Rangers manager Steven Gerrard chose to select Andy Halliday at left-back against Kilmarnock with Borna Barisic sidelined due to injury last night.
Although the 28-year-old may have not been the worst performer in the 2-1 defeat, many supporters on Twitter feel his inclusion in the starting line up was symptomatic of a squad that lacks the depth to make a sustained title challenge:
He’s made some brutal signings. How Halliday still gets a game is on him. Woeful player.
— Kevin (@Kevinopala1) 13 February 2020
Halliday ain't a leftback either nowhere near o'Donnell for the first goal
— Gary Fraser (@garyfraser01) February 13, 2020
Was it just me or did Halliday spend the entire game passing sideways, or back to McGreggor. Then stand waveing his arm about, telling other players to do stuff, like he knew what he was doing.
Not blaming him for the loss, but he contributed nothing last night
— Matthew Kenny (@MattRonKen) February 13, 2020
Andy Halliday, not good enough then, not good enough now and not good enough in the future for even a ‘squad player’ role. Stop letting your emotional attachments to players blind you from the reality of football and stop letting it hold back the club. Hope. This. Helps.
— JCK (@JCKfutbol) 8 February 2020
I like Andy Halliday – I love his endeavour and his passion for his team.
The unfortunate thing is that he is just not a good enough leftback or midfielder to push for a starting place in this side (and after last night that is damning of everyone).— Paul Dunnachie (@PaulDunnachie) 13 February 2020
It’s unacceptable now how he thinks Andy Halliday is a able replacement. The boy wouldn’t get a game at my 5s on a monday night. We ate no further forward when murty lost 3-2 at ibrox to them.
— Craig Mackintosh ? (@craigmackno1) 12 February 2020
Sick of it now. Too many spineless excuses of players. I’m sorry but when we have to replace Borna with Andy Halliday then we’re in trouble.
— Dave (@Nimsay1872) 12 February 2020
The fact that our backup at left back is still Andy Halliday is quite incredible tbh
— Ian Smith (@IJSmith86) 12 February 2020
Many fans like the fact that Halliday is a Bluenose through and through, but nobody could argue he is on the same level as Barisic in terms of what he can offer at left-back.
The Scot may have been rusty but he offered the team very little last night, and with Barisic not expected to be out for very long, most will be hoping that the Croatian will be back in the side when they face Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon. Anything other than a win this weekend would likely prove terminal to the Gers’ title ambitions.