Rangers Super Fans debate Gerrard’s decision to drop Helander and Hagi v Slavia Prague
This is part of a regular series from our panel of Rangers Super Fans. Each week, our Super Fans will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around Ibrox.
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After an excellent European run this season it all came crashing down for Rangers on Thursday as Slavia Prague put them to the sword at Ibrox.
The Czech outfit ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Peter Olayinka and Nicolae Stanciu as Gers ended the match with nine men after the dismissals of Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun.
That put paid to any hopes of going one better than last season and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League and Steven Gerrard might well reflect on the changes he made to the side.
The Light Blues boss dropped Filip Helander and Ianis Hagi from last week’s draw in Prague with Balogun and Scott Arfield preferred from the start.
Both Balogun and Arfield endured games to forget – the former was sent off while the latter lasted less than an hour after an ineffectual display.
We asked our panel of Ibrox News Super Fans for their take on Gerrard’s decisions.
Here’s what they said…
Tavaldo (@a22an)
Kyle RC (@kyleRC_)
Adam Walker (@AdamWal99214879)
David Rice (@davidrice03)
Shanobi Kanobi Bear (@ShanobiBear)
Disastrous consequences
It was two big calls from Gerrard that ultimately failed.
Replacing Helander and Hagi with Balogun and Arfield was by no means the main reason that we failed to progress past Slavia but they were still detrimental to our chances of getting a positive result.
Arfield was anonymous before being replaced by Kemar Roofe early in the second half and did not look match fit.
Meanwhile Balogun endured a torrid evening as he compounded an early yellow card with another in the second half as he was sent off.
However we’re not sure Gerrard can take too much blame for this – these were two experienced individuals who just did not take their opportunities.
In other Rangers news, Lovenkrands slams referee after Kamara incident in first-half v Slavia Prague.