When Ryan Kent arrived back at Rangers late in the August transfer window fans were overjoyed, not only had we just concluded the summers biggest transfer saga but it also completed the biggest Rangers outlay on one player since Tore Andre Flo almost 20 years ago.
But with big price tags come big expectations.
Fast forward to mid February and Livingston have come to Ibrox slap bang in the middle of a storm to play a game that had been hastily rearranged from 24 hrs earlier. Ibrox was already in a foul mood before a ball was kicked.
It was cold, wet and windy and Rangers had already dropped 8 vital points in the quest for 55, most recently throwing away 3 points from a leading position at Rugby Park.
It took exactly 2mins 11 seconds before I heard the first disgruntled voice “for f##k sake Kent- do something with the ball for once” cried a voice from the rear of the main stand.
Kent – like many of his teammates is badly out of form – however I’m not giving up on him or this Rangers team yet. He has already matched last seasons goal tally in about half the games where interestingly 5 of the 6 have come away from home. Three of those away goals also at what would normally be considered some of our most difficult away venues in Parkhead, Tynecastle and Easter Road.
This means that more often than not when Kent plays, he has 2 men on him at all times. When Rangers face a ten man low block, it’s not always possible to utilise his best attributes of pace and step overs. Kent could do with realising that sometimes one less step over combined with better decision making could be what is required.
Right now in the SPFL Rangers are at a point where we just need to win ugly or pretty, it doesn’t matter which. Europe, however, could provide a welcome distraction along with more of a footballing contest compared to the WWE style of the game we are subject to week in week out. This could be the occasion to bring the best out in one of our star men.
I have faith in Kent and I hope you do too.
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