Rangers’ title hopes took a fatal blow last weekend with another substandard performance against Dundee United.

The showing was too slow and too disjointed. An improvement in the second-half saw a draw salvaged but it was only a consolation with no winner to follow. Draws are practically defeats given the league standings at present anyway.

Rangers lack physicality and pace up top, they’re just far too ponderous. In Scotland, you don’t get time and every team is physical, a style we don’t seem designed to combat. This isn’t new, Steven Gerrard took three seasons to figure it out and Giovanni van Bronckhorst never did. Michael Beale’s start was promising but the summer rebuild he oversaw set the club back massively.

Sunday’s game against St Johnstone was very much a case of rinse and repeat. There were a few nice moments but overall the performance wasn’t anything to shout about. It feels like Rangers are too easy to play against and three away goals in the league all season would corroborate that fact.

Philippe Clement argued afterwards that goalkeepers are performing above average against his side. The evidence suggests that over the course that’s just not true. The issue is that Clement’s team aren’t fashioning enough high-value opportunities.

(Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Don’t get me wrong, there’s no issue with the odd 1-0 win. During our last title-winning season Rangers won eight games by a 1-0 scoreline. The difference? The threat that Rangers carried then was vast. Joe Aribo, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and more added pace and variety. The likes of Scott Arfield, Jermain Defoe and even Cedric Itten were on hand to offer something different if required. The current squad feels so far off the strength and depth enjoyed during that era.

Winning a domestic cup is realistically all that Rangers can hope for this season as things stand. 18 league goals in 13 league games tells us as much.

Dare I say that a reluctance to try new players or even a new system is costing Clement at present? While injuries have contributed Rangers are not a player or two returning from really clicking into gear.

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Two more wins this week before two mammoth tests in the following one will see Clement’s men continue to chip away at Aberdeen in second. In reality that’s the target at present. Our club needs smart decisions, smart moves and, somehow, a degree of patience in order to catch our rivals across the city. Performances must show that things are going to get better and right now, they’re not.

I’m not sure Clement needs to be radical but perhaps a little more sure-footed in his selection. It’s obvious the attacking areas have been a primary issue all campaign and while we do not know if Danilo is the answer, Rangers are a much better team when he plays up top in place of Cyriel Dessers.

I was wandering around Hollywood Theme Park in Orlando Florida during last week’s 4-1 win over Nice in the Europa League. Let’s just say I wasn’t the least bit surprised as goal notifications started to flood in. We are built for European football. Nico Raskin has the pace and physicality to dominate in midfield, Mohamed Diomande looks a lot more comfortable and Robin Propper feels suited to matches where physicality isn’t the opposition’s biggest threat. The Dutch defender is still to convince me he fancies Scottish football because on far too many occasions Clement has substituted him early.

(Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) The victory in France makes it seven unbeaten away in Europe for Clement. Wins against Betis, Malmo and Nice are not to be sniffed at. Neither are well-earned draws with Benfica and Olympiacos. Clement clearly isn’t a bad coach who doesn’t know how to set up a team, the issue is his style of play domestically.

Changes must come in domestic competition for the next month to not end in disaster. While there isn’t much time, there is opportunity. An Old Firm cup final is daunting but also presents a chance to reset the narrative. The story of Clement's tenure, which he feels is an unfair one at present, has the opportunity to be redirected. 

Every story needs an audience, however, and Clement requires upcoming pages to read of domestic success and consistency.

If no changes come then the ending will be predictable. If able to somehow bring the Thursday-night Rangers to domestic competition, there could be a few chapters left to write.