Rangers fans have grown used to their managers speaking in riddles or contradicting themselves on a daily basis, and Barry Ferguson is no different.
Steven Gerrard shot from the hip, and it was a rare sight to see him say something without meaning it, ironically, except for his last post-match press conference as Rangers manager.
Ferguson clearly loves Rangers and wants for all the world to be the right man with the 4-0 win over Aberdeen probably too little, too late.
A few more results at Ibrox like that instead of a six game winless streak and he might have had a chance.
He will still be loved by Rangers fans when he leaves, but confusing statements like the ones he made before and after the win over Aberdeen don’t help.
Barry Ferguson contradicts himself over Rangers policy
When asked specifically about why Oscar Cortes didn’t get off the bench, again, Ferguson said:
“There’s a lot of players that are not getting much game time. But you need to earn your right to play. You just don’t play for the sake of playing. You have to earn the right to be in my team.”
This would make sense if the team was winning every week, but it hasn’t been.
It’s not even been playing well, in fact, it’s been – statistically – the worst team in the league over the last 10 games.
Did those that started the game “earn the right”?
Are Oscar Cortes and Danilo getting a fair chance?
It is no wonder Cortes is disillusioned in training or why Danilo showed his frustration against Fenerbahce.
What Ferguson said pre-match against Aberdeen must have them scratching their heads:
“I was happy with the commitment, but the quality in the final third has to be better, we know that,” Ferguson said about the Old Firm draw.
“We’ve worked on that this week so, hopefully, that will be the case today against Aberdeen.”
It’s not like Ferguson doesn’t have other options.
Every week he has criticised the forward line and not made changes.
That Rangers only improved against Aberdeen once Hamza Igamane replaced Nedim Bajrami says it all.
Ferguson is expecting different results but picking the same players.
