When Rangers defensive midfielder Ross McCrorie went on-loan to Portsmouth, you’ll remember a mild panic about a reported option to buy clause for the player.
Whilst that had Rangers fans up in arms before it was eventually rubbished by Steven Gerrard [RangersTV], the furore surrounding it also had Portsmouth fans excited about the player’s arrival.
But fast forward a couple of months later and McCrorie’s performance in the side’s 2-2 draw with Burton has been the tipping point for many Pompey fans.
It’s fair to say that things haven’t gone exactly to plan for Portsmouth this season.
Expected to be challenging for a promotion place, they find themselves languishing in 18th in League One having won once in six games in the league this season.
They’re three points off the relegation zone and 13 off the top. For a fanbase with high expectations, performances from Kenny Jackett’s side have been completely unacceptable.
And unfortunately, Ross McCrorie looks have become something of a whipping boy.
https://twitter.com/followsamellis/status/1174213375926198272
https://twitter.com/jamiefox83/status/1174208394238013442
https://twitter.com/MorningPompey/status/1174104465802235904
https://twitter.com/DannyJ20723/status/1174080594260762625
https://twitter.com/RParkWill/status/1174055482954276865
There’s little doubt much of this will be an overreaction. As Rangers fans, we’re used to seeing the same thing.
But there’s also little doubt that it hasn’t gone quite to plan yet for Ross since he moved to the English south coast.
The youngster was sent off on his debut for the club and the fact that he’s found himself playing as a right-back suggests both Jackett and Portsmouth aren’t quite sure how he fits into their system.
One of Rangers most highly-rated youth products and the Scotland U21 captain, there’s little doubt he has a big future ahead of him.
But perhaps Portsmouth isn’t proving the right fit for the diehard bluenose?
The same can’t be said for Rangers teammate Jake Hastie, who has taken the English League One by storm since joining Rotherham United.
