On paper, Rangers came out of the January transfer window stronger than they went in, a player of the season, a £37million wonder kid and an established, world renown international, however, James Sands, Amad Diallo and Aaron Ramsey just haven’t made the impact that was expected of them.
Writing in The Daily Mail, Gers legend Brian Laudrup has pinpointed the winter business as a reason why we have been underperforming and why unnecessary points have been dropped:
“At the midpoint of the season, you are looking for players who can offer fresh blood and impetus. But it just hasn’t happened for Rangers. At least not yet.
“Look at Sunday as a perfect example. After Motherwell pulled it back to 2-2 with 14 minutes remaining, you think it’s time to put on someone capable of making a difference in an attacking sense. A player who can create things and deliver a breakthrough.
“But Amad Diallo didn’t get off the bench. As Rangers looked in vain for a winner, the Manchester United loanee wasn’t asked to contribute.
“In fact, Kemar Roofe was the only substitute introduced with seven minutes remaining. That surely says something.
“Then you have the fact Aaron Ramsey again didn’t make the squad as he tries, I assume, to get to the right condition after his well-publicised injury issues at Juventus.
“No one doubts Ramsey’s huge quality but time is running out for this loan move to be effective. The Wales star has not been able to make the difference many hoped he would.
“We all know it takes time to gel at a new club. But, for differing reasons, it seems Diallo, Ramsey and Sands haven’t convinced Van Bronckhorst that they are yet able to go and take on major responsibility in this title race. For me, that’s a huge problem.”
The impact that the new additions have made is under scrutiny because of some of our results, stupid mistakes in defence and horrendous officiating are the bigger causes but the signings of Diallo and Ramsey in particular were made to add a cutting edge to our attack and put an end to the games where we created plenty but still dropped points.
For different reasons it hasn’t worked out like that but there is still time for the pair to make key contributions in the remaining ten league games, Fashion Sakala has shown that pace in attack is more beneficial than intelligence or experience and Diallo is the most natural option to replace him either off the bench or in rotation.
For Ramsey it’s simple, if he gets fit, he will play, and he could well be the difference between winning and losing the league, but time, as Laudrup rightly says, is fast running out.