Kent off for Middleton

[Theresa May]

Unless it was due to an injury to Kent, what an absolute catastrophic substitution. The system in the first half was working. It was fluid, dynamic, was creating space in the final third and was ultimately giving Dundee real problems.

The second half was always going to be a backs to the wall job for Dundee with 10 men behind the ball. Such circumstances require players who can face players up, create a half hard or pick a pass in a crowded final third. Why then do we bring on a one dimensional and, frankly, limited 18 yo winger who can do none of the above?

The whole dynamic changed at half time and we created nothing, absolutely nothing in 45 mins against a team bottom of the league and with 10 men.

 

[The Lone Sniper]

Kent was hopeless.

 

[Square and compass]

Middleton was worse than kent.

 

[Burgh-Ger]

Middleton is a young man that needs taken out the firing line for a few weeks

 

[Theresa May]

Kent was hopeless.

Disagree. He was getting on the ball between the lines. We looked dangerous first half and completely inept in the 2nd. No coincidence.

 

[Spinning Blue]

Very very strange decision.

 

[Coza]

Kent was poor but I still thought his style was causing them issues. Poor sub.

 

[dh1963]

I got the feeling the first 2 substitutions were arranged beforehand and not taking into account the actual game and how players were playing.

It was as if Kent was to get 45 minutes and Barisic to get 35 minutes to build their match fitness.

 

[Chester Loyal]

Middleton isn’t good enough to be playing every week at the moment.

 

[LiviLoyal]

Middleton is a poor man’s Gregg Wylde. Stevie Wonder can see where he’s going when he gets the ball.

 

[The Little General]

Kent was hopeless.

Kent set up the second ‘goal’ that was wrongly disallowed.

 

[devilman]

Kent wasn't very good. Middleton wasn't very good but it was a shit sub. Really shit sub.

Gerrard really doesn't know how to utilise subs at all.

 

[Ronniemca]

Thought i saw Kent wincing as he was running back Just before halftime

 

[Britannia]

Middleton is a young man that needs taken out the firing line for a few weeks

Middleton is a young man who won’t make the grade at Rangers, we don’t have 4-5 years to wait for him to develop. There’s nothing to show he’s good enough to wear the jersey. Just another Greg Wylde.

 

[thenorthseabear]

Middleton is absolutely no use against a team that are sitting deep and defending.
He needs to have space to run into.

 

[mark hateley]

Both had off days but today they should be smashing those defences.

Poor by all involved today.

 

[JD1872]

Maybe a knock? It undoubtedly weakened us.

 

[Brian Laudrup]

Kent’s been out for a month with a hamstring so I can understand why he only played 45 minutes but surely it would have been better to start Middleton then bring Kent on

 

[Gazzaflag]

Kent is not that great and was ineffective before he was subbed. He’s another player massively overrated on here.

 

[Karky Madoolla]

Middleton has looked like he’s been running in quicksand for a while now. He has stopped running at defenders getting to the byline and his confidence is shot.

 

[JimmysGers]

I got the feeling the first 2 substitutions were arranged beforehand and not taking into account the actual game and how players were playing.

It was as if Kent was to get 45 minutes and Barisic to get 35 minutes to build their match fitness.

Had this thought too.

He was possibly wary of giving Rossiter the full 90 as well.

 

[Colinrfc2]

I got the feeling the first 2 substitutions were arranged beforehand and not taking into account the actual game and how players were playing.

It was as if Kent was to get 45 minutes and Barisic to get 35 minutes to build their match fitness.

Thats exactly what it looked like

 

[Theresa May]

Middleton is a poor man’s Gregg Wylde. Stevie Wonder can see where he’s going when he gets the ball.

Very similar in style and ability. The provided an unknown quantity when they first came into the team, but teams sussed their one trick pony style out relatively quickly.

Show Middleton inside and he quickly becomes obsolete. Far too one dimensional to be a Rangers winger.

 

[Blue-Knows]

Middleton is a young man that needs taken out the firing line for a few weeks

Agreed. What I find strange is Gerrard was quite critical of the way Murty used Ross McRorie, suggesting he was asked to do too much too soon. Middleton must be the same age as McRorie was.

