Noel Whelan tears into ‘desperate’ Rangers player over transfer stance
Noel Whelan has hit out at Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty, claiming that his insistence on playing Championship football looks “desperate”.
The 23-year-old has struggled to make an impact for the Gers this season, featuring just five senior appearances so far, with none of those coming in the Scottish Premiership.
As such, it is understood that he is keen to move to an English Championship club on loan this month, as per Football Insider, having spent last term with League One side Shrewbury Town.
However, Championship interest does not appear to be forthcoming, with Shrewsbury and fellow League One side Peterborough United said to be keen instead, as per Football Insider.
And the whole situation has incensed pundit Whelan.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “If someone wants a Championship club and no Championship clubs come in for you, it looks desperate.
“That’s the thing, you can’t sell yourself, you sell yourself with your performances and if you’re good enough, you don’t need to put yourself out there, clubs will be coming in.
“If there are no clubs, no offers on the table, then you haven’t done enough, simple as that.
“It doesn’t make any difference that you’ve been at Shrewsbury, that’s not Championship football.
“That’s a step-down, there’s a different level of performances for a Championship player and you need to do a little bit more to be recognised.
“But it looks desperate just to want a Championship club, if someone comes in and wants a loan move, get yourself playing football then see what happens.”
Is Whelan right to be so annoyed?
You’d haver to say that he makes a very valid argument here.
You can’t just demand to be playing at a certain level, you have to earn the right to do so.
Docherty did shine for Shrewsbury last year, granted, hitting 10 goals and 11 assists from the centre of midfield, but he’s done absolutely nothing this term to justify a move to a higher level than the third tier, and you can’t just force clubs to try and sign you.
At this stage, it would be far wiser for him to take what he can get to ensure that he can get some minutes under his belt instead of wasting away in the reserves from now until the end of the season.
If he doesn’t Docherty could end up shooting himself in the foot.
In other news, Ex-Rangers favourite makes bold ‘biggest’ in the world claim.