Chris Sutton has used his Daily Record column as a platform from which to launch another flawed anti-Rangers rant.
The ex-Celtic striker turned pundit has had his say on Rangers’ Deadline Day capture of Ryan Kent. Unsurprisingly, he’s been critical.
After a long drawn out transfer saga, the Gers finally signed the winger from Liverpool on a four-year deal. It was thrashed out quickly on Monday and although completed earlier in the evening, the club waited until midnight i.e the transfer deadline, before confirming the signing. When the announcement finally did come, it was lauded by scores of Bears.
Chris Sutton’s latest Rangers rant is flawed
However, in his Record column, Sutton describes the reactions of supporters as over the top and ‘bordering on hysterical.’
Despite admitting to suggesting Celtic should attempt to sign Kent this summer, he dismisses the idea of the winger making a major difference to Steven Gerrard’s team. He compares his goals tally to that of Scott Sinclair and James Forrest and suggests that his relative lack of goals means Bears shouldn’t be so excited.
Yet, in saying that, he’s overlooking why the supporters wanted him back so much. He may not have consistency, but he brings flair and big match mentality. Most importantly of all, he loves playing for the shirt.
The biggest issue with his piece, though, is that throughout, Sutton claims this swoop was a panic buy. A decision borne entirely out of Rangers’ defeat to Celtic last weekend.
In so doing, he is blatantly ignoring the words of Rangers’ manager and their Director of Football.
Steven Gerrard said throughout the summer that he wanted Kent back at Ibrox one way or another [Liverpool Echo]. As recently as yesterday, Mark Allen clarified that he was a long-term target, but that the board were only convinced to splash the required cash after qualification for the Europa League [Sky Sports], which came only a matter of days before the window was about to shut.
Sure, the timing of the deal gave supporters a boost after a poor Old Firm display.
Everyone knows the transfer has been in the pipeline for some time, though, and was anything but a knee-jerk reaction.
“It doesn’t add up,” writes Sutton. “It looks like a final throw of the dice. And an act of desperation from Rangers.”
Sensational nonsense, Chris.
