Ian Durrant: Youngsters shouldn't be at Ibrox if they can't handle the pressure

[ian1964 10,415]

THE club's first team coach has given some home truths to the youngsters who have failed to shine when the pressure is on this season.

 

 

 

IAN DURRANT has warned Rangersâ?? under-performing kids they shouldnâ??t be at the club if they canâ??t handle the pressure.

 

Angry fans booed the players off after the dismal scoreless draw at home to Stirling on Saturday.

 

The likes of Kyle Hutton, Chris Hegarty, Robert Crawford, Barrie McKay, Kane Hemmings and Fraser Aird failed to shine against the part-timers.

 

Many have questioned the standard of player Murray Park is producing and first-team coach Durrant also had some home truths for the youngsters.

 

He said: â??If you canâ??t handle the pressure at Rangers when weâ??re in the Third Division it doesnâ??t bode well for the future.

 

â??Itâ??s the playersâ?? jobs to win games and entertain. In the last few weeks weâ??ve seen the fansâ?? frustrations because weâ??ve not done that.

 

â??Thereâ??s a winning mentality here and that has to be instilled into players.

 

â??You either come in and be a winner or someone else comes in and is a winner in your place.â?

 

Meanwhile, Mexican striker Alan Pulido last night admitted heâ??d jump at a move to Glasgow.

 

The 22-year-old Tigres star, who has been linked with a switch to Gers, said: â??If I keep playing well I know there is a chance of a move.â?

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-coach-ian-durrant-youngsters-1787654

[GovanAllan 0]

Hope you extend that to the so called experienced players as well, because they have let us down a whole lot more than any of the kids.

[JTP 0]

Right who can we blame now ........................ nup we used that one last week ................. what about, nup used it two weeks ago .................

 

Ok then time to blame the youngsters.

[ian1964 10,415]

Rangers midfielder Robbie Crawford says youths must stand on own feet

 

By MATTHEW LINDSAY

 

ROBBIE Crawford admits Rangers' young guns are missing their senior team-mates – but stressed they must still perform far better in their absence.

 

Crawford and his fellow kids were helpless to prevent the Gers drawing 0-0 with Stirling Albion in an Irn-Bru Third Division clash at Ibrox on Saturday.

 

It was the latest poor result for Ally McCoist's team, who have been without a raft of influential first-team stars, in a disappointing run of games in recent weeks.

 

Despite closing in on the title – they could finally clinch it this weekend if they beat Montrose at Links Park and the Queen's Park result goes their way – they have been performing poorly.

 

The Govan club have drawn both home and away with Stirling and have also lost at home to tiny Annan in their last five outings.

 

Their cause has not been helped by the absence, for a variety of reasons, of experienced players at different times.

 

Crawford believes that, while they should be more than capable of beating part-time opposition who only train two nights a week, the large number of players from the youth ranks is having an effect on displays.

 

"All of the boys who came in to play against Stirling Albion on Saturday know that we should have played better than we did and we should have done well enough to get a win," he admitted.

 

"But I do think that we missed some of our senior players as well. When you are without international players like Andy Little it is obviously going to have an affect on the squad.

 

"We were hoping to be able to produce a good display and get a result at the weekend, but, unfortunately, it wasn't to be. But we have been training hard this week and we hope to put it right and get back to winning ways this weekend.

 

"I can understand why the fans are unhappy with the performances. But they should realise that none of the players are happy with them either.

 

"We know we have to do better, even though we are missing players, and are trying to do that."

 

Kane Hemmings, who scored four goals in seven games while on loan at Cowdenbeath in the First Division earlier this year, made his first competitive start for Rangers against Stirling.

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However, the 20-year-old Englishman passed up three fine scoring opportunities – and was then left distraught as none of his team-mates managed to breach the opposition rearguard either.

 

Crawford, who has netted three times for the Govan giants this season despite being used sparingly, is adamant he will not let the outing dent his confidence.

 

He stressed: "Kane is a good player and I am sure he will bounce back from it. At least he was getting into positions to score and giving himself chances to score. That is important.

 

"I thought he showed good movement on Saturday and definitely created space for himself. He hadn't played for a while so maybe he lacked a bit of match sharpness.

 

"He is a good player and I am sure that the goals will come as he plays more games for the team."

 

Many Rangers fans would have liked to have seen captain McCulloch, who has netted 24 goals this season, lead the line against Stirling at the weekend.

 

The 34-year-old has, despite his advancing years, been a revelation for the team in the games he has played in attack this term and is currently their second-top scorer behind Little.

 

However, McCoist moved his skipper to centre-half, where he has previously played, in the wake of the 2-1 defeat to Annan earlier this month after a deeply alarming display at the back.

 

It is a switch that has resulted in two clean sheets against Elgin City away at Borough Briggs in a narrow 1-0 victory and against Stirling once again at the weekend.

 

Crawford feels the vastly experienced former Motherwell, Wigan and Scotland player can exert a far greater influence over the team at the back than he can up front.

 

He reflected: "Lee is obviously great in both positions. At the back he is more vocal, he can issue commands to the team better, really place demands on the rest of us.

 

"Of course, up front he is always capable of getting a goal as well. Having said that, keeping clean sheets is important. The manager felt that has been important in the last couple of games.

 

"We have to score goals as well as not concede them. But I think having Lee in defence helps to organise our backline and the team as a whole.

 

"We definitely feel the benefit of having him there in that position as a team and I am positive he will remain there at least until the end of the season."

[nokiss 0]

Maybe, just maybe Ian, they're under performing because of inept coaching. Obviously none of us are privy to what goes on at training, but I'd hope the coaches would look at their own contribution, rather than look to lay the blame everywhere else. Some of the comments from coaching staff, in regards to the young players has been really disappointing imo. they may be trying some reverse psychology, personally I think they're more likely to be counter productive.

 

Also, what certain people need to understand is any talented youngster in the past breaking into the first team was surrounded by quality(differing degrees)experienced players who bore all the pressure. These guys have had, what must feel like, the whole world dumped on their shoulders. If they're going to keep hearing those sort of comments from the coaching staff, there's more than a good chance we won't get the best out of them.

 

So Ian, have a wee look at yourself and your fellow coaches before criticising others.

Edited March 27, 2013 by nokiss

[gisabeer 409]

bloody terrible statement. sorry ian but you should be first out the door for thesae comments.

[djbroxybear 0]

Durrant coming out with pish like this is insulting, you are the first team coach have a look in the mirror and ask yourself are you coaching these guys with effect. I would also like to know what your input is to Ally.

[Darthter 542]

Another reason to implement a playing ethos through all the age groups.

 

By the time they reach the first team, they should be undaunted and able to slot in & still perform.

 

Not really the kind of comment that show Durrant in a positive light - he has/had a direct influence on the young players....was he not a reserve team coach previously???

[Guest cail]

It would be interesting to see where Durrant's career went without the positive influence of a Graeme Souness as Durrant was no model professional when he was young.

Sick to the eye teeth of these two blaming youngster without taking a look in the mirror at the way they are coaching and playing them out of position week in week out.

[Darthter 542]

I stated in another thread, that I feel its totally unfair on the younger players - EVERYONE has been under performing for the majority of the season.