“Not just Chermiti: Rohl told must bin Rangers man who’s “the English Neymar”

Old Firm Showdown Set for High Drama as Both Clubs Begin New Eras

Old Firm derbies are always charged occasions, but this Sunday’s clash promises to be one of the most intriguing in years — packed with storylines on and off the pitch.

For the first time ever, both Rangers and Celtic have changed managers in the same season, and remarkably, both did so within the same month of a chaotic October.

Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday paved the way for Martin O’Neill’s sensational return to the Celtic dugout, 20 years after his previous spell.

On the other side, Danny Röhl prepares for only his fourth game in charge of Rangers, leading his team out at Hampden Park for a Scottish Cup semi-final with huge stakes attached.

The German coach has made an impressive start, securing consecutive Premiership wins over Kilmarnock and Hibs this week. A victory over Celtic would truly endear him to the Ibrox faithful and set up a final meeting with either St Mirren or Motherwell on 14 December.

But to achieve that, Röhl may need to rethink his starting XI — particularly up front, where one big-money signing has yet to deliver.

Youssef Chermiti’s Struggles at Rangers

When Rangers sealed an £8 million deadline-day deal for Youssef Chermiti from Everton — potentially rising to £10 million with add-ons — it raised a few eyebrows.

The 21-year-old Portuguese forward instantly became the second most expensive signing in club history, behind Tore André Flo, and ahead of Ryan Kent’s post-liquidation record fee.

However, Chermiti’s record in England offered little encouragement. Across two seasons at Everton, he made 24 appearances — totaling just 295 minutes — without finding the net once.

He did finally open his Rangers account last weekend, scoring the third goal in the 3–1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox. That strike earned him a start against Hibs on Wednesday, but his performance was underwhelming.

According to Sofascore, he had only 33 touches, lost possession 13 times, and managed just one shot. While he contributed to Danilo’s goal, he was substituted after 77 minutes for Bojan Miovski.

So far, Chermiti hasn’t shown enough to trouble Celtic’s defence in a match of this magnitude. Röhl may be better served starting with alternative attacking options.

Mikey Moore — The “English Neymar” Yet to Impress

Another player whose performances have fallen short of expectations is Mikey Moore. The 19-year-old arrived with a glowing reputation, hailed by then-manager Russell Martin as an “outstanding young player,” while sporting director Kevin Thelwell described him as someone who would “enhance our attacking unit.” Talent scout Jacek Kulig even dubbed him “the English Neymar.”

Yet, Moore’s impact in Glasgow has been minimal. He is still searching for his first goal, and his only two assists came in early-season cup and league fixtures against Alloa and Dundee United.

Known for his creativity and flair from his time in Tottenham’s youth setup, Moore has struggled to reproduce that form at Rangers.

After coming off the bench last weekend, he earned his first start under Röhl against Hibs but failed to make the most of it. In 65 minutes, he managed 39 touches and two successful dribbles but created no chances and rarely linked up effectively with the forwards. He was replaced just after the hour mark by Thelo Aasgaard.

Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday didn’t hold back, commenting, “Moore hasn’t shown me anything that suggests Rangers should be developing a young Spurs player instead of their own.”

Given the stakes of Sunday’s derby, Röhl will likely turn to more reliable attacking options. Djeidi Gassama, who already has five goals this season, is expected to start, while Oliver Antman — returning from illness — and Aasgaard have both looked sharper in recent weeks.

With Celtic and Rangers both entering new managerial eras, this Old Firm clash promises to be more than just a fight for a place in the final — it’s a test of identity, momentum, and belief. But if Röhl wants to mark his arrival with a statement win, he may need to bench underperforming signings like Chermiti and Moore in favour of those showing greater form and confidence.