BBC pundit in heated on-air debate with furious Rangers fan after ‘dreadful’ Leon Balogun transfer
BBC pundit Kenny Miller had a fiery debate with a Rangers fan live on the radio following a “dreadful” rant by the supporter.
The Gers fan called into radio station Clyde 1 on 12 July, where Miller was speaking as a pundit, to voice his disappointment at Leon Balogun returning to Ibrox on a one-year deal.
But the former Rangers striker believes bringing the defender back is a “good signing” by the club and that Michael Beale has so far “earned the trust” of the fans following his early signings.
Responding to the news of Balogun’s arrival, the supporter said: “Absolutely dreadful. It’s actually put me on a downer at the start of the season. We held onto deadwood in your Kent and Morelos, gave new contracts to Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, who were great servants but were finished. We are continuing to hold on to the past and we are not evolving.
“We are going back to someone who, for me, is not a good defender, his decision-making is shocking, he is full of mistakes and has no pace. I can’t fathom why we are going back this way, I think it’s a dreadful decision. He’s not even been that successful with Rangers.”
Biting back at the fan’s claims, the former Scotland international said: “He was never a regular in his first spell. You need a capable squad to fight on four fronts.
“Michael Beale has earned the trust of the Rangers fans at the moment in my opinion when you look at his signings and recruitment, when you look at his first two signings in Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin. He deserves a bit of leeway to see how it goes as, for me, Leon is a good signing to come back into the team when required as I don’t think Michael has brought him in to be first choice.
“He is very quick so I would take that out but you have to respect the opinions. They need strength in depth so you need capable cover and I know they don’t feel he’s capable, but I would slightly disagree.”
Interesting
This is a really interesting argument, as you can see the points both Miller and the Rangers fan are trying to make, given that he did previously have a successful time at Ibrox but also that he isn’t getting any younger at 35.
The former Gers forward is right that options are needed, though, and it’s unlikely that Balogun has been brought in to be first choice, with Beale bringing in a number of reinforcements to build a new squad.
The supporter is clearly looking at this from the perspective that the defender has been drafted in as a starter, therefore leaving him disappointed and not looking at the bigger picture.
The signing is also likely in response to the news of the worrying ankle injury suffered by Leon King that is expected to see the 19-year-old, who broke onto the scene last season, spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines.
Beale also trusts Balogun and clearly has a great relationship with him after taking him to QPR last summer, so perhaps the fans should put some faith in the manager on this one.
In other Rangers news, one of the Gers’ leaders could be heading for a surprise exit out of Ibrox.