Joey Veerman was very nearly a Rangers player, had Steven Gerrard been backed to the same extent that Michael Beale has been this summer then might well be lining up on the other side next week.
The Netherlands international is a talented player but he showed a side of himself in defeat that demonstrates he maybe doesn’t have what it takes to play for The Famous.
After being knocked out last season, Dutch football legend Wesley Sneijder, via The Glasgow Times, had some scathing remarks for Joey Veerman that point to where Rangers could target PSV again.
Joey Veerman has Rangers chip but weakness is evident
Joey Veerman did nothing but moan after the loss to Rangers, branding us “mediocre“, looking to blame anyone he could, however, over the two legs, he was nowhere near as influential as we expected him to be.
Sneijder was clear in who he thought was to blame for the loss and Joey Veerman, in particular, received some stinging criticism after the loss to Rangers:
MORE RANGERS STORIES
“That was a remarkable interview. It’s everyone else’s fault apparently.
“But from the very first minute in the game, I watched him surrender. In every aspect.
“What did he do? Play passes backward, but anyone can do that. He didn’t protect the defence and then has the nerve to criticise the chances they missed.
“Last week, he was quite clear that PSV were better than Rangers. I expected him to roll up his sleeves and prove that. But he did nothing.
“If I was his manager, I would be very unhappy with him.
“Let’s be clear here, Rangers won every battle and deserved to go through.”
Sneijder is right.
Joey Veerman didn’t influence the game because Rangers midfield didn’t let him.
He is obviously used to having time on the ball to play passes and dictate play and this is what Michael Beale should target.
The game will be won and lost with the midfield battle if all other things are equal.
Jose Cifuentes and Nicolas Raskin already look like they can be a step above anything we have seen in the engine room.
They are exactly the type off player that Joey Veerman won’t want to face in the Rangers XI.
The one thing that Beale has to ensure his team does is work hard .