Rangers manager Steven Gerrard was forced into selecting Calvin Bassey at centre-back against Sparta Prague yesterday evening and the decision failed to pay off.
The 21-year-old was unable to prevent David Hancko from heading home what turned out to be the winning goal midway through the first half, as the Light Blues slumped to a 1-0 defeat.
Bassey was likely picked due to his height but his heading left a lot to be desired, and fans on Twitter were critical of his performance after the game:
He’s like bambi on ice
— Humza’s Scooter (@ReallyScottish) September 30, 2021
Has he headed a ball before
— Craig Hutchison (@woodygers) September 30, 2021
He could play head tennis with himself all day. Heads it directly up.
— M.H. (@RANGERS_1983) September 30, 2021
Horribly mistiming every jump
— mark (@boydy81) September 30, 2021
He’s dreadful in the air he’s not a cb for me he’s all over the place
— scott (@sm87) September 30, 2021
Looks like he has never jumped before
— Stevie Ramsay (@sjramsay7) September 30, 2021
Got caught under the ball in his very first game for us. Hasn’t improved 😳
— Crazy Horse 🇬🇧 (@glasgowsportsfa) September 30, 2021
He’s absolutely terrible in the air, he shouldn’t be playing as a CB. Did we only name 3 CB’s in our Europa League squad?
— Allan Woods (@woods_al) September 30, 2021
To be fair to Bassey, it was a baptism of fire. The left-back had only started at centre-half once before, and that came in a League Cup tie versus Falkirk last season.
The real blame has to lie with the Gers’ Europa League squad selection. Jack Simpson was ineligible and, with Connor Goldson sidelined with injury and Nikola Katic out on loan, it left Leon Balogun as the only senior centre-back available.