As Ibrox Noise reported only yesterday, Rangers defender Connor Goldson’s switch to Birmingham City is going to be a tough deal to carry through. Whether you believe he’s on £40,000pw or 38, Goldson is rewarded astronomically for the modest amount he’s contributed, and we have to take significant issue with former Rangers boss Alex McLeish’s assertion that the ex-Brighton man is a role model and couldn’t have given more to the cause.
This is not to diss the ex-Rangers boss, McLeish did a LOT for Rangers when he was manager and he is one of us, but it suggests he might be a speck out of touch:
“Connor has had a great spell at Rangers and has played for them at the highest level possible, a European final. He has immense experience, and he strikes me as the type who will share that experience with others at the club. He’s had a wonderful time at Rangers over six years, and has shown everyone what he can do and what he’s capable of. You won’t hear a bad word from me about centre-halves! And Connor has certainly done everything that’s been asked of him at Ibrox.”
We just can’t agree, but Eck isn’t really going to come out and slaughter him.
He went on:
“He’s scored a goal or two, he’s been a threat at set-pieces, and I have always admired his style of play. He’s been at Rangers for a long time when you think about the modern game, and look at the way players come and go. It says a lot about him to have that longevity there.”
We feel we could spin that significantly differently but there you go.
Then he added:
“There are big demands placed on players at Rangers. It’s among the biggest and most demanding clubs in the world. The fans demand victories every single week, but Connor has been aware of that and handled those demands.”
By not handling them? Ok. That makes sense.
“You’ve got to be a winner to last that length of time at Rangers. Wherever he goes next, whether it’s Birmingham or wherever, that will stand him in good stead.”
Can’t say Connor Goldson screams of a winner – he does scream and whine at others for his own mistakes, but for his having won 3 trophies of 18 since he joined a club who demand winning the lot probably doesn’t quite manage it.
Eck of course managed both Rangers and Birmingham, and he’s absolutely entitled to his view like anyone else is, but we’re pretty sure 99% of the Rangers support probably doesn’t share this particular one.
If there is some way to get Goldson signed up at St Andrews, we’d love to see it.