Arthur's Column // 8th September 2022

I was in the Johan Cruyff Arena last night and I was shocked at the level of the performance from the Rangers players.

To suffer a 4-0 defeat to Ajax - just days after we lost 4-0 at Celtic - is not acceptable. Sure, I accept both were difficult fixtures and on any given day you could lose the match. However, it's the manner of the performance. I didn't see enough hunger, fight and aggression - the basics, really - from the players in Amsterdam.

I sat beside Bert Konterman for the game and we were shocked at how easily they seemed to accept defeat.

Ultimately, the manager always is at the centre of any inquest when you lose games and, rightly or wrongly, that's the way it will always be. But the players need to do more. They should not want to hide behind Giovanni and let him take all the criticism.

They should also face the music and be held accountable. I include every player in that. The captain, James Tavernier, should be asking a few questions of his team-mates in a squad meeting.

The manager and coaching staff should allow the players their own inquest. When I played for Rangers, I had big arguments with Lorenzo Amoruso and Barry Ferguson on the pitch and at half-time.

We were passionate and doing it for the right reasons. If I wasn't doing my job properly, Lorenzo or Barry would be on at me. Likewise, I would be the same with them. We accepted the constructive criticism and at full-time we would shake hands and go for a bite to eat together.

From what I witnessed last night, I don't think the current squad are like that with one another, but they should be.

It's for the good of the Club, to help get results on the pitch.

Apart from young Leon King, who performed well when he came on at half-time, the rest could not argue if they were left out of the team on Saturday in the SPFL game at Aberdeen. Giovanni kept faith with 10 out of the 11 who started against Celtic. His only change was Scott Wright in for Steve Davis.

He gave the players a chance to make up for the poor performance at Parkhead. But, once again, they didn't produce.

If they care for the manager and for the Rangers jersey, they must go out and win on Saturday at Aberdeen. Anything less than three points will not be acceptable.

Giovanni will no doubt make changes and he may well be thinking about really mixing it up and throwing in one or two surprise starters or even a change of formation. Just try something different to fire it up and get a reaction from the players.

We all know that Pittodrie is never an easy place to go and, first and foremost, every player needs to be ready to battle for the 90 minutes.

If they do that then the ability will shine through and the three points will be won.