The last time Rangers conceded four goals in successive 90 minute games, the first prints of The Great Gatsby were appearing on the shelves, King George V was sitting on the throne and a certain blue-clad team from Ibrox Park were still under the management of the legendary Bill Struth.
Consecutive drubbings at the hands of Ajax and Old Firm rivals Celtic certainly serve to ramp up the pressure ahead of this week’s daunting Champions League clash with Napoli; Rangers hoping to avoid extending their worst run of form since 1925.
But, at the risk of downplaying an admittedly dire situation, it could still be worse. You could be Cadiz.
The team from Andalusia also know what it’s like to find yourself on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline. During their first five games of the new La Liga season, Cadiz have been beaten by four goals to nil on two separate occasions. Losing heavily at the hands of Robert Lewandowski’s Barcelona is understandable. A 4-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao – a side who usually possess the accuracy of a blindfolded Storm Trooper – is indicative of a much deeper malaise.
Cadiz have made the worst start to a season in La Liga hostory
As reported by Marca, no team in the 92-year history of La Liga have started a season quite so badly; five games, no wins, no points, no goals and a goal difference of minus-14. When Theo Bongonda joined from Genk in a £2.5 million deal last month, he may have been dreaming of a place in Spanish football’s history books. But not like this.
“Theo had indicated that he wanted to leave,” explains Genk’s technical director Dimitri de Conde. “If a player indicates this so clearly, you have to make a decision. I’m glad he ended up well in Spain.”
Bongonda won’t have been feeling quite so blessed after Cadiz were taken apart by Barcelona on Sunday night.
Rangers reportedly showed an interest in the former Celta Vigo wideman before bringing in Rabbi Matondo instead. And while things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Matondo on Scottish soil so far, he and Rangers need only look at Bongonda and Cadiz to remember that, as bad as things may seem, there are still others who have it a whole lot worse.
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