There is much to be positive about Danny Rohl’s first six months at Glasgow Rangers, although the most notable example of the German’s impact may be the resurgence of Nico Raskin this season.
It’s worth remembering that the Belgian midfielder looked set to be sent off back in August, following a row with Russell Martin, and last season’s Player of the Year who also clashed with Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
Now, the 25-year-old is front and center in the Gers’ squad for the title, having been in excellent form in recent weeks.
Great players step up to the big moments, and with just five Premiership games to go, Raskin is striking at the right time.
Why Raskin emerged as the Rangers player of the season
For much of Rohl’s tenure so far, the standout player has arguably been Mikey Moore, the youngster who has scored six of his Rangers goals since taking charge at Sheffield Wednesday.
The 18-year-old has started each of the last nine league games, while other forwards have struggled with consistency, putting himself in contention for the club’s player of the year.
However, Raskin’s performance level has risen significantly of late, with the former Standard Liege man superb in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Falkirk, playing a part in five of the six goals on the day.
It was the midfielder’s run that made the team take the lead in that intense second half, as he has scored 12 goals and assists in the Premiership this season.
With 11 ‘big chances’ created – behind only James Tavernier in that – 2023’s arrival has been huge in attack of late, with four goals and an assist in his last four league games.
|
Top goals under Rohl |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
Goals |
|
Miovski |
11 |
|
Chermiti |
11 |
|
Thaveni Restaurant |
9 |
|
Moore |
6 |
|
Raskin |
5 |
|
Asgaard |
5 |
|
Fernandez |
5 |
|
Gassama |
3 |
|
Danilo |
3 |
|
Chukwuan |
3 |
|
Naderi |
3 |
Now the team’s second most important player after Moore on loan, according to Transfermarkt, Raskin’s status as one of Rohl’s top managers is secure.
That said, have the Gers already let their most valuable asset go in the past?
The Guardians have already allowed a greater talent than Raskin to leave
It must be said, the Gers have not been touched by many of the players who have passed through them over the years, with £6m man Joe Aribo now on loan at Leicester City struggling in the Championship; Everton’s forgotten Nathan Patterson and Fulham’s mid-table stalwart Calvin Bassey.
Rangers’ most expensive signing of all time
The Gers now have new owners in 49ers Enterprises.
If there is going to be a sense of regret, it may lie with those who left the youth, be it Billy Gilmour or Lewis Ferguson.
In Ferguson’s case, the young Scot has now never come close to breaking through to the first team at Ibrox, having stepped up as a 14-year-old back in 2013, having been told he “didn’t deserve” to join the club.
“This (leaving Rangers) was one of the most difficult points in my life. At the age of 14, I was told that I was not fit to play for Rangers.
“The club I supported because it had a strong connection with my family. I just used the disappointment as an incentive to show that people are not wrong, but being a football player was my dream.”
13 years on, that decision appears to have come back to bite the Gers, with Ferguson using that rejection to pursue a successful career since then, enjoying spells at Hamilton and Aberdeen, before switching to Bologna in 2022.
The 26-year-old has since cemented almost a rebel position in the Italian squad, particularly as captain of the side as they claimed Coppa Italia glory last year, becoming only the second Scottish player to win the competition after Graeme Souness.
In 128 games for the Serie A side, he now boasts 21 goals and assists in midfield, and his record back at Pittodrie was impressive, with 60 goals in 137 appearances.
For context, the aforementioned Raskin scored just 35 goals and assists during his 147-game stay at Ibrox, after registering just 18 in 97 games back in Belgium.
Ferguson, just a year or so older than Raskin, is thriving at one of Europe’s top five clubs, and has the highest market value to boot, thought to be worth around €18m (£15m), ahead of Raskin’s €12m (£10m).
For such a talent to slip from their grasp may always be painful as far as Rangers are concerned, although to Ferguson’s credit, he hasn’t let that defining moment in his young career define him.
4 years after departure, £1.5m Rangers flop better than Chermiti & Miovski
Failure to play at Ibrox has rarely been detrimental to the careers of Rangers strikers.
