Journalist Jonny McFarlane has questioned Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s decision to keep Ben Davies on the bench for Rangers recently.
In their latest Champions League outing, the Scottish club fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Serie A outfit Napoli.
In the game, Rangers’ chances weren’t done any favours when defender James Sands picked up a red card shortly after the half-time break with the scores still level at 0-0.
In response to the dismissal, Van Bronckhorst opted to bring on defender Leon King for Ryan Jack which meant Davies was left on the bench and he didn’t get on later either.
While speaking about the decision on The Rangers Review, McFarlane called the whole situation ‘quite damning’. Indeed, he explained (6:23): “I think on the situation with Ben Davies. He’s been back for I think three weeks. He’s been in three matchday squads, I think, as a sub.
“And to see James Sands be sent off and then Giovanni van Bronckhorst go to Leon King, I think was quite damning. And surely Davies would be ready at this stage to come on for the last half an hour in a game.”
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TIF Thoughts on Ben Davies and Rangers…
Davies was Rangers’ sixth new addition of the past summer transfer window as he arrived from Premier League club Liverpool for £4m having signed a four-year contract.
Despite that, he has managed just 112 minutes of football, featuring just once in the Scottish Premiership, and being left on the bench for both Champions League games so far (via Transfermarkt).
It certainly is a little alarming that Van Bronckhorst doesn’t seem to have much faith in the new man so far. Of course, though, it’s still only early days and the plan may just be to ease Davies into his new surroundings before giving him a more regular role in the side.