Michael Beale’s treatment of Scott Arfield seems personal to us at Ibrox Noise. A player with clear quality, impact and would die for the Rangers shirt is being cast out and rejected under this manager, a manager who has clearly picked Arfield to be his ‘sacrificial lamb’.
It happens with every new manager – a major player fans like is the fall guy for the latest boss, a popular player who suffers under the new coach and is essentially dumped.
But in Beale’s case, it’s not just Arfield – Antonio Colak has also been completely axed by this manager as well, and we’ll look into that one in due course.
But it’s Scotty that’s winding fans up the most.
Ibrox Noise has been preaching the inclusion of Arfield ever since Beale made the decision to axe him, and while so many fans disagreed with us and suggested he was just an ‘impact sub’, the calls to see him start only increased yet more after yesterday’s shambles.
Let’s be clear – how Michael Beale is treating Scott Arfield is blatantly disrespectfully. He is showing the ex-Canada international no grace, and is doing the same with him as ex-boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst did with Niko Katic.
A fan-favourite who fights for the shirt but is just unceremoniously dumped by the new boss, making their stamp on the team.
But it was yesterday’s insult that rankles fans the most – giving Scotty two minutes at the end for absolutely no reason, albeit it turned out to be 8 minutes thanks to injury time, no time at all to make a real difference.
Fans were utterly appalled by this, giving him a handful of time to win the game, no time to make a difference and the midfielder was helpless to make an impact at such a late stage.
Arfield will never complain – he’s a jolly wee guy and a great Ranger, but inside he will be gutted at not being able to help, at being denied the chance under this boss to make any kind of different to the club he loves.
Fans aren’t happy either, and while we’re not saying start him every match, we’re asking that he be given a much fairer crack of the whip than this manager wants to.
But he won’t, it’s too late now. Beale has made it clear Arfield isn’t a big player for him, and we’d be surprised if the former Burnley man even wants to remain in Govan beyond the summer.
He’s not going to play much is he?