If there was one gigantic positive from last night’s win over Falkirk, across the M8, Rangers fans can certainly indulge at last in the arrival, finally, of Captain Lawrence Shankland. Ibrox Noise was beyond all in favour of him both being signed and being made captain. We have to object the abuse the boy has taken from our own fans over the so called slow start. Yes, we were extremely disappointed ourselves that he wasn’t being used in every single match. Or that things weren’t going as well for him as they could have been. But boy did the lad turn that one round at John McGlynn’s place.
Shankland delivers for Rangers
Two stunning goals have finally shut up a whole bunch of the naysayers. They appointed Shankland joint top goalscorer in the Scottish Premiership. Both were outstanding finishes. Both were the confidence boost that he absolutely needed. Not that we necessarily think he needed it, because it was always there, but he finally showed, at long last, after only four league matches, that the shirt is not too heavy for him and that he’s ready to deliver for Rangers FC.
Lawrence Shankland of Rangers has now scored four goals, albeit two penalties included, but both of his outfield goals were outstanding. This is what Rangers fans who believed in him were waiting for.
Shankland answers his Rangers critics
The simple fact of the matter is that after a few matches, the usual hipster lefties and what we’d call hand wringers among our support were enjoying seeing him seemingly fail. And they wanted it to continue. There is no question that there is a toxic element in our support that wants to see players and managers fail. That’s as simple as that. Anyone who denies that that element is in our support is deluded.
And that bunch were out in force, insulting Shankland, calling him a terrible purchase, saying the usual “I knew we shouldn’t have signed him” type patter. Consequently, a stunning brace against the Bairns was an outstanding response and the way that he held rife in Govan at last.
Rangers had to be patient
Of course, we had to be patient. We had to bide our time and wait for Shankland to show the form in the Rangers shirt that he had shown at Hearts in previous seasons. And he has now done so. Yes, the start was slower than we would have wanted, but those goals shut every single detractor up, or at least enough of them that the remaining ones do not matter at all.
Rangers finally have their goalscorer
The fact is that Shankland is a top class scorer and the best hitman that Scotland has. He is an outstanding forward, and while he perhaps isn’t the big target man that Rangers might need, he is the absolute natural goalscorer they have been waiting for, probably since Nikica Jelavić: an outstanding finisher, an outstanding player, and he’s ready now at last to kick on as our Rangers captain and top striker.