GOVAN DOCKS

A year into his reign and Phil's Gers still lack identity and appear to be going nowhere fast

NEXT Tuesday, during the international break, Philippe Clement will clock up a full year in the job.

So now seems like an appropriate moment to ask an obvious question.

Where exactly are Rangers going under their Belgian boss? While we're at it, here's another one. Has it reached the stage where some of the club's EC supporters might be hoping Celtic beat Aberdeen when the top flight reconvenes in a fortnight from now?

Because a win for their city rivals in that top of the table clash would at least give Clement the chance to eat into the five-point gap which has opened up between his side and Jemmy Thelin's now that the Swede has made it seven wins from seven in a blistering start to his big red revolution at Pittodrie.

Celtic, of course, have also posted a blemish-free start to the domestic campaign so someone's O has to go when this pair collide at Parkhead and it would be interesting to know what result.

Clement himself will be hoping for.

Does he really believe his side are serious contenders for this season's title? Or would he be satisfied to see off this burgeoning threat from the north east and settle for a solid second-place finish instead? The very notion may seem ridiculous and not worthy of serious contemplation but then again, anyone who managed to sit through Clement's side's 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday night can't have escaped reaching the conclusion Rangers are going nowhere fast right now.

On the contrary, they appear to have lost their sense of direction completely and, 12 months into Clement's tenure, it remains impossible to identify what the manager is actually asking his players to deliver on his behalf.