Originally published at: https://www.rangersnews.uk/columnist/kent-has-work-to-do-to-justify-rangers-faith-after-poor-leverkusen-display/
Ryan Kent has a lot of work to do to justify the faith shown in him by Rangers and Steven Gerrard after a poor display against Bayer Leverkusen. The club forked out £7.5m to sign the 23-year-old from Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window [Sky Sports], but rather than being the star…
This has got to be a joke , Aribo was far and away our worst player on Thursday , he contributed absolutely nothing either wide or in support of Alfie .When Kent went onto the right we looked much better as he combined quite well with Tav and got a couple of crosses in .He has been struggling for form , but he never hides and does his work for the team . I reckon a move onto the right with Kamberi coming off the left in support of Alfie would work if football is ever played again this season.I don`t know what to do with Aribo , he is one step up from Ojo as far as I am concerned.
It’s got to be a joke that a player the club spent £7.5m on to be a creative spark is getting criticised for setting up 4 goals in 31 appearances?
Aribo did have a poor game on Thursday night but he was rightly taken off after 50 minutes. Kent starts + plays the full 90 pretty much every time regardless of his performance levels, but because he runs around it’s ok? He’s one of the most expensive players the club has ever signed.
Kent cost £7.2m more than Aribo, yet Aribo has eight more assists than him in the league.
Kent gave the ball away 18 times on Thursday night from 38 touches.
Agree he looks as though he could be more productive on the right, and scored from there against Hamilton + Ross County etc but he can’t be immune from criticism because he’s got a decent work rate.
Has plenty of ability, has scored some great goals, loves the Old Firm but hasn’t produced anywhere near what he could/should have, so I can’t subscribe to the idea that he’s great and Aribo is hopeless.
Never said he was great or that he was immune from criticism but it is a joke that he was scored lower in that match than Aribo , who I doubt even had 18 touches .He does seem immune from criticism and personally I dont see what others see in him. His best game has been a cameo at left back for 20 mins against Braga.By the way Davis must have pushed that stat for giving the ball away and Kamara was the one who got hooked , but thats for another thread. My point about Kent was that at least he keeps getting involved even though he is in poor form.He didnt decide on the fee , we did, but if the manager were to drop him as he did against Accies , I have no problem with that.He should be replaced by someone who is putting a shift it for the team , which for me leaves out Aribo , Ojo and Barker .Maybe Jones deserves a chance or Kamberi on the left although again it didnt work against the Accies. Personally I just want to see them all back to the form we have all seen in the past but I dont think all the hysterical criticism helps anybody and like Scott Arfield who was getting it from all directions a couple of months ago , they will all find their best form soon.
Just had a look and Aribo had 25 touches and gave it away 8 times - not great either, but ratio not as bad as Kent’s. Think sometimes these things are a bit skewed - neither player created anything, but Kent was on for longer so theoretically had more time to contribute and didn’t, hence the lower score.
Totally agree in terms of players who come in have to put in a shift first and foremost. Wasn’t convinced Jones would be good enough to be a regular starter based on what I’ve seen with N.I, but it’s puzzling he hasn’t been given more opportunities.
Agree on Davis, really not sure what’s happened to him since winter break. He gave it away 10 times. Always thought his best traits have been decision-making and pass execution, but he chose the wrong option so many times on Thurs night.
Don’t think the initial article was hysterical, we’re just trying to use stats to back up opinions. For me, Kent needs to do more in open play but not something I’ve harped on constantly about I don’t think, just felt it was a good time to raise the point. Like yourself, would love to see everyone click.
Ojo and Barker aren’t up to it for me, but I think Aribo is a much better player and has offered far more than just the 20 mins against Braga. Only Tav has more assists than him in the league and 9 isn’t a bad goals return in all comps. He’s definitely not the finished article yet and drifts in and out of games too much, but ability wise he’s beyond a lot of others.