 

[chucknorris]

Middleton nowhere near ready

 

[trueblue77]

Middleton looks lost when faced with a decent full back. He's all about pace and needs the space to drive into. Something you're not always going to have.

 

[HMS.Temple.Garden]

Middleton has his lovers but his purple patch has ended and now looks like a one trick pony with sometimes good delivery from set pieces

 

[JD1872]

Also thought it was strange keeping jack on and subbing Halliday, the ref looked determined to send jack off

 

[Roger Smith Loyal]

Middleton isn’t good enough to be playing every week at the moment.

Said this to my mate a while ago and was laughed at.

He's still at the 15 or 20 minutes when the games over stage.

 

[Portadown_Bear]

Wasn’t Middleton’s day today. His delivery was poor.

 

[Sam English]

After being out injured, there was no way Kent was going to last 90 minutes.

 

[Theresa May]

Middleton looks lost when faced with a decent full back. He's all about pace and needs the space to drive into. Something you're not always going to have.

There's a role for Middleton throughout the season, but not in tight games when we're up against two banks of four.

 

[All of the Lights]

Can only assume Kent was injured again. Bizarre decision if not.

 

[standardbarger]

Middleton is a young man that needs taken out the firing line for a few weeks

Yes I agree he should be taken out of the firing line for the rest of the season he is young and inexperience and one dimensional and easy sussed by defenders.

 

[DNA1872]

Middleton is a player you bring on when confidence is high when your well up and flying but on the past few performances of the lad I’m not convinced he has got it, but our manager certainly rates him

 

[Theresa May]

After being out injured, there was no way Kent was going to last 90 minutes.

Agreed. However, surely he had another 15-20 minutes in him? Give it another chance at the start of the second half and then change it.

 

[Marko123]

Gerrards confirmed in the Rangers TV interview Kent felt something before half time. Hopes it’s just precautionary but had to take him off.

 

[Sam English]

Agreed. However, surely he had another 15-20 minutes in him? Give it another chance at the start of the second half and then change it.

TBH, I thought he would last 60 minutes at least.

 

[JimmysGers]

Gerrard confirms Kent felt something.

 

[Karky Madoolla]

Has another injury issue according to the manager.

 

[Renoranger]

I got the feeling the first 2 substitutions were arranged beforehand and not taking into account the actual game and how players were playing.

It was as if Kent was to get 45 minutes and Barisic to get 35 minutes to build their match fitness.

Never thought of that, but it makes sense now. Good observation.

 

[Buzz07]

Middleton is very one dimensional but he is still young.
The Dundee fullback today knew exactly how to play him.

 

[Laudrup97]

Middleton isnt ready for games like that. Just like the game on Wednesday he didnt create much in a crowded 18 yard box.

 

[Axelrod]

Kent was injured Gerrard just confirmed it . Says he’s hoping is mostly precaution but he felt pain .

 

[surfbear]

Kent was injured according to Gerrard. Remember Middleton is a kid signed last season for youths. He has probably never played against packed defences before and is on steep learning curve.

 

[DC23]

Middleton looked absolutely rapid his first couple of games, now looks no faster than any other average joe, get him dropped for afew weeks

 

[bluecode03]

Ibrox gig is too big for Middleton I’m afraid.

 

[M@x]

Unless it was due to an injury to Kent, what an absolute catastrophic substitution. The system in the first half was working. It was fluid, dynamic, was creating space in the final third and was ultimately giving Dundee real problems.

The second half was always going to be a backs to the wall job for Dundee with 10 men behind the ball. Such circumstances require players who can face players up, create a half hard or pick a pass in a crowded final third. Why then do we bring on a one dimensional and, frankly, limited 18 yo winger who can do none of the above?

The whole dynamic changed at half time and we created nothing, absolutely nothing in 45 mins against a team bottom of the league and with 10 men.

So you go on a big rant about the sub when not knowing the details?

Kent was injured

 

[final_straws]

Injury forced the change.

Middleton is too one dimensional. Needs to add unpredictability to his game. He is only a young kid so difficult to be too harsh but I think he should be used more sparingly than he has been.

 

[VaucluseBear]

Kent’s been out for a month with a hamstring so I can understand why he only played 45 minutes but surely it would have been better to start Middleton then bring Kent on

That’s too sensible.