A lack of progress at Rangers has been mooted as the primary factor for the omission of Rabbi Matondo from Wales World Cup squad.
Head coach Rob Page was speaking in recent days with the unique announcement of their squad coming from the very authentic and working class setting of Tylorstown Welfare Hall in the Rhondda Valley which would have been very much appreciated by the grassroots throughout the community and wider Welsh football fan base.
As well as naming those who are heading for Qatar, he touched on some players who did not make the cut including the Rangers summer signing who has struggled to make an impact so far in Glasgow. Page referred to Matondo’s previous impact in the Belgian league, where he played for Cercle Brugge on loan from Schalke, as told to Sky Sports:
“It’s been a frustrating time for him. I think he was playing his best football when he was in Belgium.”
“If he’d have been playing week in, week out, scoring goals and creating chances like he was in Belgium then it would have been a really difficult decision for me.”
Proof
Ross Wilson tapped into the Jupiler League market once again, although the deal was done with Matondo’s then-parent club in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Whilst his highlights reel looked impressive, much of it consisted of running beyond high defensive lines and into acres of space in the channels – commodities that are very rare in the Scottish Premiership whilst playing for Rangers.
From 12 league appearances so far this season, the Liverpool-borm player has only recorded six starts, managing a full game just once. He is yet to score with three assists to his name.
Fleeting impacts like away at Tynecastle to set up Antonio Colak or his late burst against Ajax at Ibrox to win the penalty which James Tavernier converted have been pretty much all that has been seen of Matondo so far. He will get further time to prove his case and merit for a future at Rangers but if that is to happen he must show a significantly higher level of quality than what has been witnessed so far.
The same would also get him closer to a recall to the Wales squad, on the back of the disappointing but expected World Cup squad absence.
Another of Wilsons useless signing and possibly the worst of the lot which is saying something .We all wish he had stayed in Belgium and done us all a favour .