Rangers' Conference League play-off exit in Jablonec has left more questions than answers about Derek McInnes' short tenure at Ibrox, with the manager himself struggling to articulate what his expensively assembled squad is actually trying to achieve.
The performance in the Czech Republic was widely regarded as one of the poorest in recent memory for the Glasgow giants, who managed just a single shot on target across the 210 minutes of the tie and scored only once in the entire fixture. Rangers supporters inside the stadium voiced their fury at full time, and McInnes offered repeated apologies afterward, describing himself as embarrassed and mortified by what he had witnessed from his own team.
The manager attempted to justify his tactical approach, having altered his formation multiple times during the tie, but admitted the change brought no improvement. "I look at us now and I'm thinking, well, we're no' great as a possession-based team at the minute," McInnes said. "We're not a counter-attacking team enough, or effectively enough, at times. We don't look like a team who are happy when we go direct. And teams need to be something."
Those comments have only intensified scrutiny of what exactly McInnes' Rangers stand for. Appointed in June and given a full preseason plus seven matches to shape his squad, the manager has yet to demonstrate a clear playing identity. His use of substitutions has also raised eyebrows — Thursday's three changes at halftime brought his total number of interval substitutions to 11 across just seven games, a pattern that suggests either poor initial team selection or a communication breakdown with his players.
Adding to the confusion was the confirmed absence of midfielder Nico Raskin, who did not travel with the squad despite there being no formal bid in place for him at the time — only the possibility of one materializing, according to McInnes. The decision looked especially curious given Raskin's strong showing at the World Cup, and the manager conceded his side missed his presence on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Rangers continue to invest heavily in new personnel, having recently added South Korean winger Kim Min-su in an £8.5m deal and reportedly closing in on a £9.5m move for striker Kevin Kelsy. The current matchday squad that featured in Jablonec was assembled at a cost of roughly £30m in transfer fees alone, a stark contrast to their opponents, whose record signing cost around £700,000. Jablonec's total turnover of £8.5m pales next to Rangers' reported £94m, yet it was the Czech side that displayed greater cohesion, work rate and fighting spirit throughout the tie.
The comparison has been particularly galling for Rangers followers given the club's financial firepower. Six of McInnes' own signings started the match in Jablonec, with two more introduced from the bench, underlining that the issues extend beyond simply inheriting a squad shaped by previous management.
McInnes drew a pointed comparison with Hearts, who fielded four new signings in their own Conference League victory over Rapid Vienna the previous evening under manager Wouter Vrancken. He praised the resilience shown by Hearts' players, an implicit acknowledgment that his own squad lacked similar fight and understanding of each other.
Despite the scale of the setback, McInnes is not believed to be in imminent danger of losing his position. However, he now faces the difficult task of repairing his relationship with a fanbase that has shown little patience for underperformance, particularly after such heavy financial outlay on the squad. Attention now turns to Sunday's away trip to Pittodrie, a fixture that offers an immediate opportunity to steady the ship, though it comes against a backdrop of anger and uncertainty surrounding the direction of the club.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.