I’ve found that my opinion when it comes to Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has fluctuated over the course of the season. I wrote an article early in the year suggesting that the 20-year-old had some talent, but that he was threatening to blow it with his off the pitch antics and ill-discipline. Now, however, it’s his ability on the pitch that makes me question whether the youngster has a future at Newcastle.
As Newcastle fans begin to lose faith with Ranger, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has only heaped more and more faith in the striker. Pardew told the Chronicle: “He will be a good player for us and he could be a great player for us – but he needs to improve”.
Watching him in action against Aston Villa on Sunday (his first Premier League start) and at other opportunities throughout the season, I have been struck by how little he adds to Newcastle United’s game. Technically he looks sloppy, he’s not direct enough and needs to get his head up more and assess his options before looking to take the ball on himself.
That his link-up play leaves something to be desired is something that has been duly noted by Alan Pardew: “His link-up play is also something he has to work on. He is aware of that.”
But it goes deeper than that – Ranger doesn’t even seem to be getting the footballing basics right. He needs to know when he should be dropping deep, when he should lay the ball off, when he should hold the line and so on. I know he’s young and doesn’t have heaps of experience, but without this basic ability to know when to do what, he looks woefully out of place in the Premier League.
I hear a lot of talk about how Ranger has all the ‘raw ability’ necessary to become the real deal. I’ve yet to see any evidence of this, however. Nile himself seems to think he’s already made it – if the reports are true regarding his turning up late to training and I were a Newcastle fan, I would be furious. To disrespect the club and the manager by turning up late without even justifying it with good performances on the pitch is unacceptable.
The trouble I have with Nile Ranger is that I don’t see him progressing. I hear all of this talk about his ability, but I haven’t seen him improve since the first time he appeared for the club. We haven’t even spoken about his shooting yet, which is completely abject – not a good quality for a striker to have. Numerous sources suggest that Ranger has only managed 3 goals in 54 appearances and even if the majority of those appearances were as a substitute, that’s an absolutely dire return.
Unless things change quickly, I can’t see Ranger having much of a future at the club. Come the summer Pardew is likely to address Newcastle’s strikeforce. With new blood coming in, Ranger will find his chances limited and on his showing this season – he’ll likely struggle to get a shot.
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he’s lazy, and seems to think he’s made it in the game already. the boy needs a wake up call, and if pardew cant drill the basics into him by the end of pre-season, he should be sold.
Totally agree with you there mate! He’s just a headless chicken. Me and my dad often joke about they just give him a ball in training and let him run around in circles for a couple of hours. It’s really the only thing he can actually do!
On current performance I would have to say that if Nile Ranger is the answer, I’d hate to think what the question was!!!!
But he is young and many feel he has talent. I doubt he costs that much so I would keep working with him. I’d be sick if he toddled off to Birmingham or Wigan and later turned out to be their next 35 million quid super-star.
We will have options next season so he will have to roll his bollocks up or risk not getting a game. If he cost 50 grand a week I would flog him but on his current contract he is worth holding on to.
Ranger is a raw kid with talent but at a stage where he needs to be playing every week to learn how to play the game. He will not develop unless he gets regular games – something that has been clearly demonstrated by Daniel Sturridge at Bolton.
I can understand what everyone is saying and partially agree but people need to remember that he is only a young lad I remember a certain Andy Carroll being crap when he got first team opportunities when he was his age but since then he has came on leaps and bounds I hope the same thing happens with Nile Ranger.
Watched ranger v villa was at least 2 times i counted if he layed the ball off would have been certain goals.The 1 said he aint direct enough spot on mate needs to use his pace a lot more, not impressed meself.