Swansea winger Barrie McKay didn’t so much jump at the chance to leave Ibrox. He was more firmly nudged. Pedro Caixinha the one holding the door open for him as he left.
The Portguese Manager scythed through the Rangers team taking out some of our biggest assets. The likes of Martyn Waghorn, Barrie McKay and Joe Garner left for fees considerably below their market value.
He replaced them with overpriced dross. And we’re still paying for it to this day.
It was a shambles. Our outgoing players that window cost the club a fortune. It’s supposed to be the opposite.
So when Barrie McKay claims he has “unfinished business” at Ibrox, I’m inclined to agree with him. This was one of our brightest talents in a basket case of a club and team. He was tricky, creative, direct and could also rasp one into the back of the net. As Celtic well know.
Rangers shot themselves in the foot with McKay deal
We let him go for very little (£500,000) to Nottingham Forest in 2017. He would join Swansea for three times that amount a year later.
You got the feeling we put too much pressure on him when the going went tough. He struggled to deal with it. That’s both testament to his ability at the time, and to his shy personality.
Was it fair to expect Barrie McKay to lift us out of the mire? He put the ball on a plate so many times for the forward line and midfield to screw it up. He is a creative player more than a match-winning goalscorer.
And that’s why I think he’d flourish in Steven Gerrard’s Rangers team. He’d have more time to concentrate on what he does best, rather than bearing the burden of ineffective teammates. He’s a deadly wee player too, and has grown as a footballer down south.
Not that I think Rangers should dive right in. But I’d take him should a permanent move for a certain Liverpool loanee not work out as we all hope.
