Ibrox Noise spoke recently about Rangers defensive problems and sudden dip in form suffered by South Africa’s Olwethu Makhanya. Having previously been an imperious defender, who started looking like the future Rangers answer to Virgil van Dijk, suddenly the former Philadelphia Union stopper has lost his way a little.

He was shaky against Kilmarnock without it being terminal, but had a very bad night against Dundee. Most fans agree that Dundee was not his shining evening, but we saw the seeds of it against Killie.

Rangers Defensive Problems

However, one great big call is being made that could help this, and we have to say that we don’t disagree. Emmanuel Fernandez needs to be dropped and Ben Godfrey needs to come in.

A lot of fans are now clamouring for the on loan Atalanta (ex-Everton of course) defender to come into the side at long last, having had a significant layoff. Now naturally, the performances and results in recent months have justified the central defence pairing that we’ve had.

Ibrox Noise ran a poll on a choice between Godfrey and Fernandez. The results are below. It’s not even close.

But once again, Manny Fernandez’s performance was diabolical. Yes, he gets the big clearances and the big aerial duels, but unfortunately the downsides of his game far outweigh the upsides.

McInnes keeps him in because he soaks up those aerial balls and can get to the duels effectively. But in every other way, others around him are having to clean up his mess.

Fernandez’s Defensive Limitations

He is useless on the ball, he is extremely careless with the pass and he doesn’t read the lines at all well. More than once Makhanya has been deeply exposed by being completely unaided by his defensive partner.

On more than one occasion we noted Fernandez trying to play offside and losing his own man, only for said man to run past him with ease, exposing the pair of them.

Fernandez is just an immature and poor defender who just happens to be big and is good at getting to the aerial balls. Beyond that, he’s poor.

A very poor defender who’s benefited from that bizarre sequence of four or five headed goals last season, which deluded a whole bunch of fans (and the media) into thinking he was a £40 million defender.

The Fernandez hype train really began and Ibrox Noise has been questioning that since it began.

Why Godfrey Must Come In

This is why Godfrey requires to come in. We’re not pretending that Godfrey is an outstanding stopper, but clearly Olwethu Makhanya needs a partner who complements him. He needs a foil. He does not need a liability, and at the moment that is exactly what Manny is.

So many fans are clamouring for Godfrey to get back in the side, to be given a shot and a run. He’s on loan with an option and hasn’t really had a good chance to play much since he got fit again.

We are not saying that he is by any manner of means the ghost of Paolo Maldini. But he has got a good football education behind him and is an experienced defender. He has, of course, played for England, let’s not forget.

Rangers Defensive Problems Demand Change

Consequently, having a switch in defence now starts to look a little bit more imperative. Two matches in a row Rangers’ rearguard has looked shaky, with Fernandez especially looking out of sorts.

Consequently, playing Godfrey and Makhanya might just give Rangers the most solid defence they have now.

And even though Fernandez is that crucial thing, a lefty, it’s not like McInnes has been playing him on the left. So we don’t think that part even matters under this regime.

We’d bring Godfrey back in, and we do think that many fans agree with this entirely.

The question is, does Derek McInnes?