Rangers face stiff competition for the signature of left-sided defender Jonathan Panzo after it was confirmed by transfer maestro Fabrizio Romano that Rangers are after him but German and English sides are also interested in the 22-year-old.
The former Dijon defender is another summer target to be rather dividing fans, with fan groups questioning his reliability and proneness to gaffes and moments of bad concentration. Those same fan groups reckoned Calvin Bassey was the greatest thing since slice bread, despite the exact same flaws, incidentally.
But we digress, from what we’re seeing of Panzo, he’s a much better defender than many fans are giving him credit for, and while he’s never played a senior Premier League match, at 22 he’s got 17 appearances in Belgium’s top flight and 24 in France’s.
Over 40 appearances in two of Europe’s best leagues in his position does suggest the armchair fans aren’t basing their cynicism on anything other than what Celtic fans tell them…
Only 18 months ago Panzo was a regular for Dijon in Ligue 1, and yet some Rangers fans think that’s not good enough to face St Mirren or Eamon Brophy?
Are we saying he’s Champions League level? No, that’s not a leap we can take, but we can conclude he’s a lot better than the football managers online (including the major Rangers partner groups who themselves are sceptical too) seem to think he is.
And the fact sides from the Premier League and the Bundesliga are also interested enforces that point considerably.
From scouting reports we’ve researched on his qualities, he’s a superb reader of play, and 18 months ago was 7th in Ligue 1 for interceptions. In a relegated team, that’s exceptional:
“So, these phases of play show us clear examples of Panzo’s ability to read the game, decision-making quality and speedy reactions, which have played a pivotal role in helping the defender to make so many interceptions, like the ones we’ve displayed here, for Dijon this season.”
And:
“Here, Panzo was in action against his former club, Monaco, and in a close-quarters engagement with one Monaco attacker inside the penalty area. However, Panzo remains cool in situations like this and deals with the threat accordingly.”
But because online fans have decided he’s some kind of bombscare due to a couple of shaky moments for Coventry, that’s it, he’s a dud.
He comes from a good stable, and he’s a leftie.
If he does join we’ll see how it goes, but some fans have him failed already.
I agree with you, has history in better leagues than ours and at that price, we could bring in 2 younger guys for the price of one Davies who, while decent, has not set the place alight
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