It broke our heart for another game in a row to see the remarkable talent, Billy Gilmour awarded Man of the Match for the mighty Chelsea.
First against the goliaths of Liverpool in the cup, then contrary to the very commendable Everton in the league sitting at a strong 12th place.
An 18-year old’child’ was the best player on the pitch in games featuring some of the world’s finest players provides absolutely the ‘best’ sign of just what a participant this lad is.
He is, absolutely, unequivocally, the best player to come out of Scotland since the times of Dalglish and Law, which he is outclassed players with the temptations of the greatest of Anfield and Stamford Bridge to not mention Goodison Park is a dangerous indictment.
Make no mistake, young Gilmour, a prodigy and a truly extraordinary player, isn’t one of us, but might still be at Ibrox if he had believed he had any sort of chance of making it in the top level.
Not, because he was not good enough, obviously, but only because Rangers’ standing in regards to childhood is diabolical.
We’re no lovers of Celtic, but thanks to their superior policy, they have reared talent like Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and a number of others, in some cases selling on for megamillions.
But Rangers? We had a opportunity to construct a youth group from scratch in 2012.
And Barry Ferguson simply broke through in the first place because Dick Advocaat had the eye for his caliber — Walter Smith was not interested.
There is no denying the filthy lucre and his family’s influence and of course the lure of the PL had large roles to play at Gilmour’s passing, but if that lad and his family had genuinely believed he would be given a fair crack of the Ibrox whip rather than be farmed out to Alloa or Arbroath on loan, he would still be in Govan and quickly on his way to becoming a legend.
Particular players are obvious. Chelsea knew it also.
Chelsea swore blind he was their future, they were desperate for him, and we see this possibly world-class talent shining on the biggest stage of all in front of a global audience of billions.
And before we proceed, many will provide the argument that it is us fans’ fault, that we stress players and provide abuse if a child makes a mistake.
Men, that’s a part of football, there is gigantic pressure at Chelsea also, they are recent winners, have a billionaire owner and won the UCL not super long past. Do not tell us he left to escape the strain of earning a mistake in Ibrox for the relaxing choice of Stamford Bridge.
Look how nicely Nathan Patterson and Kai Kennedy have done this calendar year into their fleeting appearances, but have instantly dumped back to the youths or at best the seat.
Leon King has signed a new deal, and we deeply, profoundly hope the club have actual intentions of playing him, to rectify the mistakes made in the previous decade which resulted in Gilmour leaving.
No, Gilmour decided to prove himself on a point that would let him which would play him.
And we do not really have anybody to blame but ourselves for him.
Let us hope with King’s brand new deal, it is finally a sign we are going to trust in our kids.
