“Complete shambles” – it’s time to cash in on dud…

9
“Complete shambles” – it’s time to cash in on dud…


A few things became very clear during yesterday’s latest Killie disaster, but one thing that unified almost all supporters was the acceptance that Croatia’s Borna Barisic has been a complete shambles of a signing and a genuine waste of £2M.

He has squandered every chance Steven Gerrard has given him, and ultimately been a painfully bad acquisition given all the hype about him after his performances against us for Osijek.

The curious thing is we at Ibrox Noise don’t necessarily hold it entirely against the Croat international – quite simply he’s the wrong player in the wrong club at the wrong time and his signing was a human error on everyone’s part.

Indeed, we at the site even advocated the move for him in the first place, before it broke that Stevie was indeed trying to bring him in, so it’s evident that most of us were in favour of getting him. So we similarly don’t strictly blame the manager for thinking a Croat international who performed heroics against us might just do the business for us.

But clearly it’s been a farce. Injured half the time, when Barisic has been available, occasional supreme left peg delivery aside the left back has been absolutely wretched. Unable to beat a man when in attack, mostly out of position when in defence, and completely lacking any ability to impact a match in this league, the 26-year old is simply not cut out for the SPL or for this club.

His attitude has also been questionable, showing few guts or desire, and looking like he doesn’t want to be here. Some argue about ‘cowardice’, and in truth even his manager implied it when publicly castigating him to get a reaction. It didn’t really work.

But the biggest tragedy is that he kept Lee Wallace out – we know Wallace isn’t quite Arthur Numan, we know that, but he’s the best left back at Ibrox and he’s been completely wasted by Gerrard. Sure, that’s another story for another time, but that Barisic has had so much wasteful playing time when Wallace could have actually been delivering instead for us is more than a touch frustrating.

The Croat is prime for moving on this summer – we’ve obviously been ‘notorious’ for suggesting a handsome fee of £20M might be feasible, given the argument against is just how bad he’s been for us.

But the curate’s egg is how good he’s been for Croatia, even scoring for them. There is no better way to prove yourself globally than by producing on the international stage for your nation in meaningful matches, and where his team mate Alfredo Morelos has not, Barisic certainly has.

And international Croat players aren’t cheap.

Barisic’s Ibrox adventure is likely to conclude this summer – and we’re pretty sure he’s a very decent chap who just found himself as a fish out of water in Scotland.

We bear him no grudge, especially if we do get a healthy profit, but if signing a Croat international who plays like a man possessed against us doesn’t work out, it only shows the risk factor with pretty much any signing.

We move on.

No posts to display

9 COMMENTS

  1. Be lucky to get 2.5-3 million for him. Clubs aren't stupid if he's been such a flop for us and that the manager doesn't rate him bids will follow suit.

  2. He was worth a gamble but I think has had enough time to show his worth. Compare him with no assists to tav with his & u get an idea of how short he is

  3. I had held up hope that he would come good but Sunday was the final straw for me.He was constantly out of position and even his crossing was non existent .I remember reading a couple of weeks ago that he would no longer play on plastic , so I wonder if the manager was saying to him , " you`ll play when I tell you" and he reacted by not trying a leg .We need to find a left back who will play every game if needed so its time to get rid of Barisic even if we just get our money back.

  4. I'd still give him another year (unless SG sells) before judging him too harshly, plenty of examples have been given on previous articles of players who took time to settle.

    In 12 months we may decide he can't cut it. But at least then, there's a chance he could be playing at and winning the EUROs with Croatia. If so we could make more than our money back.

  5. I respectfully, disagree. He was taken on, more or less, on the word of Grezda and has just 'coasted' through the season. With complete disregard, to our history and rivalries. But how did our scouts not pick up, on his constant mediocrity? What, did they watch just one, match. That has cost us. I respectfully don't think Mark Allen and his team, are all they are talked up, to be. Not impressed, with the culture of budget-buying and crossed fingers, of late. The vain hope,that we may just get a 'bargain' Messi or Gazza. Oh aye, Barasic will WIN when he's OUT of our club, NO doubts. Just like Lafferty, a waste of £££. A bad buy and WHO is to blame? Too much financial irresponsibility going on, as far as my personal opinion goes. I think when ALL, non-Scottish players join our team, they should be schooled on our history, rivalries and club culture and the expectations. It seems to me, Barasic and too many others, just couldn't give a toss. Wage thievery has gone on too much. We expect better, next season.

    • Agree with most of what your saying Joe90. Our scouts have been very poor finding all those mediocre players. Barasic would flourish in a better european team. He is just not suited to the Scottish game, which is gutter level in world football. And it is only going to get worse in mediocrity with the further poor signings coming in!

  6. If we sell him now there is no chance of a profit – healthy or otherwise. He could come good next season but there’s no evidence to suggest he will do what it takes.

  7. Barasic is an excellent player! He wouldn't get near playing for Croatia if he wasn't however he is just another example of a Rangers players who does not really seem to care and is here to get down south or to another decent league.

Comments are closed.