The Players That Could Salvage Rangers Promotion Hopes
Rangers hopes of securing automatic promotion from the Championship are all but gone. Hearts have an enjoyed a fantastic season and will secure the league title unless pigs start flying over Tynecastle.
But Rangers still have the chance to make the step up to the Scottish top flight next season via the play-offs.
That task wont be easy. Hibs are flying at the moment. Falkirk and Queen of the South are also breathing down the Gers necks. Plus eventually one of these Championship sides will then have to face either Motherwell, St Mirren or Ross County in the play-off final.
For Rangers to stand the any chance of going up, new boss Stuart McCall has to hit the ground running and get positive results and get the most out of his squad.
But at the moment the Gers pool’s morale is at a remarkably low ebb.
I still think they have the players there that could be the difference makers and need an arm around them from McCall and told…
‘Go and get Rangers into the Premiership!‘.
Cammy Bell:
Stuart McCall will be desperate for the number one goalkeeper to return to boost his squad.
Bell is on a different level from back-up keepers Steve Simonsen and Lee Robinson. He offers more security and doesn’t have the same mistakes in his game. Will be all the more important in the big games, where the other two have been found wanting.
Rangers have missed the Scottish international goalie since he suffered from a shoulder injury in August.
Nicky Law:
Has been one of Gers better players this season, but still goes missing at vital times during certain games. His bursting runs into the box and goals from midfield will be needed to help Rangers revive their promotion hopes.
McCall has been a big influence in Law’s career, managing him at Bradford City and bringing him to Motherwell in 2011. The manager in the past has also given the midfielder a key role in his team and the Englishman flourished and that earned him his move to Ibrox.
If McCall can get Law playing like he did at Motherwell, then that could be a big step forward for Rangers.
David Templeton:
A player that has the skill and pace to become a Rangers great on the wing. But has disappointed in large parts during his days at Ibrox.
But he still has it in him to produce things that others can’t in that Rangers squad. Needs games, stay clear of injuries and reassurance from McCall that he is needed.
Has to get the ball, attack opposing defences and start enjoying his football again!
Kris Boyd:
A player that divides opinion amongst the Ibrox faithful. It’s fair to say that the Scottish international striker has under performed (especially in the league) upon his Govan return.
To have only three league goals this term is scandalous but the players instincts in front of goal won’t have totally disappeared. Currently only has eleven games to save his Gers career and their season (might get one-three more games in the play-offs).
Why would I play him? Because out of all the strikers Rangers have at their disposal, given the right circumstances Boyd is the most lethal hitman the ‘Blues’ have. Needs to play. Also needs players like Haris Vuckic, Templeton and Law to create chances for him. Then ultimately Kris Boyd needs to show desire to actually score with those chances.
Still capable of going on a run and getting another ten or twelve goals this season.
Posted on March 14th, 2015 by scott
Filed under: Article
Wouldn’t disagree with the comments and would like to see a fit Ferguson in the team along with Streete and McGregor. Hopefully McCall will avoid the ‘Old Pals Act’ that we saw with McCoist and we won’t see McCulloch in the team unless he proves that he still has the speed and the stamina to play as an attacking midfield player as we saw in his days at Wigan.
Yeah out of the Newcastle loanees Gael Bigirimana is the one I think could be the best for Gers. But will he ever play?
Cammy Bell is a better keeper than Robinson, but I don’t look at him as a weakness at the moment. Simonsen has improved a lot since his blunder against United in the semi final, but he is still third choice for me behind Robinson and then Bell.
You are quite right that Law is often seen hiding in games. Some may say that he is hide and seek champion 2014, and is favourite to retain that title. He has been played out of position at times, which isn’t his fault, but if he is told to play out wide, he should do it. Too often he wanders out of position and leaves his full back with no simple out ball. If I was in charge, I would drop him unless he does as he is told. I would probably drop him for hiding as well. I’m not his biggest fan.
Templeton has been good whenever he comes on, but cannot keep it up for 90 minutes when he starts. There was a spell when he would impress as a sub, start the next game, only to play poorly and be taken off at 60-70 minute mark. That repeated itself a few times. A run of 90 minute games might improve that. I’m unsure why he isn’t even getting a chance from the bench now. Perhaps something has happened behind the scenes.
Boyd started the season really well. The stats will tell you that I am lying, but they don’t tell the full story. He found himself in good positions, linked up play well and provided chances for others. He just couldn’t buy a goal. It’s telling that recently he celebrated a goal as if it had won him the Champions League. It started with a fresh air swipe at the ball, before toe poking it into the net. It wasn’t a good goal by any stretch, but it came at a time where he probably thought it was one of his best goals of the season. More goals will come.
Law and Boyd have been 2 players that have shockingly been exposed this season. Boyd is finished at Rangers and we all wouldn’t care if we’d seen his Last game.
As for Law, He’s a disgrace as a Rangers player, He’s got no vision, cant pick a pass to save his life and always shoots when there’s a crucial pass that couldve let another player through, He plays for himself and has no sense of team spirit.
The players we need now is that Gallagher, He can score in this league (still top goal scorer of any Rangers player this season and with a so called lesser team) and again overlooked by the author, any person overlooking this player seriously doesn’t kno football.
Not sure about Boyd but would opt to try Gallagher . Let’s face it the best player over the last two months has been Vuckic. Pity the other loanees from Newcastle have all been injured. McCulloch has to be shunted and McCall must play with wingers to bring pace to the attack.
Craig – Great points. I still disagree over GK situation, Rangers always had a strong number one & decent number two. Don’t see that at the moment.
Stephen – I think McCall needs to try & get the most out of the under performing players he has. Agree that Gallagher should be seeing more game time.
Kenneth – Vuckic has been good & was too obvious for this piece. I was looking for more to step up and help him out.
The biggest thing that stands out is fitness levels of some of these player . Every other team is able to press us high and do it for 90 mins. If any of these players cared, whats stopping them from staying behind after training and doing extra runs to get fit. Boyd is the biggest example, if he actually got himself fit he wouldnt be carrying that extra weight.
We must have the slowest midfielder in the league in Kyle Hutton. I’d put law into centre mid for him and play temps and Walsh out wide with vuckic behind Clark even though he doesn’t look like he’ll score in a brothel at the minute. With good service from those 3 behind him I think he will find his form.
Don’t agree with Robinson part. I really like him. He’s set most of our chances up with his quick distribution. Also the amount of chances he’s cut out coming quick off his line and being brave has prevented a lot of chances! I think youve massively underated him to be honest.