Where on earth is Matt Crooks?

5
Where on earth is Matt Crooks?

If one thing was sure last season, beyond the lack of a reliable defence, it was the lack of a reliable defensive midfielder.

Indeed, one of Mark Warburton’s first acts as Rangers manager was to dispense of the services of the only dedicated DM Rangers had in young Andrew Murdoch, and slot Andy Halliday in that position, something many fans protested about.

While Murdoch’s rather modest subsequent career has arguably vindicated that particular decision, following the farce of the John Eustace episode, the defensive midfield conundrum was well and truly solved this summer when three brand new ones were secured, in Joey Barton, Jordan Rossiter and Matt Crooks.

Barton and Rossiter were seen as slightly versatile in being able to switch between DM and DM together, and it was expected that Crooks would be used more sparingly in that slot as a result, possibly even filling in in defence.

And with Joey Barton’s ignominious departure and Rossiter’s continual injury concerns arguably threatening his career, not to mention his season, Crooks would have truly felt his chance was there for the taking.

Yet, instead of the one solitary dedicated DM Rangers have being used in his natural position, Warburton has elected to rewind the clock 12 months and revert to Halliday out of position again.

And while the former Bradford midfielder is not having a truly awful season, his colleague on the bench must be wondering why he is sitting on the sidelines with no start in sight while Halliday remains out of position in his place.

It is another puzzling one; Halliday has far from disgraced himself, but he is an auxiliary, and better used higher up the pitch. Mark Warburton surely knows this, so why on earth is he not using the 6 ft 4 colossus Crooks there instead?

And he cannot get a look in in defence either, with Clint Hill seemingly snapping up one of the berths while old favourite Robbie Kiernan has regained favour in the other slot.

Crooks, shall we remember, was voted in English League 2’s Team of the Year (not quite Ballon D’Or but still a decent accolade) and Warburton’s desperation to sign he and his good friend Josh Windass was so much that the saga went on for months and even caused acrimony with Accrington, before the pair finally arrived in Govan on a pre-contract.

But Crooks just wastes away on the bench while ill-suited alternatives play in his position instead. And the player himself cannot be the only one wondering why.

Why, without the Hollywood signings Rossiter and Barton in the picture can Matt Crooks still not get a look in for the defensive midfield slot?

Is he poor in training? Has the lad failed to settle in Scotland? It took him two months to gain match fitness but since he became healthy he has had to contend with being a sub and having precious few appearances from there.

I will not speculate as to why he is not playing, whether there is a rational reason or whether it is a question of (poor) judgement from his manager.

But it does emphasise the quite dreadful business done last summer that so few of the new acquisitions have made an impact on the team, with December just around the corner.

No posts to display

5 COMMENTS

  1. I think it is taking him a bit longer than he anticipated to get back up to speed after his ankle injury last February.

    He was out for 8 months and some players take longer than others to get back their match sharpness.

    We could certainly do with him strengthening our midfield which is clearly the weakest part of our team.

    The defence, although not ideal, is way stronger now.
    Mainly due to the organisation and defensive qualities of Clint Hill.

  2. Somes up Mark Warburtons management to be honest…… I do not like being critical of anything Rangers but I have to say I have ran out of patience with him now….. please go!!!!

  3. In fairness to Warburton he brought in players capable of winning the league last year which we did. However he was given the second highest budget in the league to mount a credible challenge which he has failed to deliver on this thus far. One of the major reasons is the disastrous summer signings.I do not see the board giving him anymore money in January if he is still here.

  4. Crooks said when he came back to train, he forgot how to touch a football. It is taking him time to get up to speed. he looked okay against QOS, against Kilmarnock when he came on he looked slothish, slow to take a touch and pass it. He is not ready for a starting berth.

    • How long does it take a 22 year old to become fit? He was healthy months ago. If he was Kranjcar's age I'd understand match fitness concerns but at his age once physically fit it seems bewildering to me that he wouldn't be ready. He was 'healthy' at the end of August – 10 weeks later he still isn't ready? Whatever the reason it's a bit worrying.

Comments are closed.