“The Josh Windass Situation”

20
“The Josh Windass Situation”


This Josh Windass situation is a little curious, and it’s been intriguingly managed, if we’re honest.

We praised the first six weeks of Stevie, were a bit more critical following Shkupi, but things look much brighter right now and we’re happy to get on board the Gerrard Express again.

However, we do find his handling of Josh Windass a bit strange, and, of recent times, one of the things we’re struggling to grasp.

Windass is a pure 10 – we’ve known this for a long time. An attacking midfielder who is more of a second striker than anything else. Pre-season showed Gerrard individually managing Windass, giving him attention, and if Windass’ own account to RTV was anything to go by, Gerrard saw him as a pivotal part of his Rangers jigsaw, whether us fans wanted it or not.

However, the Anfield legend elected to play Windass completely out of position wide on the right and the ex-Accrington man was absolutely useless there – he looked lost, and didn’t know how to play the wide flank.

We’ve seen him on the left, with varying and patchy results, and while he’s flirted with pace and form there, he is much more at home free-roaming centrally. Indeed, his purple patch of late January through to early March was utterly sensational and, along with the shifting of Ross McCrorie to midfield, the big success of the Graeme Murty era.

However, his isolation on the right has seen him lost under Gerrard, and then he suffered the ignominy of being dropped. Now, a lot of fans are quite happy with no Windass in the team, but we do have a slight concern – if the plan is to sell him, surely making it clear he’s not in favour Barrie McKay style is only going to hurt his value?

However, it may well be Gerrard does see him as pivotal, just, not right now. Maybe Rangers’ manager is managing the player the way he thinks is best – by kicking him out the team and making him fight for the jersey. That said, if his insipid sub appearances are anything to go by, it’s probably not having the desired effect yet.

If we’re honest, Windass doesn’t strike us as a fighter. And perhaps backing him into a corner won’t work and will just expose his petted lip. Equally, we don’t know the boy personally so perhaps it is absolutely the right way to deal with him.

For now, Windass is benched and we must also bear in mind the 4-3-3 Gerrard is deploying wouldn’t fit him anyway – Ejaria is in ‘that’ position but again, it’s not his ideal slot either – given he’s a very similar position to Windass, if not similar style.

Either way, Rangers are getting results without Windass for now. And that works.

We just do wonder what the long term plan with him is.

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20 COMMENTS

  1. yes i would play him as no 1 striker drop morellos behind him windass is a fantastic finisher would suit both players .

  2. Punt him….with a sell on clause because he will be good down south, he's just not suited to us. He needs space to run into, he will get that down there.

  3. Gerrard is playing players in different positions to find out what he can get out of them he has done that with Candias he played him in a midfield role and it did not work and it looks as if he has learned from that on Thursday night he played him wide right his work rate and cover for Tav was excellent so you never know something might work out regards Windass

  4. Just Sell Him Back South!
    We dont need him anymore

    Should get a couple of million for him …thatll buy us a CB and Laff 👍

  5. We have put up with these guys far too long ,we now have fighters and winners in there so it's now about winning games and soon points so Josh will need shape up or ship out .
    I honestly think Josh is one of the best finishers we have and should have been coached as striker

  6. Windass "utterly sensational". I must have a pint of whatever you are on. The guy is not half as good as he thinks he is, plays only in flashes and was at the right level at Accrington Stanley.

    • Totally agree he AccringAccrington Stanley grade you never know what you going to get from him and his disrespect to fans is unacceptable just get rid

  7. I agree I would like to see Morelos played in behind Windass, but doubt Windass would fancy fighting two CBs on his own, or at all. He is quite clinical, but second striker seems to be how to get goals out of him.
    But if he wants to play, he is going to have to fight for a jersey.

  8. There is no one better at the club to play that No. 10 role than Windass.
    I’m worried that there might be ‘they must play if fit’ clauses in Ejaria and Kent’s loan agreements from Liverpool. Their showing in the first leg against Osijek was poor and merited both being dropped for Windass and Middleton.
    Fingers crossed that there will be squad rotation for Pittodrie due to midweek European fixtures.

    • I agree. he has a knack of scoring, which he showed last year. he is not a battler, but then neither was Thomas Buffel or plenty of others.
      IF, a big IF, he can learn to put in a shift when things are not going his way, I say keep him. He doesn't have to be a monster in the tackle, each to their own and he is not a Morelos, but he needs to track back and support his teammates, particularly the games when it is not running for him.
      But inspiration beats perspiration. Halliday works harder and people slate him for lack of quality. Windass shows the quality, regularly, and people slate him for not working. I think we are all agreed Ronaldo and Messi would improve our team, but we work with what we have.
      And we support them
      RTID

  9. If he’s good enough he’ll play. If he wants to play he better stake a claim on the pitch when he gets the chance. If he thinks any different he can fuck off. Simples.

  10. Windass, Halliday and Hodson all must go!! It comes to no surprise when both Halliday and Windass came on against Osijek, we conceded a goal and the midfield looked disjointed. They are just no where near the quality we need!

    • I agree about Hodson. I reluctantly agree about Halliday. He will stay until he is not getting a game, but successive managers have valued his workrate, adaptability and his desire to do anything for the team. He does not have enough quality, or technical ability. He is all application, desire, workrate, determination. Perspiration, not inspiration.

      But Windass? Really Jimbo. Perspiration or inspiration, you need to pick. Windass came on and you could argue cost us a goal by not tracking back. Tracking back is not quality. It is a trained activity, not a natural one. Windass was the third top scorer in the league last year. Ahead of Lafferty. Behind only Morelos and Boyd although he spent part of the time on the left wing.
      If people want to attack Windass, fine. But if it is for lack of quality, please identify the available, affordable players of better quality we can pick up to replace him. I am not sleeping with Windass, I don't think he is Messi. But only two players scored more league goals than him. A Rangers teammate that many people attack and an ex Rangers player whose workrate makes Windass look like a perpetual motion tackling machine. I loved Boyd, but workrate? LMAO
      So I ahve to agree with olly/c

    • Well put fella. Windass will get his chance again under Gerrard – there's no way he's finished assessing this squad yet and JW's finishing will keep him in the frame.
      For those suggesting that League 1 or 2 in England's the right level for JW, just remember that's the level where most of the English imports to the SPL come from……..

  11. Some of you people want to get a life,we're struggling to get goals and you want to punt a player who can get them.

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