Former Rangers defender David Bates, who left Ibrox last summer on a free transfer to Hamburg, has been slated by Scotland supporters after the national team’s humiliating defeat away to Kazakhstan yesterday.
Alex McLeish’s side were thumped 3-0 by the home side in UEFA 2020 qualifying, piling pressure on his role as manager of the tartan army.
Bates got the nod to start the match after impressive form for Hamburg this season but perhaps the German second-tier isn’t quite of the standard many though given his performance.
The Scotland defence was all at sea for the majority of the match with poor positioning, poor ball retention and unconvincing marking.
Any Rangers fan watching on at Bates’ display would not have been too disappointed he left Ibrox on the cheap, despite his career apparently being on the up.
Perhaps working under Steven Gerrard and playing in competitions like the UEFA Europa League would have been more beneficial?
These supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his display…
I'll never take anyone serious who says that scott mckenna is a 10 million pound player or that rangers were silly not to offer bates 7k a week to stay.
— Sandy (@SandyC8572) March 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/SeanLambie/status/1108769295297859584
Who exactly *is* David Bates and what's he doing at an international football match without having paid to get in?
— David Darlington (Anderson/Oakes) is like this (@deejsaint) March 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/rhysfagan/status/1108762660999491584
David Bates is just terrible #KAZSCO #EURO2020
— Chris (@Chris2164) March 21, 2019
I thought David Bates had supposedly developed into a fine CH? He’s garbage @ClydeSSB
— Michael Callaghan (@MyTownLand) March 21, 2019
The likes of Liam Cooper at home not called up yet we have to watch David Bates stumble about at the back. Not a stand out in Bundesliga 2 which is very poor in quality …. Eck is a clown and should be nowhere near managing any team
— LENNOX22 (@LENNOX22) March 21, 2019