A number of Rangers fans have accused manager Steven Gerrard of repeatedly deflecting blame for poor results onto his players rather than claiming responsibility for his actions and decisions.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Sunday’s 2-2 draw at St Johnstone, the 39-year-old took a thinly-veiled swipe at centre-backs Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson by saying: “I need [Filip] Helander back fit sharpish, I need to find solutions, because we’re conceding too many goals at too many times.” He also appeared to call out striker Alfredo Morelos for a second half miss after being set up by Florian Kamberi, saying: “He puts one on a plate for Alfredo to go and finish the game. We couldn’t do that, but at 2-1 again we’ve got to be better to see games out.” [Sky Sports, via Daily Record]
Gerrard had said after his team’s recent defeat at Kilmarnock that they “never handled the heat” that night (as per Sky Sports), while he complained that he “didn’t recognise us” in the defeat to Hearts in late January (as per Daily Record). Last season, he fumed at Morelos following the Colombian’s fifth red card of the campaign in a defeat to Celtic in March 2019, saying that he could no longer defend the player’s disciplinary record (as per Rangers TV, via BBC].
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Following the manager’s latest criticism of his players, these Rangers fans on Twitter were unhappy with the manager throwing them under the proverbial bus:
Hate agreeing with him but Gerrard countlessly chucks players under the bus never once has he took the blame for a shocking performance https://t.co/t4V7Q1hu6q
— john jacob jingleheimer schmidt (@laird1999) February 23, 2020
Too many times Gerrard has criticised the team or threw players under a bus. He signed Katic and he picked him to play. Then mentioning Hellander. What must Edmondson be thinking? After performances like that, the manager should protect Katic. In the media at least.
— Daaviid Logan (@David_Logan81) February 23, 2020
Couldn’t agree more mate.
Gerrard chucking the defence under a bus. Yet he changed back to the tactics that doesn’t work and they score a goal and we don’t score anymore. When we went for the second, he shut up shop. That’s nothing other than very, very bad decision making
— Deano (@Ladyzman9685) February 23, 2020
Just heard him throw 2 players under the bus with one comment, maybe some are sick of that being done, Gerrard is clever, acts like he has to take the blame yet continues to throw players under said bus, happens every time we have a poor result
— Scott (@King1Scott) February 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/MY_MTB1/status/1231604955938770944
Gerrard has to share the blame. The over reliance on Morelos goals was obvious. Zero threat from wide or midfield. Why is Stewart underplayed? Why is he happy to hang Katic out to dry or not others? Why tactical changes when in control of game?
— pat (@pkelly67) February 23, 2020
Do you think Gerrard is right to admonish his players in public or should he accept more of the blame for poor results? Share your views in the comments section below!
