The recruitment work done by Glasgow Rangers in recent years has taken plenty of flak, and rightly so, because it has not delivered trophies on the pitch.
Philippe Clement is the most recent manager to have lifted a trophy with the Gers, back in 2024 when he won the League Cup, and the club have not won the Scottish Premiership title since the 2020/21 campaign under Steven Gerrard.
The board have made too many errors with managerial appointments, as Michael Beale, Danny Rohl, and Russell Martin all failed to secure silverware, and with signings that have not worked out.
A road much travelled has been the path from England’s second tier to Ibrox, and it is not one that has been particularly fruitful for the Scottish giants, with Kieran Dowell being one example of it.
Why Kieran Dowell failed at Rangers
The English attacking midfielder looked like an exciting signing on paper for the Light Blues after he joined on a free transfer from Norwich City in the summer of 2023, as he had won a league title and played in the Premier League with the Canaries.
Dowell racked up 12 goals and six assists in 75 matches at Carrow Road, offering a decent threat at the top end of the pitch, but he lacked the intensity and physicality to carry that over to Scottish football.
He left to sign for Hull City in the Championship in January of this year for a nominal fee after scoring just three goals in 39 appearances in all competitions for Rangers.
|
Dowell (Premiership) |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
12 |
12 |
|
Goals |
2 |
0 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
3 |
|
Assists |
2 |
0 |
|
Pass accuracy |
78% |
81% |
|
Duel success rate |
49% |
46% |
After 18 months at Ibrox, Dowell struggled for consistency in the Scottish Premiership, losing the majority of his duels in the division, and was sent out on loan to Birmingham City in January 2025.
The left-footed attacker’s lack of physicality and mobility meant that he was unable to impact games on a regular basis, which is why he ultimately failed in Glasgow and was let go earlier this year.
How Rangers star is avoiding becoming the next Kieran Dowell
Despite the failures of the likes of Dowell, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, and Todd Cantwell, Rangers dipped back into the English market to land another free agent this summer.
Dan Neil was brought in on a free transfer after his contract at Premier League side Sunderland expired at the end of July, although he had most recently been playing in the Championship on loan at Ipswich Town.
The English central midfielder did not get off to the best of starts at Ibrox, as he delivered underwhelming performances across both legs of the Europa League play-off loss to Jagiellonia, and was an unused substitute for the league defeat to Hibernian.
After such a poor start that led to him being dropped so early in the season under Derek McInnes, there were already comparisons drawn amongst supporters between him and the likes of Dowell and Rothwell, who had made similar moves and struggled.
However, the former Sunderland captain, who has won two promotions out of the Championship in his career, has since settled in and looked more at home in his surroundings in recent matches.
Having looked like the next coming of Dowell, due to his lack of natural physicality and mobility, Neil has adjusted to the intensity of the league and improved his positioning off the ball.
|
Dan Neil |
Vs Aberdeen |
Vs Motherwell |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
90 |
|
Pass accuracy |
89% |
84% |
|
Touches |
52 |
57 |
|
Possession lost |
9x |
8x |
|
Defensive contributions |
4 |
11 |
|
Ground duels won |
2/5 |
5/7 |
|
Tackles + interceptions |
1 |
7 |
|
Dribbled past |
0x |
0x |
The difference in his defensive numbers in the games against Aberdeen and Motherwell show that he is improving with more experience under his belt in Scotland, which is a promising sign.
Neil also showcased his improved work off the ball in the two legs against Jablonec in the Conference League, winning five of his nine ground duels without being dribbled past a single time.
The 24-year-old maestro has won 56% of his ground duels and 60% of his aerial duels in the Premiership across his first three appearances in the division, showing that he has adapted to the physicality of the division.
Dowell never passed that test, as he struggled with the physical side of the game, and Neil’s performances suggest that he will not have the same problem, despite a disappointing start.
Now, after a dominant performance against Aberdeen, in which he won five of his seven ground duels, he should be considered an undroppable member of the squad heading into the next block of games, as the midfielder continues to improve.