Ibrox View: Worrying signs from Rangers dazzler more than justify reported Gerrard stance
RANGERS OPINION
You can understand Steven Gerrard’s reasoning for bringing Sheyi Ojo to Rangers on loan this season.
Last term he had great success with another Liverpool youngster, Ryan Kent, who was so good that he won the Scottish PFA’s Young Player of the Year and convinced the Gers to fork out several million to make his deal permanent in the summer.
To be fair to the boss, there was no real reason to believe that Ojo couldn’t have had a similar impact at Ibrox this term, but things haven’t quite worked out as planned.
With just five goals in 36 appearances, and no consecutive Premier League starts since October, it’s fair to say that the 22-year-old’s season has fizzled out somewhat.
With that in mind, it’s perhaps not surprise to hear that the Gers are reportedly set to reject the chance to sign him on a permanent deal, as per Football Insider.
And Ojo’s last outing, against Hearts in February, was a perfect illustration of why.
In that game he had just one shot, made no accurate crosses, and had a pass completion rate of 60% – far below his season average of 77.6% – as per Wyscout.
There were problems too, though.
Ojo had two touches in the opposition area in that match, and his wastefulness in those instances spoke volumes about why he has not hit the heights he was expected to at Ibrox.
In the first one, pictured above, he is able to get into a perfectly good advanced position, with a man in the middle looking to make a run across the front post.
An early delivery into that sweet spot between the penalty spot and the six yard box could have caused all kinds of problems for the hosts, but instead, the winger hesitates, checks his momentum, and is eventually crowded out by two Hearts players.
Similarly, in the second example, pictured above, Ojo’s decision making leaves a lot to be desired.
Rather than looking to get down the outside of his man, battling to the byline and putting a cross in, the wide man instead cuts back onto his left foot, slowing play and ultimately allowing the defenders to block his attempt at goal.
That poor choice also showed a worrying amount of one footedness.
Until Ojo can cut that indecision and predictability out of his game, he is always going to struggle to take his output to the next level.
It’s little wonder that the Gers aren’t keen on making a permanent move for him, but you have to wonder, at 22 and with another dud of a season behind him, where does his future now lie?
In other Rangers news, ‘Let’s be realistic’ – John Hartson urges Gers to make ‘incredible’ title decision.