Umar Sadiq’s starting debut was one to forget for a variety of reasons.
Aberdeen knocked Rangers out of the Betfred Cup this evening thanks to Lewis Ferguson’s late header. It was a crazy moment considering Rangers seemed to have lots of control on the contest.
Despite their dominance, not enough goal-scoring chances were created throughout the 90 minutes. With Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty both unavailable to play, Sadiq was given his big start up front.
It came against what everybody thought Steven Gerrard was going to do pre-match. Eros Grezda, Scott Arfield, and Ryan Kent seemed the favourites to be given the nod as Rangers’ third striker.
Instead, he made a fool of us all and chose Sadiq. To say it failed would be a harsh way of putting it, but probably true in the main.
Sadiq showed flashes of good play throughout the contest. He held the ball up well and used his physical presence to bring others into play. There was a clumsiness to how he went about his business, but he had something.
A future role to play
He was one who did prove to Gerrard that he could have a future role to play, but did he take his big opportunity? No. Today proved that Sadiq will never be anything more than Rangers’ third striker.
He had one big chance throughout the game’s entirety, and he decided to make a mockery of himself. After expertly getting through on goal, the big Nigerian took a touch around Joe Lewis. All the big striker had to do was roll the ball into the net. Instead, he threw himself to the ground and demanded a penalty.
It was embarrassing, and not conduct befitting of Gerrard’s top striker. It wasn’t just the embarrassment of the dive, however, it was also the fact he chose not to take on an open goal and instead fling himself to the ground. Morelos or even Lafferty would’ve slotted it home for 1-1.
Outside of that, his timing of his runs were often poor. The offside flag went up more times than he seemed to touch the ball, and that’s one big area that has to improve. He’s similar to how Morelos used to be in that respect, but Rangers don’t need that kind of inconsistency now.
Today, Sadiq proved that he can be third-choice striker. Can be anything other than that? Not on this display.
