Warburton drops major hint about defence
Mark Warburton has dropped his
strongest hint yet that he does not view last season’s Player of the Year Darren
McGregor as a first pick defender within his new-look Rangers side.
strongest hint yet that he does not view last season’s Player of the Year Darren
McGregor as a first pick defender within his new-look Rangers side.
The new Rangers manager has
already secured former Rangers, Liverpool and Hearts defender Danny Wilson, and
an experienced English Championship centre back he knows well from his Watford
days in Rob Kiernan, and today Warburton let slip that his new recruits are his
first-choice central defensive partnership.
already secured former Rangers, Liverpool and Hearts defender Danny Wilson, and
an experienced English Championship centre back he knows well from his Watford
days in Rob Kiernan, and today Warburton let slip that his new recruits are his
first-choice central defensive partnership.
The boss said:
“Danny Wilson and Rob Kiernan are a strong
centre-half pairing.”
centre-half pairing.”
Rather than highlighting their
strengths as central defenders individually, he went further instead and paired
them. This leaves McGregor potentially demoted to squad fodder (as speculated on here some weeks ago), with both Reece Wabara and Ryan Fredericks potentially
the selection for right back (if both join), that slot being McGregor’s
auxiliary position.
strengths as central defenders individually, he went further instead and paired
them. This leaves McGregor potentially demoted to squad fodder (as speculated on here some weeks ago), with both Reece Wabara and Ryan Fredericks potentially
the selection for right back (if both join), that slot being McGregor’s
auxiliary position.
Warburton went on to indirectly express
that he sees McGregor and Lithuanian international Marius Zaliukas as strong
depth and no more.
that he sees McGregor and Lithuanian international Marius Zaliukas as strong
depth and no more.
“We also have Darren and Marius, so
we’re strong in defence.”
we’re strong in defence.”
It does appear that Rangers’
first-choice defensive pairing has now been as good as confirmed.
first-choice defensive pairing has now been as good as confirmed.