Scott Allan's blunt verdict on Rangers cuts to the core of the start under Derek McInnes. Nine days, three games, zero victories and five goals conceded is the kind of opening that raises selection questions fast, and Allan's view that McInnes may not know his best 11 yet fits the evidence around the team.
McInnes' selection problem
Allan said: "Based on today, I'd be very surprised if Derek McInnes knows what his best 11 is and we're into the big games already - and that's a problem." That looks harsh, but Rangers have not given him much stability to work with. They have used three different back fours in three games: Godfrey-Sterling-Fernandez-Rommens, then McCrorie-Sterling-Fernandez-Rommens, then Dragojevic-Makhanya-Fernandez-Rommens.
The pattern is not helping. Dundee United, Jagiellonia Bialystok and Hibernian have all taken first-half leads against Rangers, which tells you the side is starting too many matches on the back foot. Allan also said: "Performing consistently is what brings results and winning silverware, and I know its very early on, but there is no consistency in how Rangers were playing today."
McInnes did not dress up the result either. "What we've got to do now is just dust ourselves down because that was a blow for us. The response of the team in the latter part of the game was terrific," he said. That late response may have given him something to point at, but it does not hide the fact Rangers are still searching for shape.
Pressure before Jagiellonia
The pressure is building before Thursday's second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok, with Rangers' Europa League qualification hanging in the balance. Ryan Jack said: "If you go one without a win it's trouble, then two, now three, usually that's crisis time and people start asking serious questions." Three winless games this early is exactly why the conversation has shifted so quickly.
McInnes also admitted the wider picture is still unsettled in the transfer market. "We've got a few bids in for several players and a few things are ongoing at the minute. Ideally, a lot of these things would have came to fruition a wee bit quicker," he said. Rangers already have nine signings in the building and still want to strengthen further.
The football side needs to settle first. Rangers have already conceded nine goals across their last five league matches, and Youssef Chermiti has one Premiership appearance in 2026, which only adds to the sense that McInnes is still piecing the side together. The next answer is not abstract, either. It comes on Thursday against Jagiellonia.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
