Qudus SalihuThe atmosphere at Ibrox following Rangers’ comfortable 5-0 Scottish Cup victory over Annan Athletic has taken a bizarre and sharp turn, as fans appear to have made a complete U-turn on midfielder Joe Rothwell. Despite the English midfielder providing a perfectly weighted assist for Kieran Dowell’s goal during the rout, the Rangers faithful are making their voices heard: they still want him out of the club this January.
Rothwell was handed a rare start by Danny Röhl as part of nine changes to the side, largely due to an injury to Connor Barron. While he played his part in a professional performance that saw Bojan Miovski net a hat-trick and Thelo Aasgaard score a stunning free-kick, supporters remain unconvinced. The general consensus across social media and Ibrox fan forums is that Rothwell’s “unspectacular” style no longer fits the high-energy, “genius” recruitment model Röhl has implemented with the arrivals of Tochi Chukwuani and Andreas Skov Olsen.
The U-turn comes after a brief moment of hope that Rothwell could reinvent himself under the new regime. However, even with a goal contribution on the night, fans are pointing to his lack of impact in the Scottish Premiership as proof that his time in Glasgow should end. “A decent ball against League Two opposition doesn’t change the fact that we’ve moved past this level of player,” one prominent fan account posted. “We need dynamic winners, not squad fillers.”
With Danny Röhl reportedly looking to dip back into the market for one more “secret” midfield signing before the deadline, the pressure from the stands to offload Rothwell has never been higher. For the player, the 5-0 win was a reminder of his professional utility; for the fans, it was merely a shop window opportunity to facilitate his exit. As the January window enters its final stages, it seems a comfortable win wasn’t enough to bridge the gap between Rothwell and a support that is ready to say goodbye.
Mustapha Sheidu
Rabiu Aminu
Qudus Salihu
