Murty admits to being ‘baffled’

Rangers manager Graeme Murty has added to the growing ‘controversy’ over forward Josh Windass by admitting the ex-Accrington man ‘baffles’ him.

In yet more fallout following his goal and celebration at Firhill, the 24-year old attacker drew praise and criticism from his manager, adding to the growing split in the Rangers support over the goal scorer.

Murty said:

“I think the word mercurial was coined for him as some of the stuff he does is of a really high level, and then he baffles you with some of the decisions he makes.”

There is little doubt Windass has talent, but while Murty’s media displays have become increasingly erratic, he is not miles off with this particular assertion.

Windass plays the game for himself too much, and frequently loses concentration and focus – giving the ball away cheaply or disappearing into the fringes of a match. But when he revs up his engine and gets going he is unstoppable, and as fans clearly know, a frequent goal scorer.

There is no question he will never be a universally loved player, given how much he frequently frustrates fans and his manager yet appears entirely untouchable to being benched.

That immunity from competition, despite the options in his position, is probably more of an issue than anything else. If fans saw him earning his place from the bench now and then rather than simply being selected every time, perhaps his popularity would increase.

That said, we cannot condone online abuse that the lad has received – with increasing focus on anonymous abuse via social channels and general internet use, there is less and less excuse for it, and anyone giving any of our players abuse, regardless of personal feelings about them, should face the full repercussions of their actions by law if need be.