That surprises me Ricky. I've been in the process of trying to reply to your last post today and got caught up with one thing or another.
I don't think Zelalem stood out much on Saturday, and I think that's been typical from what I've seen of him this season. I'm not an avid Rangers fan and I don't see all the games, but I don't think underwhelming would be an unfair description of his time on loan. What that guy said is true, but it's what we've all known and witnessed from his time with our first and youth teams. He doesn't showcase it often enough for a boy of his talent. He doesn't make the difference and he rarely comes off the park as a standout player. He's not been aggressive enough, neither in the sense of seizing an opportunity and trying to impress nor in getting stuck in to dominate a game and take control, which is really what I expected more of.
I feel unfair in saying it but at times he reminds me of Denilson, moving side to side recycling the ball on without doing much to affect the match. I think there was shades of that on Saturday too. It sort of ties in with what you were saying about him lacking personality. He can see he’s skilled, he’s just not able to get it out for whatever reason.
I feel I’m repeating what you said but you pretty much summed it up. On your previous point about tempering what Rangers fans say, I don’t think that’s really an issue that I’ve noticed. Of those I’ve spoken to I would have to say the vast majority we’re delighted to get him in from us and thought he would be a big plus in the season. Oduwa and Ball were the boys from Spurs. Oduwa would be the one Klaus referred to and he impressed initially but his loan was cut short because Rangers had other signing priorites. Similarly to Zelalem, it was viewed very much as a positive move to have these talented youths coming and contributing. Oduwa was as you said a one note footballer, tricky winger but he won’t amount to much, but at that level his running at and taking on of defenders impacts the game more than Zelelam, but he also benefitted from playing in a position with less competition so it wasn’t an either/or scenario with them.
I don’t think it’ll have been a bad move for Zelalem, but I don’t think foresee him coming back to Glasgow next year. He hasn’t made the impact I thought he would but it’s not something I’d write him off over, players have blossomed at a much later age than he is however my worry is that by this point I would like to have seen more personality and desire to his game. It’s a difficult league to make a move to for him and fair play to him to trying. Warburton will be looking for loan signings again next season but based on his performances I think he’d fall short of what would be expected unless he really improved his ability to control the game.
As an aside Ricky, why were you in Edinburgh? I was through there last weekend for a few nights.
