What Philippe Clement may portray as an example of his success in the Rangers dugout this season, Michael Stewart views as a weakness.
Does the Rangers manager deserve credit for his patient approach with Premier League newcomers Hamza Igamane and Clinton Nsiala? Or did he just introduce a pair of last season’s summer recruits too late in the game, with their appearance coming when the title was all but lost?
This is a debate that has divided many Ibrox fans into two opposing factions. Those in the pro-Clement side will claim that Rangers are reaping the benefits today as a result of their patience – Igamane and Nsiala were given time to adjust to Scottish football rather than being thrown in at the deep end.
Clement is pleased with Hamza Igamane’s ‘progress’ (12 goals in 18 games), while Nsiala has been a revelation in recent weeks.
Former Hearts and Hibernian footballer Michael Stewart is left with more questions than answers.
Particularly on Clement’s treatment of Nsiala.
Philippe Clement was accused for delaying Clinton Nsiala’s introduction at Rangers.
“See, what you’ve seen from Nsiala raises the question of why he wasn’t used in the first half of the campaign.” “Why isn’t he in the European squad?” a skeptical Stewart asks of Nsiala, who was left off Rangers’ Europa League roster.
“There were games in the early part of the campaign that were essentially bare bones. They were shoving anyone in [at center back]. And you’re like, ‘Wait a minute, why has [Nsiala] never been seen?’
“And all of a sudden, he comes in when you don’t have anyone else, and you think, ‘He looks alright!’
“Philippe Clement, notice these things he now speaks to in terms of the teams’ progress; for me, it actually highlights: ‘What were you thinking in the initial part of the campaign? “Why weren’t they being used?”
Stewart may have a point.
Before Nsiala made his long-awaited Rangers debut against Dundee in January, Clement chose to play full-back Dujon Sterling at centre-half. During the 3-3 draw at Hibernian, Leon King was selected from the bench ahead of the former AC Milan youth.
Nsiala’s initial appearance on the Rangers teamsheet, while now seeming like a masterstroke from the manager, only emerged after John Souttar, Leon Balogun, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and the aforementioned Sterling were all unavailable.
“[You had] no other options, you had to use them, and now you’re holding them up as some sort of example of how things are progressing brilliantly,” Stewart continues, while challenging Clement’s treatment of Igamane and the resurgent Ianis Hagi.
“Really, it makes me question his judgement. Igamane, Nsiala, and Hagi were all absent, with two of them not even on the European squad. These men are helping the team improve.
“[Clement] made numerous foolish judgments that cost the squad dearly in the early stages of the season. We’re not talking about [Nsiala] as your primary center-half. We’re talking about a squad with major injuries, and he wasn’t even considered as an option!”
Clement deserves indulgence for Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi’s calls
Nsiala did not appear in a single matchday squad from August to January. And in the flash of an eye, the 21-year-old has progressed from distant reserve to reliable starter. Ross McCausland compares Clinton Nsiala to a young Virgil van Dijk, while John Souttar enjoyed playing alongside the Frenchman in Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Ross County.
Clement, on the other hand, clearly deserves greater leeway in comparison to Igamane and Hagi.
Unlike Nsiala, Igamane was given a handful of substitute appearances off the bench at the start of the season to adjust to the pace and roughness of his new environment.
Clement used Cyriel Dessers as his first-choice number nine at the time. And, after Igamane scored twice in his coming-of-age performance away at Nice, the Moroccan quickly replaced Dessers in the XI.
Hagi’s absence from the first few months of the season was due to a contract dispute, not any concerns about his abilities. A squabble that, once resolved, saw Hagi rapidly return to selection before proving himself necessary with a string of electrifying displays.
“You have got to give Ianis Hagi enormous credit,” former Rangers striker Kris Boyd stated after the Romanian scored twice against Ross County. It would have been simple for him to down tools, turn off, and see his contract expire.
“He might well move on, but he’s going to get himself a better more than he would have a few months ago if he does move on, because he’s turned up, he’s worked ever so hard to make the impact he has.”
