Philippe Clement has Rangers pundit gasping ‘is somebody winding me up’ as Michael Stewart slams ‘mental’ call

The commentators have spared no criticism of the Rangers manager following a humiliating loss.

After Rangers’ shocking loss to Queen’s Park over the weekend, many pundits still don’t understand Philippe Clement’s selections.

After losing badly to Championship opponents at home in the Scottish Cup fifth round, the Light Blues have taken a lot of heat from all quarters.

Despite the expectation that they would breeze through the match, they were forced to work hard against Callum Davidson’s squad and ultimately lost.

During halftime, the troubled boss substituted Nico Raskin for Bailey Rice, a major decision in the game.

The youngster was given an opportunity right away against lower league opponents, but he only got 45 minutes of playing time, which angered and perplexed commentator Michael Stewart.

Rice was not the main problem, according to the ex-Hearts and Hibs man, who is quite bothered by the decision.

Then pulling off playmaker Ianis Hagi for left-back Ridvan Yilmaz later in the game provoked greater fury and surprise.

He told Premier Sports: “This is where I’ve got a real gripe with managers and in particular what Philippe Clement has done there. Bailey Rice did not deserve to get taken off at half-time.

“I thought it was a deplorable. The team was missing urgency. Bailey Rice, youngster, first start at Ibrox, doing absolutely fantastic by the way.

The more experienced players in and around him are the ones that you are seeking for that urgency and that intensity from.

“Bailey Rice has got great technique and ability, and he will be brought along with those more experienced players.

If you are seeking to make a sub, you do not sub the youngster because you’re harming him mentally, and even more so now that the result has gone the way it has gone because he’ll be feeling like he was the problem.

“He absolutely was not the problem, and then to take Hagi off, who wasn’t having a particularly great game, and putting a left-back on. Mental, mental.”

Alan Hutton was present on the show and the Rangers star was left wondering whether someone was at the wind-up when it came to the Hagi swap Clement chose for.

He added: “That has happened to me as a youngster and it did affect me, so I do know what Michael is talking about.

My debut against Partick Thistle, I got taken off and it’s difficult to deal with.

“I think at half-time he hit the panic button. I think he’s went ‘this is not good enough and I need to fix it.’ He did it at St Mirren.

He hit the panic button there and he did it again. Bajrami, by the way. It just passes him by.

Offered absolutely nothing so can definitely understand his coming off.

“But later on, Hagi didn’t have his best game but why are you taking him off and putting on a full-back? Are you expecting him to deliver more? I mean, is somebody winding me up?”