Craigan tears ‘criminal’ Rangers players to shreds after what he saw v Dundee United
Stephen Craigan has called for an immediate clear-out at Rangers after being unimpressed by their first-half performance against Dundee United on Wednesday.
Rangers are currently in action against Dundee United at Ibrox in their final home game of the season, as they look to wrap up what has been a disastrous campaign.
The match got off to an underwhelming start, with a lot of seats at the stadium remaining unoccupied, thus signalling the fans’ discontent at the club’s results on and off the pitch this term.
Dundee United added to the Gers’ woes by taking the lead 21 minutes into the game, as Samuel Cleall-Harding nodded a corner home.
Craigan orders summer clear-out at Rangers
Although Cyriel Dessers pulled level for Rangers just four minutes later, Craigan was not happy with what he saw from the players in the lead-up to Dundee United’s goal.
James Tavernier was at fault for allowing the Tangerines to win the corner in the first place, while he also allowed Cleall-Harding to sneak between him and John Souttar to score from the set-piece.
Reacting to the goal live, Craigan was infuriated with the lack of ‘appetite’ displayed by the Rangers players, who he thinks are not taking the game seriously.
| Rangers | Stat | Dundee United |
| 9 | Shots | 3 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 3 |
| 81% | Possession | 19% |
| 329 | Accurate Passes | 54 |
| 91% | Pass accuracy | 64% |
The former Motherwell defender went on to stress the need for the Light Blues to oversee a clear-out this summer, pointing out how some of those players resulted in Philippe Clement being sacked.
He also hit out at Tavernier and Souttar for failing to clear the danger before Cleall-Harding got his head to the ball, describing their defending as ‘criminal’.
“That’s something that’s probably been littered throughout Rangers’ season and the fact that now they’re even more demotivated than what they were”, Craigan said on BBC Sportsround (14 May, 8:08 pm).
“Remember, these players put Philippe Clement under loads of pressure. Barry Ferguson, coming in, wasn’t going to change everything. He would change little bits and pieces and try and change it.
“But that’s why we’re talking about a clear-out and a clean-out of what needs done in the summer, because that’s just lack of appetite.
“Every time you pull on a jersey, you have to show an appetite and hunger in the game, irrespective of whether your season is done or not.
“You’ve got to show that. Clearly not going and heading the ball in your own six-yard box is criminal.”
Barry Ferguson just wants season to end
Ferguson will be keen to see out the season, although it would signal the end of his tenure as the Rangers manager.
Incoming owners Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe are certain to move on from the former captain when their takeover at Ibrox is finalised.
However, Ferguson will have realised the difficult of managing the Premiership heavyweights, despite it being his dream job.