05 Aug 2018 01:33:52
I keep reading on here that young Middleton should be thrown into the team and left there and nonsense like kids don't suffer from burnout, and if they're good enough they're old enough. This is usually accompanied by examples like Messi and Derek Johnstone among others. In Messi's first two seasons in the first team squad aged 18 and 19, he played just 25 games (just 7 in his first season) . DJ, a big strong boy, played 17 times in his first season. I could go on. The point is, of Middleton makes a dozen starts out of 50 or so this season, we should be delighted as that would be a major sign that he was getting there. And youngsters do suffer burnout. I've seen it so many times, even boys who were burnt out by 18 with all the demands on them. Leave the lad alone and let the coaches get the best from him and gradually introduce him to the top level. We've got a player here, I'm positive of that.

1.) 05 Aug 2018
05 Aug 2018 10:12:44
Guid post man 👍.

2.) 05 Aug 2018
05 Aug 2018 11:41:24
I agree, a problem we've had at Rangers for a long while is burning out our good young players.

We see a good young player, throw him into the team as a first team regular and he'll either sink or swim, it's far better to introduce them gradually and build them up than just throwing them in and hoping for the best.

Poster child for this is John Fleck but there's plenty of others who were given a regular first team spot instead of integrated to the first team gradually.

3.) 05 Aug 2018
05 Aug 2018 11:46:36
Totally agree. We need a squad and competition so we can put the young lads in if they're performing but take them out of the limelight when they're struggling, without it affecting the dynamics of the team.