Jon Flanagan’s Rangers performances have certainly caught the eye over the last week. So much so that fans can’t stop praising him on Twitter.
Indeed, the former Liverpool wing-back has been thrown into two of Rangers’ biggest games of the season. A solid display in the 3-1 win against Rapid Vienna on Thursday night was followed up with another great showing against Hearts.
With Borna Barisic once again missing out, Flanagan was tasked with keeping Hearts quiet down the right hand side. It’s fair to say he did that ten-fold as the Jambos created next to nothing out of him.
Therefore, supporters have been quick to recognise what Flanagan brings to the side. After the 3-1 win over the Jambos on Twitter, supporters were quick to praise their unsung hero.
“He would 50/50 a brick wall”
https://twitter.com/StevieGLoyal/status/1048941980225613824
https://twitter.com/rabbrown69/status/1048976609837965312
https://twitter.com/max_skilling/status/1048979952182468609
Number two or rotational player?
A big question that’s now worth asking is if Barisic is even Rangers’ clear first-choice at left-back. Granted, the Croatian will come back into the side once fit again. Flanagan, however, certainly hasn’t done himself any harm when it comes to future game-time.
Usually a number two choice in any position would play when his superior is tired or injured. It feels as though we may see Flanagan a bit more than what those occasions would throw up, however.
He’s a different style of player to Barisic also, and it gives Steven Gerrard some real options. Whilst Barisic is also a defender primarily, Flanagan relishes the physical part of the game more. He goes crunching into challenges without a second’s thought, and fights for every small advantage he can get.
Barisic, however, gives Rangers a bit more quality going forward. His crossing is second to only Tavernier, and therefore probably remains the first choice.
Gerrard likes his men to get the ball wide and use their full-backs to good effect. In that sense, however, Barisic would be number one. But Flanagan is certainly increasing his reputation with the supporters, who are starting to see how good a signing he’s turning out to be.
