Don’t make Ranger a stranger!
Posted on October 1st, 2009 | 29 Comments |
That’s not a reflection of Andy Carroll’s recent form, which has been good and admittedly somewhat above my expectations. However, I just feel that Nile Ranger, despite his tender years, has what it takes to make it in the game and certainly has enough at this level. For me, he has had a major impact since feeling his way into the team and is growing in confidence with each outing.
Ranger has pretty much everything you’d want from a centre forward. He has bags of pace and is really quick off the mark. For a young lad he is incredibly strong and is effective at holding the ball up. He will improve over the years but even now he has demonstrated intelligence in making good runs and is willing to get on the end of things. He also offers us something in the air with his height and the leap he can get. Again for someone just starting out in the trade, he is composed and rarely loses possession. And he has what many strikers don’t always have. That knack of being able to put defenders off with a lean or a nudge and get away it but conversely wins more than his fair share of free-kicks. Not unlike a certain Mr Shearer.
The one thing he has to do now is get himself a goal and then I feel he wouldn’t look back. And he’s proved he can score goals at all levels so far during his rapid progression to the first team. Unfortunately, given his potential, it might be that he ‘wouldn’t look back’ when he’s on his way to West London to sign for Chelsea……
That is a very real risk with the January window ahead but it shouldn’t prevent us continuing to blood him. I can see the sense in not burning the kid out but Hughton really perplexed me when he took him off against QPR. Simply because he was the most effective player on the pitch in an albeit uninspiring affair. I accept it is probably to protect him, but for me, he should be started and replaced when he starts to flag. I’d like to see him partnered by Harewood because with the power and pace of both of them and Ranger’s ability in the air we will have options to feet, in the air and in the channels. If they can both quickly get into the habit of scoring, it could be quite a scary prospect. Maybe starting with Bristol City at home on Saturday?
From asprila to shearer then to owen and martins and to ranger,caroll and marlon is say what the fuc….