If one player sums up the dire state of Rangers’ defence, it’s David Bates. Deemed surplus at Raith Rovers (he started seven league matches between 2013 and 2016), he came on loan to Rangers’ development squad and was then plunged into Rangers’ XI when a defensive crisis under Pedro saw him debut at Kilmarnock in a controversial press announcement which included Myles Beerman.
So, let’s just clarify that – David Bates started seven league matches at Raith Rovers in four years, and would not have played for Rangers but for a defensive crisis which left no other options.
Fast forward to the present day, and Bates has somehow, after some decent initial displays last year, followed by average performances this, been exalted by many supporters to an outstanding talent and the future of the club.
Am I the only one wondering what the heck is going on?
Have Rangers’ options at the back become so diabolical that a frankly rank average defender is being scaled to lofty heights and actually has the gall to demand a higher wage?!
This is not to absolutely smear Bates – he is not the worst defender we have had at Ibrox. We’ve seen absolute howlers like Emilson Cribari and Ross Perry disgrace the shirt in the past, so we do not bracket him there.
But when we think to SPL Rangers teams of the past, of recent eras we are talking Bocanegra, Goian, Weir, Cuellar – and some fans appear to have rated similarly a player the Rovers deemed surplus?
Not good enough for a Championship side but good enough for Rangers?
Have I slipped into a parallel universe where Rangers again accept players who clearly aren’t good enough?
I thought we’d moved on from this when the likes of Kiernan, McCulloch, et al were at Ibrox, when we used to try to big up absolute rubbish in order to justify their being in our shirt.
Rangers’ central defence is abysmal – Alves should be the best player but hasn’t delivered, and the other three options of Martin, Bates and Cardoso must be the weakest SPL Rangers defence I can remember.
Yes, David Bates may actually be the best defender we have, but that’s a massive indictment of the options available rather than any merit on his part.
IN spot on he's average at best, his positioning is shocking, if Tavi ain't on with a 5 yard pass it's punted just anywhere.
The others ain't much better Mind, trueley needs addressed as priority #1
The 4 U mention must be sold or returned to there parent club.
McCorie and Wilson with 2 more recruits in the summer will tighten up the defence no end.
Mr Allen over to U squire!!
I agree totally. And where does he think he will go that's better than Rangers. Let him go i say.
The problem with him and like so many of our other players is the fact that’s hes not consistent. Some games he’s been great and others he’s a liability. We need to get some steady players. Papac comes to mind. Not the best and everything but always the best with consistency. He never stood out with any aspect of his game but I would say he’s prob the best left back we ever had, he was just so strong and gave everything for the cause with out running around like a headless chicken trying to hard (Windass comes to mind). To think papac was originally a flop to start with and to turn in to such a strong player who never got beaten by anyone he played against… maybe I just dreaming that we can get players like that again though…
Hi Stuart, I am in your camp here, Papac was steady, a Mr. Reliable, consistent week in week out, an unsung hero. The ways to describe him as someone who you could depend on.
You’re point in your second last sentence quoting ‘was originally a flop to start with’ is something I think of often and I know it’s a digression from the original topic in the article but have Rangers fans lost patience?
We seem to expect players to come to Rangers and be instant success, this may be due to where the officials and legislative body who run Scottish football dumped us, but we don’t give players and sometimes management time to do things right. I have said many times Alex MacDonald, Davy Cooper, McCoist, Hateley among others were all booed and jeered at in the early days of their Rangers career as did Alex McLeish on his appointment.
Kilmarnock proves your theory to a tee, a bunch of average players, possibly doomed to a relegation battle earlier in the season have been guided by a very clever coach, but it’s the players doing things consistently on the pitch that has turned that club around. Managers and coaches don’t win games, the players on the pitch do it.
Sorry, Papac was a good player. No arguing there. I also like the point made on consistency.
But best left back, not for me. Artur Numan
Somewhere, Davy Robertson is weeping…
Davie was a limited player alright, but he was certainly consistent and reliable. He never let us down in either spell, and even scored a couple of cracking goals including one 18 yard curler.
As for Papac, maybe the most overrated Rangers player of the past decade+ – a truly average left back who couldn't get forward and gave wingers 20 yards of space to get their crosses in. Never closed anyone down and was never tight to anyone. I will never understand his popularity.
