For one current Rangers player, it was a night of success, for another potential target, it was a nightmare.
Borna Barisic nabbed a confidence-boosting first Croatia goal. Not only will it give Borna a much-needed boost, but he’ll have done himself no harm in locking down the Croatian left-back slot for good. Rangers’ Croatian investment may yet prove a shrewd one.
For Graeme Shinnie, playing in the same position, it was a night to forget. Badly at fault as Scotland shipped three, Shinnie was shown up in Kazakhstan. It probably proves we’re lucky a move doesn’t look like materialising. Some Rangers fans agree.
There is absolutely no doubt Shinnie will add some of that robustness, bite and mobility we often lack in midfield. In the Scottish Premiership, the benefits are two-fold. Rangers sign an old Scottish Premiership warhorse, whilst Aberdeen lose one.
Borna Barisic is a better footballer than Graeme Shinnie – and he’ll prove it
But if the debate is on quality, then there’s no doubt Barisic is the winner. He’s taking time to settle and hasn’t quite found his feet yet at Ibrox. Kris Boyd claimed in an explosive column that the Croatian doesn’t even want to be at Rangers.
If there was any suggestion at all that Barisic is to leave with Shinnie coming in, we’d be made considerably weaker by it.