In an earlier entry, Ibrox Noise was discussing David Watson rejects Rangers to move from Kilmarnock to Bolton rather than Rangers. He indeed was linked heavily with Celtic as well. However, there is more to this than potentially just a low ambition move and avoiding moving to the giant that is Rangers or indeed our Old Firm rivals across the city. And that is a simple question of opportunity.
Rangers and young players
Rangers have an absolutely dire record when it comes to young players. How many times have Rangers signed young players from other Scottish Premiership teams and not used them?
Look at Connor Barron. Danny Rohl barely uses the boy, even though he’s been fit for months and months and months. Russell Martin barely touched him either, only conceding later on that he was better than he had realised. Even furthermore going back, when Barron originally joined Rangers, he wasn’t used all that much.
This wasn’t exactly a superstar signing in all fairness, but it was a young Scottish player that Rangers fans want to see more of.
Then of course there’s Findlay Curtis, 19 years old, or 18 at the point of going out on loan. He’s been given no opportunities at Ibrox by Martin or indeed Rohl, and consequently he found a better move to go out and join Neil McCann at Kilmarnock.
He did spectacularly there, and will now be offered a new contract, but in terms of getting the minutes, we can’t be sure he’ll be guaranteed those. Time will tell on that one.
More examples of the same problem
And then of course, last but not least, Lyall Cameron from Dundee, signed in a blaze of mild glory. He came south from Dundee to join the Ibrox revolution under Philippe Clement, and found himself being completely sidelined and barely used at all.
He immediately went out on loan to Aberdeen where he’s done very, very well indeed. It’s another example of a young Scottish player coming to Rangers and just getting no opportunity.
So in reality, we can understand why David Watson, who’s 21, would choose to go to a team where he’s much more likely to play. Who on earth would join Rangers if they’re not going to play?
You join a giant club, and yes, it’s about earning your spot. But if you’re given no pathway to the first team, you end up with nothing.
A recurring issue at Ibrox
Nathan Patterson also had the same problem at Ibrox. He did get a fair few minutes in all fairness, but James Tavernier was always the first choice, no matter what.
This is a recurring theme at Ibrox. Regardless of the ability of individuals, and yes, some are not as good as others, none of the young players, the Scottish young players, seem to be given any serious opportunity in Govan at all.
There has been such a problem with this over the years, where younger players weren’t given a chance. It even happened during 2012 with a chance to rebuild the whole team from scratch.
Rangers still refused to properly use any of the youth and did not create the youth project that we should have had at the time. Barrie McKay and Lewis Macleod were about the only two who really got a true proper chance to shine.
Yes, there were a few others, of course, and they were substandard in many cases. That was a chance to use a lot more youth than was being done. Instead we signed a whole bunch of mercenary players at exorbitant costs.
Why Watson chose Bolton
This has been the mentality of Rangers. Success first, development later.
Now, of course, we don’t disagree with that. That is to say that we do know that it is all about must win. But it also explains why young players don’t want to come to Rangers.
Lawrence Shankland would never have stood a chance if he was 22 or 21. If he was in his early twenties, he would not have come to Rangers. And he wouldn’t have been given any kind of chance back then either.
Regardless of any notion of romanticism about young players, Rohl, for all the reputation that he claimed to have about developing them, doesn’t use them. Just like every other manager. That’s why David Watson rejects Rangers.
So why would it be surprising that Watson would elect to go to Bolton where he will almost certainly play compared with Rangers where he’ll sit on the bench or even the stands?
It’s simple maths.