Zelalem debut at Airdrie: why fans are excited

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Zelalem debut at Airdrie: why fans are excited

       
            “But how will he do at Airdrie on a wet Wednesday night?”

The old cliché of any stylish foreign player coming to Britain/Scotland and struggling to cope with our agricultural weather in a nutshell, but in Gedion Zelalem Rangers fans can be truly excited if the on-loan Arsenal youngster is thrust into the first team for the visit to the Excelsior tonight, no matter the weather.

It is a thunderously unclement Wednesday, and not really the weather for the kind of snazzy football Zelalem is capable of. We have all seen the videos though, the skill, the flicks, vision, dribbling and turning, and if the US youth player starts tonight and still manages to produce even a glimpse of the quality he is most definitely known for Rangers will know they ‘have a player’.

The display against Hibernian at Ibrox was hard-fought but as Warburton stressed, it was strewn with mistakes and careless distribution, particularly in the opposite half. Zelalem is being groomed for the ‘trequartista’ slot, it seems, which is the link between midfield and attack.

Technically that position is not utilised under Warbs’ system, a front three and middle three as is used, but with the dynamic nature of players’ mobility (we saw Jason Holt dribbling beautifully along Hibs’ goal line on Sunday) and swapping of positions on a whim, Zelalem could truly find himself entirely at home with the system, and with whatever position he is placed in.

And I raise that issue in relation to the careless use of the ball because Zelalem seems to be incredibly efficient, clever, and tight with his passing and movement, which would help reduce wasteful play considerably in that area of the park.

Fans are excited by this signing – as pleasant though the glut of incoming players has been, and as much as they have performed, the only name which really excited fans was Danny Wilson. But the more supporters have learned about the Arsenal kid, the more thrilled they have been by the promise he has.

One Gunner suggested this lad has the ability to be a future Ronaldo or Messi. He was almost certainly exaggerating, but if some Barca fan had said the same about Messi as a future Ronaldinho or better back in 2004 when the Catalan maestro was 17, he would have been laughed out the room.

We will see in time what potential Zelalem fills, but in the meantime, let us see how he does ‘at a wet and windy Airdrie on a cold Wednesday night’.

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14 COMMENTS

    • Cheers Anon Gooner!

      Really looking forward to seeing this Arsenal kid in the flesh. I'm hopeful that he will enjoy his time here immensely; contribute heavily in games and generally keep the new found smiles on the faces of the Rangers supporters. If everyone is happy, then maybe he will stay to the end of the season and help us gain promotion to the SPFL.

      Our clubs have had long standing relationship which was unceremoniously destroyed when Mr Whyte sold our shares in Arsenal with no understanding or care for the historical significance.

      Hopefully, this is the first step in rebuilding that friendship.

      Good luck in the EPL and CL to your club. Love watching your team play football, even more so now that my own club are fostering a similar football philosophy.

      Mon the Bears, and the Gooners!

    • as a gooner i hope he gets out of that shit hole fast worst bigoted racist place on earth run gooner run

    • Shithole? Maybe your the bigot. Keep it shut as you obviously don't have a clue what your talking about. Shug

    • No….. your probably a Celtic fan. There is no way an arsenal fan would say something like that knowing the history between the 2 clubs! All have nothing more but respect for rangers fans

  1. Watched five minutes of footage of him on YouTube and his right foot is a wand but his left foot is used for standing on (he kicked with it twice in the five minute clip)

    Don't get me wrong he can still be a class player but I'd love younger players to be comfortable on both sides – that's what separates class and world class players.

    Rant over – I'm excited to see him play tonight

  2. From I have seen he looks quality through & through I hope to god he doesnt get clobbered & get broken [which is an arsenal trait] I wish him all the very best & i hope he bangs in a few & gives nightmares to defences up & down the country,
    Its a good time to be a bear!!

  3. this is what scotish football needs hope we get a good crowd tonight watp,,,what a kick in the balls for the tims last night lolllllllllllllll pure shit they are lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllll,,,,,

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