We’ll get plenty of stick for mentioning Billy Gilmour’s name from some sections of the support, and that’s what this piece is all about.
After the former Rangers youth player extended his Chelsea contract to 2024, Ibrox Noise wanted to have a look at him in depth, or, more tellingly, the dislike so many Rangers fans have for him, and why it’s frankly a spot ludicrous.
No youth player since Danny Wilson has attracted the level of ire Gilmour does, with 99% of all responses by Rangers fans to his name or stories about him being: ‘he made his bed, **** him’.
It all centres around the fact he left for Chelsea.
That’s it.
During a time when Rangers’ youth was being systematically ignored by every Rangers boss (it was mad Pedro at that point), this kid, 15, who clearly was a cut above the rest, decided not to waste his time being ignored by Pedro or anyone else, and took the offer from Chelsea instead.
At that point, Steven Gerrard’s name didn’t exist, and even if it had, Gerrard’s record with youth at Ibrox was equally horrible as those who came before.
But Pedro signed half of Mexico and Portugal, with zero interest in what Auchenhowie had to offer, so Gilmour, having been scouted by Chelsea representatives, had a choice to make.
A big fat juicy guaranteed offer from Chelsea in the Premier League, or pray Rangers would relent from common practise and give him a chance in the seniors.
So: the Premier League 2, the Premier League, or the Rangers Academy until loaned out eventually to Arbroath.
Is there really any wonder he took the offer?
Nathan Patterson, pretty much first serious offer he got, he was off too. He was never going to usurp James Tavernier from RB, so he took his chances down south as well.
That it hasn’t worked out for either of them is bad luck, injuries, circumstances, you name it. But it was either take that chance in England or sit on the bench at Ibrox (at best) or start for Dumbarton before being released at the end of contract.
We don’t blame Gilmour at all. Rangers’ track record for youth is absolutely shocking, with only Patterson to show for our endeavours there in recent times.
Of course, we have explained before that youth academies are really manufacturing plants – make the player, then sell him on to a small team for profit. It’s a source of revenue for the club, for any club.
Occasionally a rare gem appears, who’s good enough to actually break through to a team’s senior squad, but that’s not what these academies are built on.
And Gilmour was good enough but knew Rangers were particularly poor for giving the best kids a chance, at least back then.
So we really don’t hold a grudge.
He took his chance. Would any of you honestly have sat in the Rangers reserves yourselves?
I dont dislike the boy and he was not going to sit in reserves ,pedro sat him down and told him he was in first team ,I remember he told rangers tv this plus new improved contract .
My problem with him is this ….he just has not developed physically or playing wise ,in fact going back the way .
Surely we as a club should not be chasing players who are playing crap and cannot even turn it on for the mighty norwich .
I want to see us going for players who excite and will move us to next level ,not backwards ,loan at very best for billy ….no way big transfer move as has been mentioned .
Nothing personal you understand .
If he hadn’t left he’d probably still not be a first team player at Ibrox. Patterson would still be waiting behind Tavernier getting the odd cup tie against Stirling Albion. We need to start putting trust in our young players starting with Lowry and King. If clubs like Dortmund, Braga and Leipzig can put faith in teenagers at the level they play at why can’t we?
Exactly I would say both are no better than what we already have at club in respective positions ,why bother going for them ,need to improve team .
We did fantastic to get 12-16 million for paterson ,helped the overheads .
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