As Rangers enjoyed an unbeaten start to the SPL season, one player stood out above the rest. Steven Naismith was in the form of his life, with 9 goals in 15 appearances and a series of outstanding performances. His movement, skill and hard work added an extra dimension to Rangers play, and as he popped up all over the pitch, defences couldn’t work out how to stop him.
But when Rangers travelled to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen on October 29th, Naismith suffered a serious knee injury, ending his season. Stretching to make a challenge, his foot planted awkwardly and he went down in agony.
He tried to play on, but moments later collapsed to the ground, unable to continue. Later in the week, Rangers confirmed that Naismith had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and would face nine months on the sidelines. Naismith had previously suffered a similar injury in his left knee, missing eight months after being injured in 2008.
It was a cruel blow for Naismith, who had become one of the best players in Scotland over the previous 18 months, and had firmly established himself in the Rangers first team. But his injury has also affected Rangers badly, with the club dropping 11 points in the eight games since he was ruled out for the season, including Wednesday night’s Old Firm match.
Losing a star player will upset any team, and it may take time for them to adapt to life without him. But in the case of Naismith and Rangers, not only are the team missing what Naismith brings on the pitch, but manager Ally McCoist has also not attempted to replace him in the team.
Although former Aberdeen winger Sone Aluko was signed on a free transfer in November, McCoist has not given any player the kind of freedom Naismith had, and his team selections have appeared more negative than before.
Rangers now play at a much slower pace, and long balls in the general direction of Kyle Lafferty or Nikica Jelavic are a regular sight at Rangers games. McCoist’s team selections have been confusing and inconsistent. He’s played leftbacks in midfield (both Sasa Papac and Lee Wallace), Papac in central midfield, Gregg Wylde, a left winger on the right of midfield, and often left Jelavic up front on his own.
And have celtic not had to deal with injuries??? The loss of the spl player of the year no less, not to mention hardly ever being able to play the same back four for 2 games in a row. Excuse, excuses.
Who’s talking about Celtic? This is an article about Rangers and one of their key players.
its not all due to naismith being injured but also allys dreadful signings there is no one that can step into his naisys boots but indeed we have missed his energy and goals
No doubt Rangers miss him badly but he brought it on himself. Your comment “Stretching to make a challenge, his foot planted awkwardly and he went down in agony” is disingenious David, he tried to take out the Aberdeen player and ended up injuring himself. http://i44.tinypic.com/1zd6h40.jpg
It was a horror tackle. He plays with alot of aggression, which makes him the player he is, but there is a higher risk of doing yourself as well when you tackle like that………and he did himself. Hopefully if he comes back he will have had time to reflect……meditate or something……and stop such dangerous behaviour.
I hope he gets better, in his body and mind.
It does not matter, Argentinean Star Juan Manoel Martinez will join Gers this xfer window to replace Naismith as my mate who is a taxi driver drove his agent to Ibrox…