Barry Ferguson is getting it all wrong with Rangers ‘star boy’
An underwhelming set-up, an insipid Ibrox performance, and numerous Rangers players being shoe-horned into ill-fitting roles; Barry Ferguson was in the dugout but this was an afternoon pitifully reminiscent of Philippe Clement’s worst days at the helm.
If Ferguson wants the job full-time, this is the sort of result destined to send those dreams up in smoke.
Five successive home defeats in all competitions is a record no Rangers manager wants on his CV. Let alone a man who took such pride in leading by example on the Ibrox turf during two spells as a player in that iconic blue shirt.
And while this was a run started by Clement in the Scottish Cup against Queens’ Park, Barry Ferguson has now overseen three of those five losses. That’s if you include the eventual Europa League triumph over Fenerbahce in which Jack Butland’s penalty shoot-out heroics saved Rangers’ skin.
That magical night in Glasgow is starting to feel more and more like the triumphant last ride of a goalkeeper ripe for pasture.
Many Rangers fans had hoped to see Ferguson replace Butland with Jack Kelly before the former England international rolled back the years in the Europa League.
As Butland’s Premiership horror show continued – that Fenerbahce masterclass clearly a false dawn – Hibernian’s Dylan Levitt became the latest beneficiary of his hologram limbs.
But if that was the sort of unforced error no manager can legislate for, a fanbase who again booed their team off the park following Hibs’ 2-0 triumph on Saturday afternoon are well within their rights to question Ferguson’s handling of another underperforming key player.
Rangers fans criticise Barry Ferguson’s handling of Hamza Igamane in Hibs loss
Hamza Igamane wrote his name into Rangers folklore when thumping a stunning 89th minute winner past Celtic a few weeks back. That, however, is the Moroccan’s only goal in his last 15 outings.
Igamane mustered only one shot on goal during 88 minutes against David Gray’s irrepressible Hibs side. Well down from his Premiership average of nearly three attempts per game.
That can partly be explained by the fact he was glued to the periphery throughout. Ferguson opted to utilise Igamane in a less-effective left-wing role in order to accommodate Cyriel Dessers.
And while clearly the more in-form of the two strikers, this was one of those afternoons for the ever-divisive Nigerian.
Dessers provided four times the amount of shots as Igamane, but Jordan Smith’s sheet would remain as clean as the referee’s whistle. Had those opportunities fallen the way of Igamane, well, perhaps the post-match discussion would be very different indeed.
“Complete waste of time with Igamane out left,” one supporter argued on social media, growing tired of an experiment which continues to yield limited results. “Put him through the middle. Roll on the takeover
“That’s the biggest thing for me, no creativity in the middle of the park. Dessers will always miss. Looks like Butland is a cert now every game to throw one in. But that midfield offers nothing. We continue to rely on moments from [Vaclav] Cerny and Igamane, who shouldn’t be out left,” another agrees.
“The set up today could be Clement. Goalkeeper, back four, and two holding midfielders at home. Igamane out wide is bonkers.
“I repeat Igamane needs moved into striker role The boy can offer so much more any potential buyer won’t like what they see
“Our star boy Igamane is wasted out on left.
“One up top at any match is a joke but against Hibs at home is criminal. And Igamane as a winger, Barry et all need a head wobble.”
Ferguson loses at home to Hibernian as Celtic triumph fades
Ferguson’s fluid tactical approach may have secured famous wins over Brendan Rodgers and Jose Mourinho but, like Clement before him, an inability to break down disciplined opposition when the onus is on Rangers to dictate proceedings remains a problem without a solution.
But shifting Igamane into his most natural position – he scored a hat-trick from centre-forward against Hibernian in January, remember? – would potentially represent a step in the right direction.
‘Wasted’ is the word on the lips of the Rangers supporters. Another ineffective performance from an attacker – and a team – capable of so much more.
“Igamane is so obviously wasted out wide, yet still we continue with it.”
“We have an actual star in Igamane and he is being pushed out of position and wasted.”
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