long throw-in

Tam McManus was highly critical of Clinton Nsiala’s performance in Rangers’ 2-2 draw with St Mirren on Saturday. Despite Rangers taking the lead twice, St Mirren equalized both times, and McManus pointed to Nsiala’s defensive lapses as the main cause for the dropped points. He singled out the 21-year-old French defender for failing to win the first header from a long throw-in, which led to St Mirren’s opening goal, and for his poorly timed attempt at playing the offside trap for the second goal. McManus described the defending as “terrible,” and emphasized that these mistakes cost Rangers the win.

While McManus’ criticism is harsh, it’s important to consider the challenging season Rangers have had, with managerial instability and a lack of cohesion impacting players like Nsiala. The young center-back, in his debut season with Rangers, has been thrust into high-pressure situations without the benefit of consistent guidance. Despite these struggles, McManus believes that with proper coaching under a stable manager, Nsiala has the potential to develop into a reliable defender for Rangers. However, he must address his defensive awareness and aerial duels to succeed at Ibrox.