'Big, Big Statement' - Michael Stewart reacts to what Clement did to leave his own Rangers signing upset

Philippe Clement made a “big, big statement” about Robin Propper’s position at Rangers after leaving him on the bench against Motherwell, according to Michael Stewart.

The Premier Sports pundit reacted live on the broadcaster’s match coverage on 3 November as the Gers boss replaced injured centre-back Leon Balogun with loanee Neraysho Kasanwirjo in the second half of the 2-1 win.

Propper, 31, arrived from FC Twente in the summer as a senior replacement for former vice-captain Connor Goldson but has struggled, and was unhappy to be overlooked at Hampden.

Stewart said (4.43pm): “The players that you’re bringing in, you’ve got to have them have a big impact. Obviously the Dutchman, captain of Twente, he’s found himself under a lot of scrutiny. And he’s not coming on…

“That is a big, big statement there, in terms of Robin Propper. You can see, obviously, he’s not best pleased, sitting on the bench, understandably.

“But he hasn’t shown that leadership, he hasn’t shown that commanding role that you would be looking for from somebody that has good experience.”

Robin Propper flops as Rangers replacement for Connor Goldson

Propper’s fortunes are heading the wrong way fast, as he’s not only lost his starting job alongside John Souttar to Balogun when the Nigerian veteran is fit, but wasn’t even trusted for a back-up role in the League Cup semi.

If the man that signed him has now relegated him to fourth choice centre-back it is obviously a pretty damning assessment of his first few months as a Rangers player.

The situation does nothing to improve the rating of Clement’s recruitment, which the jury is still out on despite some positives, but probably does offer some hope that the Belgian can turn things around.

Part of what has seen the manager lose so much from support from the fanbase is his increasingly pointless insistence that his methods are working, when all evidence suggests otherwise.

So for him to recognise that Propper’s performances are not part of the solution at least shows he can change course on his own decisions.

Fans might wish he would do so with some other regulars, his choice of formation, and his stance in press conferences, but since the club don’t appear to be ready to cave to pressure and sack another manager [BBC Sport, 1 November] it is at least a start.

And in the current circumstances it is probably the right thing for Propper himself, since he did not look like he was playing himself into form, so dropping out of the side might help him start anew.

The obvious worry is he becomes another Ben Davies-type signing that disappears into the squad without offering value for money and eventually leaves for little return, with the Englishman currently on loan at Birmingham City in League One.

If Propper doesn’t establish himself then a hasty return to the Eredivisie has already been tipped in the style of Sam Lammers [David Edgar, 27 October], which might be the best outcome all round.

In other Rangers news, a journalist was left in hysterics at one Light Blues player’s failure at Hampden.

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The post 'Big, Big Statement' - Michael Stewart reacts to what Clement did to leave his own Rangers signing upset appeared first on Ibrox News.