As post-Ibrox life turns sour for another former Rangers stalwart, it feels appropriate to point out that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
Antonio Colak scored only three times in a difficult season at Parma. Filip Helander suffered relegation from Denmark’s top flight before leaving Odense Boldklub under a cloud.
Ryan Kent has barely kicked a ball in anger over the last 12 months with Fenerbahce.
Then there is Glen Kamara, now at Rennes in France but a beaten play-off finalist with Leeds. Alfredo Morelos’ once glittering reputation has lost even more sheen over in Brazil, while questions are already being asked about the deal that took John Lundstram to Trabzonspor.
Speaking of Trabzonspor, a place on the bench is not what either Lundstram or Borna Barisic would have envisaged when they put pen to paper with the Turkish Super Lig outfit over the summer.
Borna Barisic struggling at Trabzonspor after Rangers exit
Both players left Rangers when their contract expired.
Lundstram has played the full 90 minutes only once in the Super Lig. Barisic, meanwhile, started the season as a starter before being relegated to the substitute’s bench in recent weeks.
Across Trabzonspor’s last five top-flight matches, the Croatian left-back has featured for a grand total of 14 minutes. All of those came in one brief cameo at the end of a goalless draw with Gazientep.
Barisic was left out entirely for September’s clash with Besiktas, denied a reunion with his old Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst as he fell victim to a rule which restricts Turkish clubs to including only 12 foreign players in their party for a league match.
So while their Rangers replacements are starting to make the left-back and deep-lying midfielder roles their own – Jefte and Connor Barron improving seemingly by the week – the struggles of Lundstram and Barisic will do little to boost the argument that Philippe Clement and co were a little hasty moving them on.
To make matters worse, the man who described Barisic’s arrival as a ‘beautiful’ piece of business over the summer, has since been replaced by veteran Senol Gunes.
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Ex-Ibrox ace John Lundstram facing uncertain future in Turkey already
Trabzonspor sacked head coach Abdullah Avci following a poor run of results.
And while Gunes is clearly not a big Barisic fan – preferring Eren Elmali at left-back – president Ertogrul Dogan last month suggested that Lundstram’s days on the banks of the Black may be numbered already.
“Our latest transfers were previously agreed upon (with the old manager),” Dogan told reporters in September. “We added young and important players to our squad. I think we will earn money (from them) in the future.
“If our coach makes a request from us, we will take action immediately. We have forwarded the players we have previously scouted to him, and he is currently reviewing them.
“Our coach and Lundstram haven’t even met yet. However, these players joined upon Abdullah Avci’s request. Each coach has a different way of eating yoghurt!
“If (Gunes) has a request, we will consider it.”
Back in Glasgow, Clement’s side prepare to face Lyon on Thursday with a backline which has kept clean sheets in six of the last seven games. Clement is delighted with the way Rangers newbie Jefte has stepped in to replace Barisic.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist can’t speak highly enough of Barron, meanwhile, following another typically mature performance in the 2-0 win at Malmo.
“I think he’s started very well,” the former striker says of Barron, McCoist full of praise for Rangers newbie Neraysho Kasanwirjo too.
“There were a couple of factors going against [Barron]. The team is under pressure. It’s far easier coming into a team that’s doing well.
“So I think Connor Barron is doing exceptionally well.”
