Yesterday we discussed on the site how the deployment of Steven Davis could have been a massive statement of the way forward from Steven Gerrard, an experiment which was successful even if bigger tests await the side.
We also mentioned Scott Arfield – well, this was another statement from Steven Gerrard, and not one entirely dissimilar to the Lee Wallace one.
In short, a central midfielder, Arfield (with questionable fitness at present), selected out of position on the right wing over Eros Grezda and Daniel Candeias.
What message was Gerrard sending his primary two wingers with this selection?
Grezda of course has been a bit of a flop signing – some fleetingly decent performances but overall just not impressive, despite some solid displays for his country and a £2M price tag from the summer on his head.
Meanwhile Candeias’ form has been ok this season, not spectacular, and he’s not up for POTY this time around to the general lack of protest from the support which probably vindicates it. He’s been ok at times, good at times, but perhaps maybe lacking conviction for the majority of the season.
And both of these men were benched in favour of CM Arfield.
Again, the Canada international about justified the selection in a slightly out of position berth on the right, but what does it say for both Candeias and Grezda, and especially the latter, that he had to be content with a spot on the bench and a cameo in the second half.
This guy is an Albania international but as yet we’ve not seen enough at Ibrox from him to suggest he’s going to be a success. Steven Davis, for example, joined three months ago and is just now starting to show progress – Grezda has had the entire season and failed to cement a place, injury notwithstanding.
Maybe next season will be a fresh start from the ex-Osijek man at Ibrox, but time will tell if Stevie G sees it that way.
Candeias has been fantastic this season and has more than held his own, time to get behind this lad and give him the credit he deserves.
Got to agree. I think candeias has never let himself down on the pitch. Always puts a decent shift in.
I agree with the above comment. Candeias is hugely underrated. Also Arfield was playing the tip of a diamond with Kent given a free role. Gerrard confirmed as much in post match saying we never played with wingers
Arfield was on the right. Kent on the left. A blind man could see that. It may have changed in the second half but it was wingers at the start.
Think you hit the nail on the head – he's an albanian international. Let's face it the two of them are poor. Arfield has been poor for the majority of the season as well.
Let's not beat about the bush, the majority of the players in the squad are average at best
Candeias has been struggling a bit and Gerrard said afterwards he was rested because of a hard shift in the OF game and the number of games he had played. Arfield played right and left of midfield for Burnley so its actually his current role for us that is strange for him.He " just about justified his election ",what game were you watching , he created one and scored one and was involved in everything especially first half .He is a key man for us and has proved his versatility .As for Grezda , just don`t see a player there but I expect him to get a pre season and then we`ll see what he brings next season.
Gredza is rank. No two ways about it. Why we signed a player who was injured I will never know. How did he pass the medical?
Arfield chose to play for canada because he couldn't get a call up for Scotland- is there anything more than needs to be said
Should Never have Signed Grezda in The First Place
RW – Candeias, Grezda, Atakayi
LW – Kent, Murphy, Middleton
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