Professional football comes with its fair share of tired clichés. One of the most recycled is the idea that clubs, no matter how poor results become, simply cannot keep chopping and changing managers time and again.
It is something regularly said about Rangers, especially when, as is the case right now, another season appears to be teetering on the brink of spiralling completely out of control.
Another familiar line around Rangers is that people should remember just how chaotic things were back in October when Danny Rohl first arrived as head coach. What raises eyebrows is that the person repeating this more than anyone at the moment seems to be Rohl himself.
The German cut a fairly flat figure the other day when looking ahead to this Bank Holiday weekend, with Celtic travelling to Hibs today and Hearts welcoming his Rangers side to Tynecastle tomorrow.
It would be over the top to say he looked like a man marching towards the gallows, but he was certainly a far cry from the cheeky character who stirred things up before the last Old Firm league derby by questioning why Celtic did not push for a bigger win away to VfB Stuttgart in Europe, only to then watch his own team throw away a 2 0 half time lead at home to their rivals.
Notably, he declined to answer when asked during Friday’s media duties how he judges his own performance as Rangers manager. He insisted that is not his responsibility. He did, however, say it would take four more strong performances before he can know for certain whether the board are satisfied with him. On that point, he is absolutely right.
Rohl has undoubtedly brought a different presence compared to many who came before him. Calmer, more measured, by all accounts a decent man. Closer to what you would want.
Michael Beale and Russell Martin, on the other hand, were full of hot air. One can only imagine what the next crop of coaches at the Welsh FA will make of it if Martin is the one delivering a so called tactical masterclass at their National Conference later this month.
Philippe Clement, who initially came across as a sensible voice, ended up losing the plot entirely by the end of his spell.
There will be those pointing to the job the Belgian has been doing quietly at Norwich City and talking up his qualities, but the reality remains that he squandered a league title from a commanding position in Glasgow and then watched his side crash out of the Scottish Cup at home to Queen’s Park.
Those who were shown the door at Ibrox had it coming. And Rohl will struggle to avoid the same fate if this season falls apart like a badly made souffle over the coming days.
Yes, he deserves credit for steadying things after the complete mess left behind by Martin and dragging Rangers back into the title race, but that counts for little now.
They had put themselves in a strong position, just two points behind Hearts, after beating Derek McInnes’ side 4 2 in mid February. The board had also handed him £10 million to strengthen the squad, bringing in Ryan Naderi, Tuur Rommens and Tochi Chukwuani, while also funding a loan move for the underwhelming Andreas Skov Olsen.
Since then, they have drawn with Livingston, thrown away a two goal lead at home to Celtic and lost to Motherwell at Ibrox, despite a squad that has seen well over £40 million invested in it since last summer. They have managed just seven wins in their last 14 matches across all competitions, and one of those was a revenge result against Queen’s Park in the cup.
On top of that, they have slipped back into the worrying habit of conceding goals far too easily.
When looking at what lies ahead for Rohl and what should happen if things unravel, it is important to recognise exactly what is at stake for Rangers. This is no ordinary title race. The stakes are enormous. Without exaggeration, it could reshape the landscape of Scottish football.
With Olympiacos unlikely to overturn AEK in Greece and Shakhtar Donetsk expected to fall short in Europe, Rangers’ coefficient puts them in line for direct entry into the Champions League group stage if they win the Premiership.
That is massive. It is worth around £40 million straight away. It also complicates matters for Celtic as they look to fund a major rebuild and denies Hearts the chance to access the kind of money that could accelerate their own progress under Jamestown Analytics and investor Tony Bloom.
This is a genuine opportunity for Rangers. So much is riding on it. Yet, heading into their trip to Gorgie and next weekend’s visit to Celtic Park, they do not look like a side ready to take the crown.
They were outplayed at home last weekend in a must win match by a Motherwell team assembled on a shoestring and who had taken just one point from their previous five games.
They appear incapable of delivering a complete performance over 90 minutes when it matters most. There are also legitimate questions around Rohl’s decision making.
He got it wrong against Motherwell. His substitutions can be baffling. He persisted with a defence that clearly has issues during the January window.
Jack Butland’s time in goal looks to be up. James Tavernier at least seems to accept his time is nearly done. As for the rest, it is hard to see what solution is being offered at the back.
Rangers need to win this title. The fact Martin O’Neill has been brought back to the Celtic dugout twice this season underlines just how chaotic and dysfunctional things have been across the city.
As things stand, Rohl has had three attempts against a 74 year old who had been out of the game for six years and has yet to come out on top.
This is not to dismiss Hearts. It has been said from the very start of the season that they are capable of going all the way in what has been a highly unusual campaign. That remains the case.
But they operate on a fraction of Rangers’ resources. Everything has to be done carefully. There was no £10 million splashed in January for them.
Rohl has been fully backed. He must now produce results against a Celtic side dealing with its own internal issues and a Hearts team that cannot match Rangers financially.
It might sound harsh, but that is the reality when so much is on the line. Just ask Liam Rosenior. Or Ange Postecoglou with his Europa League winner’s medal at Spurs. Or any number of high profile managers who leave with healthy payoffs regardless of how things end.
That is football. Those who argue that coaches need endless time, patience and money to build their projects are usually either coaches themselves or those unwilling to demand accountability.
Football is about results. Not theory. It is ruthless.
And if Rohl loses to Hearts tomorrow, falling seven points behind with only three matches left, or fails completely at Celtic Park next week, there can be no arguments. It will be the end of the road.