Malik Tillman has had a successful loan season for Rangers and deserves his PFA team of the year place.
What is often forgotten is that the American is just 20-years old and in his first full season playing senior football.
But it is no surprise to see John Harrison fuming that Malik Tillman, who must decide if he wants to return to Rangers, has been voted in by his peers.
The PFA vote that saw James Tavernier also rewarded is one that will always be cherished more by players because it is from their fellow professionals.
What this means is that players who have come up against Tillman have judged him to be one of the best midfielders that they have played this season.
What has Hartson said about Malik Tillman’s Rangers form
John Hartson, speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, unsurprisingly, doesn’t get this:
“So listen, it’s good for the lad. He’s definitely a talent and one that Michael Beale will have a big decision on in terms of whether he wants to sign permanently. But for me, that would be the only one I would potentially look to change. You ask the question, has Tillman been better than Jota this season. In my opinion, no.”
First of all, Jota was beaten to a place by Duk or Kevin van Veen seeing as he is a forward and not a midfielder.
Great start John.
Has Tillman had a better season that Matt O’Riley or Aaron Mooy? Yes.
And those are the players, not Jota, that Tillman was up against.
The players who made the vote won’t care how the USA international got on against Celtic, they are basing their decision on how difficult an opponent they found him to be.
But for injury, Malik Tillman was heading for double digits goals and assists for Rangers.
An incredible return for his first season and when you consider that he is “only” on loan.
It’s one thing to not hide your bias, it’s another to just try to change the argument to fit your opinion.
If you said James Tavernier shouldn’t be in the team of the year because Kyogo Furuhashi had a better season, you’d get laughed at and this is no different.
Hartson has previous for the ridiculous and, no doubt, it won’t be the last time either.
