A number of Glasgow Rangers fans were shocked to see Brandon Barker named in the starting line-up by Steven Gerrard for this evening’s Europa League clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
The line-up was announced by the club’s official Twitter channel @RangersFC just over an hour before kick-off, with the ex-Manchester City winger among three changes from the team that started against Aberdeen last Saturday. Filip Helander and Steven Davis also come into the side, with Leon Balogun, Ianis Hagi and Glen Kamara dropping out.
https://twitter.com/RangersFC/status/1291399683957501954
Barker has been the subject of fierce criticism from numerous ‘Gers fans in the past and has made just 12 appearances so far in the 2019/20 season, with just a solitary goal to his name against Livingston last September. The 23-year-old comes in for his first Europa League appearance since the win over Porto nine months ago. [via TransferMarkt]
Having lost the first leg 1-3 at Ibrox, Gerrard’s side need to score at least three times this evening to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals. Therefore, the inclusion of the far from prolific Barker has shocked these ‘Gers fans, one of whom wryly wondered if it was April Fools’ Day:
https://twitter.com/LukeConway1872_/status/1291400675751059458
https://twitter.com/gers_chezza/status/1291403639148482562
https://twitter.com/W_S_39/status/1291402615243378689
https://twitter.com/S_Norval/status/1291401866136498176
Barker in front of hagi. Is it april the first 🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Steven Mcneil (@stevenmc2011) August 6, 2020
£15m spent this summer on new players and Brandon Barker gets started in the most important game of the season. Gerrard out.
— ally (@_allymitchell1) August 6, 2020
Canny believe I’ve waited all this time for European fitbaw again just for Gerrard to start Barker over Hagi https://t.co/HQDj7NCY6I
— Dr Zoidberg (@LeeKane77) August 6, 2020
Hagi was poor at the weekend. But replacing him with Brandon Barker is like selling a Ferrari and replacing it with a Fiat 500
— Jamie (@JW_1872) August 6, 2020
‘Gers fans, were you stunned to see Barker in the starting line-up? Can he make a difference to the team this evening? Comment below with your views!
