Gary Keown predicts ‘dog’s abuse’ for Rangers new signing Fabio Silva after what Wolves loanee said in Spain
Journalist Gary Keown has predicted “dog’s abuse” for Rangers loanee Fabio Silva after his comments during the winter break.
As per The Scottish Mail on Sunday (14 January, page 109), the striker explained: “I’m not a really, really number nine because I don’t like to be stuck in the box,” adding “I don’t like to focus on goals and assists because the things in my life happen naturally.”
As per the official Rangers website (28 December 2023), the player has moved to Ibrox on loan from Premier League club Wolves.
“Rangers’ new boy Fabio Silva, going by his interviews at the club’s winter camp in La Manga, appears to be the latest in an ever-lengthening line of strikers who prefer to think of themselves as anything other than strikers,” Keown wrote for The Scottish Mail on Sunday (14 Jan, page 109).
“Good luck to the big chap. If he doesn’t do what strikers are supposed to do, though, and start rattling in goals, the only thing going to happen naturally in life is dog’s abuse from all sides. When you’re brought in to shore up a failing frontline, your strike rate is the only thing that matters. End of story.”
Worrying?
Rangers supporters would have been very excited at the loan signature of the Wolves man, even with his struggles in England. But perhaps that excitement has faded somewhat with the player’s admission that goals may not be his priority.
Philippe Clement needs his strikers to be hitting the back of the net regularly if the club are to enjoy success in various competitions this season.
It is an issue that former manager Michael Beale suffered from, with the manager’s summer recruits Sam Lammers, Danilo and Cyriel Dessers all struggling for goals upon their arrival at Ibrox.
But Clement clearly has faith in Silva given how the striker is his first addition as Rangers manager, in what is his first transfer window at the club.
The Portuguese youngster definitely needs to avoid what the summer signings have done and immediately hit the ground running if the Ibrox faithful are to take to him.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have been ordered to pay compensation as a legal battle involving the club concludes.