I think papac was the most undrated player at the time, we all noticed ceuler weir, bogey etc, but papac was never beaten on a one on one, and if he was he always tracked back and took the ball back…
Goodness me Ibrox Noise! Glad to see your writing what I've been saying since the start of the season and beyond.
Bates will never be Rangers class and Rangers should not be even offering him any sort of contract and get rid at the end of the season along with the other dead wood who think they are good enough for the blue jersey.
Mark Allan priority is to find a new manager and 3 centre halves.
Your article isn’t far from accuracy but Bates was swapped for Thompson, with the former coming to Ibrox for future development and the latter to gain first team time with Raith Rovers. That is the fact behind us getting Bates, not that he was surplus. His first team appearances from 2013 to 2016 were limited I agree but if you look at how old he was in 2013 makes him around 17 and at that time Raith Rovers were trying to gain promotion to the Premier league Andy I should not need to remind Rangers supporters the disaster at Easter Road inflicted on us by Raith during that spell.
So I rarely criticise Ibrox Noise but on this occasion try to get the facts right. I do however have to agree in the reason for the article. He in another era would never wear a Rangers first team strip, but in another era how many current day players would?
He is what we have available at the moment and if Rangers do not meet his demand for remuneration then I fully suspect he might not pull on the blue shirt for us again, as his current injury will probably keep him out for the rest of the season.
As I also have been saying before. He is not up to scratch. Alves has been a disappointment but injuries to a 35 year old are likely. McCrorie is best bet. But on the subject of injuries: Wallace, Jack, Doran’s, Bates, McCrorie, Miller, Alves, Rossiter. Is it just bad luck? Or is something wrong?
However we cannot get rid of Murty at present and therefore can’t recruit yet. If we win every game till end of season we will have no option but to appoint him(and he will deserve job) but if we don’t finish 2nd he must go. So at present Boards hands are tied. Sadly I don’t see Murty cutting it. But Allen must have feelers out now.
Truth is for some inexplicable reason Rangers let there most accomplished centre back Danny Wilson leave in January. Bates is a basic defender and does the simple things well – but you are right that it is indicative of the current situation that he will now be missed until the end of the season. Alves has no interest in being here next season and is only marking time trying to get his fitness up to speed for the World Cup. He will clearly never put his body on the line for the Rangers cause. Martin is simply poor, and Cardosa too weak. The summer sales starts here!
We don't need players holding the club to ransom we have had that in the past and they all lost out players are only worth what the club value them to be whether that be through their contract or their on value on onward sale no matter how good the player thinks he is and if the player thinks he is worth more than the club he ainth the player for us so bates should go .
Young Bates is nothing more than average in a poor selection of our CH options . He should be told what he is being offered if he rejects then punt him ! We need at least 2/3 CH and a RB and a GK and a Striker to match up with Cummings . Murty will not be offered the job long term for sure .. so we hope Mark Allen is busy doing what he can to make It happen New Manager etc. as we all renew our seasons books .. the most important season to renew by the way folks ! Going to be a big clear out bargain sale again …Rossiter Kranjaar ….Sell Windass Morelos maybe
Very negative article, kenny dalgleish played for cumbernauld utd….so what players have to start somewhere. The guy plays like a rangers player, hes only young give it time.
Aside from Tav, A.Wilson, McCrorie,John and Wallace
…We Need a Whole New Defence
…Still Think We should have Kept Wilson!
GK – Bin Fod & Jak
…2 New GKs
RB – Bin Hodson
…RB as Cover for Tav (Someone who can Challenge Him)
CB – Bin Alves, Cardoso, Martin & Bates
…3 New CBs (And McCrorie)
LB – No Changes Required
RM – Bin MOH and Dalcio
…RM as Cover for DC
CM – Bin Kranjcar, Rossiter & Pena
LM – Bin Forrester
ST –
Miller into a Coaching Role
Bin Dodoo & Herrera
To Be Sold/Released in Summer :
Fod, Jak, Hodson, Alves, Cardoso, Martin, Bates, MOH, Dalcio, Kranjcar,
Rossiter, Pena, Forrester, Dodoo, Herrera
Rank average, try rank rotten
LM – Bin Forrester
…LM as Cover for Murphy or Use Middleton?
ST –
Miller Into A Coaching Role
Bin Dodoo & Herrera
…If Morelos Leaves (x2 Strikers)
– Cummings, Hardie, ? , ?
…If He Stays (x1) Striker
– Morelos, Cummings, Hardie, ?
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