Ridvan Yilmaz third-choice at Rangers, ‘doesn’t bode well’ for future despite Michael Beale comments – Chris Jack
The situation at Rangers “doesn’t bode well” for Ridvan Yilmaz’s “long-term future” as he looks to have fallen to third-choice at left-back, according to Chris Jack.
The Herald journalist said on the Rangers Review YouTube channel Friday (15 September) that Borna Barisic is first-choice and Dujon Sterling “must have been given” a route into the team by Michael Beale, while Yilmaz can’t prove himself because he can’t stay fit.
Beale had said in his pre-match press conference the same day that the Turkish international is a player “I like” with a “bright future” but Jack isn’t convinced that is the case when he has become a “bit part” player and has been left out of the Europa League squad.
Jack said (16m 5s): “It’s hard to see that he’s [even] the second choice in that area because you’ve got Dujon Sterling coming in… [Beale] must have given him a route to first-team football and said that pathway is there.
“So I think it becomes really difficult for Yilmaz to see how he gets himself back in the team. Of course he has to get himself fit… the flashes that we’ve seen, there’s clearly something there, but if you’re incapable of playing 35-40 games a season you’re not going to be Rangers’ first choice left-back…
“If you’re incapable of doing that you don’t get a jersey and you don’t play every week, you find yourself a bit part player… and when the big games come around you’re not in the running for them because you don’t have that pedigree..
“It’s really hard to see how Ridvan is going to get that over the next three months. Barisic is first choice left-back and he’s had a decent enough start to the season. He’s been fine [and] doesn’t deserve to be dropped when there isn’t anybody trapping on the manager’s door…
“Even if Ridvan thinks he’s a better left-back he just can’t prove it fitness-wise. So I think it doesn’t bode well in terms of his long-term future.
“I know Michael may rate him as a player but I think he’s got a lot of questions to answer.”
Mystery
In some ways Ridvan’s situation mirrors that of his manager, in that the club would likely much rather not have to consider moving them on but if the current situation continues they might have to.
Just as Beale has to start winning to avoid a possible sacking this season the left-back will have to start playing or the club will decide they can’t count on him and look elsewhere.
The door isn’t closed on him entirely because the landscape can change fast, just as it did when he finally got fit and played a few games to end last season to spark hopes that Barisic’s successor was now in place.
The Croatian, based on age and inconsistent form, has looked ripe for replacement for at least a year, but it is a measure of how plans haven’t paid off at the position that he is the de facto starter still.
If Ridvan was fit the likelihood is he would play sooner rather than later, but since that is so rare it remains Barisic’s job to lose, appears Sterling will now get the next crack at it, and when upcoming transfer windows come around may well see further competition arrive.
The standing of the former Besiktas man has swung wildly in his time in Glasgow between a waste of money and the long-term answer at left-back, but whatever Beale’s encouraging words might be now they will prove little more than wishful thinking of he doesn’t actually play.
In other Rangers news, a Sky Sports pundit has issued a “crazy” verdict on the “big reason” why Beale could be sacked imminently.