Andrew Cavenagh's two paths to exit Rangers vicious cycle

I trusted Rohl. I trusted the players. Why wouldn’t I? Eight games or so ago we were in form, we had 14 goals in three games, the German efficiency was finally there, and yes, I had convinced myself it was going to happen. Everyone knows I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and a season ticket holder for around 30 years. I want to be positive. I want us to be successful.

But it’s gone badly wrong and, let’s be honest, it’s Groundhog Day all over again. Danny Rohl feels like Philippe Clement and Michael Beale at the moment: A great uplift, results, and the team climbing back into title race contention, only for us to crash and burn at the vital stages.

Rohl's side have lost the first two games of the split (Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)

Now the question on the lips of the support is this: if we keep him and the season starts badly next time around, are we heading straight back to needing a new coach? Will this cycle start again? Most people celebrate Halloween, Rangers fans have become accustomed to celebrating a new manager. It’s a painful, never-ending cycle.

But the questions over Rohl are valid. His big-game record, six wins in 15, is not great by any stretch. In fact, it’s really poor. Too often, his teams play in bursts; there is very little consistency or reliability. It’s 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there, or one good half.

We seem to play passively. We lack intensity and aggression, and it’s only when panic sets in that we find either. Going behind against Hearts, Livingston and Motherwell, for example. Simply put, Rohl has too many questions surrounding him, and fans are right to worry. And, of course, that concern is riddled with the fear of previous years.

My issue, and I accept the criticism, is that I may not have wanted to see it, because everything in me wanted to avoid that Groundhog Day scenario.

But truthfully, this squad is a long way short of what’s needed. The spine is still dreadfully weak. We have a core of good players, but they lack the intensity and leadership around them to elevate their game. We have the skill, but do we have the desire? Or is it a case of too many reverting to type when the going gets tough? The evidence suggests the latter.

Andrew Cavanagh has shown he can be ruthless with Patrick Stewart, Kevin Thelwell, and Russell Martin's sackings, although the criticism was that he took slightly too long to make those calls. Now he faces another crossroads.

Rangers have looped back into a familiar end-of-season soul search (Image: Shutterstock)

Defeat on Sunday paves the way for another Celtic title: a dreaded scenario. Two dismal, back-to-back Old Firm games, where Rohl failed to defeat a weak opponent at home, have left the support with very little confidence. We are still chasing second, as the title is near impossible, but we could dent Celtic’s hopes almost irreparably.

But does this team have that mentality? The evidence suggests not. Rohl can deny it, but a lack of bottle is shown every time they fail to win one of these sliding-door games or deliver in those defining moments.

Rohl must also examine his own role. How can one simple change from Derek McInnes, bringing on a hard-working Scottish player to go man-for-man in a midfield three, the most obvious adjustment imaginable, undo all his tactical planning so easily? Why do his teams surrender so readily, and where is that desire that only seems to appear in desperate, throw-caution-to-the-wind scenarios?

Rangers are at a crossroads again, and very soon Cavanagh will have to either back his man or decide to make a change before he is forced into it. Defeat on Sunday and the noise will be intense. Victory hands Hearts a title and at least breaks Celtic’s dominance.

But the biggest question Cavanagh must answer is this: why is it so easy for Rangers to revert to type as losers when they come so close, time and time again? This is the cycle that needs to be broken.

Is it a deeper problem than the dugout and if so, is the current man in it the right one to turn things around?

And when Cavenagh answers that, he must be prepared to make the biggest of decisions. There is no point pretending otherwise.

Read more:

• The concerning Danny Rohl big-game record and core reason behind 6/15 record
• Chris Jack: Why Danny Rohl cannot defend the indefensible in Rangers mentality debate

There is a body of evidence, with so many questions, suggesting Rangers are once again at a crossroads, a crossroads where history tells us the outcome, a crossroads where maybe this time Rangers should turn right instead of continuing straight into danger.

And big questions are looming, questions every Rangers fan is already asking.

Danny Rohl and his players are very much on notice.