Ridvan Yilmaz given thumping SPL start to Rangers career

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Ridvan Yilmaz given thumping SPL start to Rangers career
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 06: Ridvan Yilmaz of Rangers in action during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and Kilmarnock FC at Ibrox Stadium on August 6, 2022 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

So Ridvan Yilmaz managed his first start as a Rangers player, and it’s only fair we review it honestly.

We at Ibrox Noise dismissed Borna Barisic as soon as the Turk was signed – you don’t add a £5M international if you don’t intend to play him.

But we have to admit, the Croat may have life in him yet if Ridvan doesn’t adapt quickly, because while it was only his debut, he was a rabbit in headlights and looked visibly shaken by the pace and physicality of the SPL.

His first involvement of the game was to be brushed aside, in a move which nearly led to a shock Killie opener inside 20 seconds of the match.

And this set the tone for his game.

He was defensively weak, positionally a mess, and physically uprooted by every Killie attack.

He was rated by whoscored as Rangers’ weakest starter by a distance, with just Scott Arfield’s cameo scoring less than the left back – Ridvan scored 6.35 with his replacement Barisic getting 6.49.

This wasn’t good from Yilmaz, whose slight frame and short height already look a massive, massive disadvantage for the physical rigours of the SPL.

In a more attacking sense he did get forward a fair bit, attempting 6 crosses (none were remotely accurate) and that pattern also applied to attempting key passes, of which none were accurate.

He lost the ball 15 times, which is not terrifying (Lawrence lost it 22 times and Tav lost it 32 times) but he will definitely feel like he could have done better.

All is not lost – Ridvan has been given a thumping introduction to the SPL, and he will know this isn’t Kansas any more.

It’s up to the lad to adjust and get up to speed for the next outing, because Borna is sitting right there waiting for the new boy to slip up.

It’s a healthy problem for Gio to have.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve got to agree with you 100%. I’m thinking we might have been sold a pup with this one. He just wasn’t what I was expecting at all. He played right in front of me on Saturday and I couldn’t believe how small and lightweight he was. Over and above that he didn’t have a good game, never got a decent cross in and showed little in the way of pace. Early days and I hope he proves me wrong but at the moment I’m thinking those weaknesses can’t be easily rectified.

  2. Yes not sure about this player , or left side of defense is the target for any of the opposing team??. Please keep a eye on it Geno . Shankill Ray ✋

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