start of the second half... 5
JOE ROTHWELL: Headed straight to Brandon Mechele for the third goal inside the first 20 minutes. Doesn't bring the midfield energy of Lyall Cameron and had no impact... 4
NICO RASKIN: Belgium lost out to his classy countrymen and question marks now hang over his future, with Gers likely to miss out on Champions League riches... 5
MO DIOMANDE: Sparked comeback in last month's 2-2 friendly draw with Brugge at Ibrox but had no answer this time. Anonymous as Gers came off second best... 4
OLIVER ANTMAN: Thrilling debut at home to Viktoria Plzen but the sequel never lived up to the original. Carried no threat to Brugge as Gers crash towards Europa League... 4
DJEIDI GASSAMA: He'd hit four goals in the Champions League qualifiers, but there was no joy for him in this one. So unlucky to have a late effort ruled out by VAR.. 6
DANILO: Brazilian frontman started in place of crocked Cyriel Dessers and ended a 23-game search for a goal, stretching back to the win over Celtic at New Year...5
SUBS: Hamza Igamane (3) on for scorer Danilo. Thelo Aasgaard (3) took Diomande's place. Mikey Moore (3) Kid replaced Antman. James Tavernier (3) on for Meghoma. Lyall Cameron (2) got last five minutes for Rothwell.
Many fans had seen enough and headed for home. Even the most loyal bluenose must have felt like joining them.
You immediately thought back to Martin's pre-match press conference, when he urged his players to 'enjoy' this experience.
Enjoy? This must have been torture as the boos rained down and Brugge had them chasing shadows.
Butland and wasteful Brugge finishing kept the scoreline down before Rangers finally started to play. Joe Rothwell hit the post and Djeidi Gassama fired wide as the Belgians were made to work defensively.
When Danilo swept in a low Meghoma cross early in the second half, a surge of belief swept over Ibrox.
Yet for all Rangers improved, Brugge carried so much threat on the break, and Butland was called upon more than once.
Martin looked to his bench and threw everything at trying to find more goals, with Gassama's disallowed strike a huge moment.
The Rangers boss will say the tie isn't over — but his side need a minor miracle.
Before then, it's St Mirren away on Sunday at one of the Premiership's toughest venues.
Can Gers change their mind once again about playing that tricky fixture?
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