Nigel: Gio has to start Colak or it’s all over
Nigel Spackman insists Giovanni van Bronckhorst can’ t contemplate benching Antonio Colak again if he wants to save Rangers’ Euro season.
The former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder was stunned to see Alfredo Morelos replace the Croatian hitman in the starting side at Anfield.
Colak appeared as a sub with 17 minutes left as Gers lost 2- 0 to Liverpool.
But Spackman stressed Colak, who scored another double against St Mirren yesterday, should be one of the big changes for Ibrox on Wednesday.
He said: “You’ve got to look at on-form players scoring goals – and players with a bit of pace.
“I was really surprised he didn’t go with Colak. Maybe Morelos, who still isn’t up to full speed, was more comfortable for Liverpool to play against than the guy in red-hot form.
“In the Champions League you’ve got to play players who are fit and in form so Colak must start.
“When Colak got one late chance he wasn’t quite quick enough to get a shot past the keeper but that’s playing at a higher level having just come on.
“Rabbi Matondo looked dangerous when he came on too and would have got a goal back if Tsimikas hhadn’t got back to kick one ooff the line.
“It’s up to Gio to pick a mmore dynamic team now. A team that has a go – a tteam that has nothing to lolose. Fans will expect that.
“Rangers need points. ThThere’s no value in being ttentative and trying to nnick the game 1- 0, which I ddon’t think Rangers are ccapable of at this level.
“It’s one of those games wwhere you have to go for it wwith the crowd behind yyou and then anything ccould happen.
“Rangers were a bit nnegative at Anfield. You ccan understand after the tthrashing at Ajax that was tthe last thing Gio wanted.
“I felt it was damage l i m it at ion in the selection and set-up – to try to frustrate and hit on the counter.
“But once you go a goal behind it’s pretty hard
when Liverpool are so comfortable in possession and picking you off.
“Rangers must show they’re dynamic, can work as a team, close down together – and that they’ve got an end product.”
Ajax boss Al f red Schreuder claimed, after suffering a 6-1 thrashing by Napoli, that Liverpool and the Italians were in a different league to their Group A opponents.
That leaves Rangers scrapping it out for third with van Bronckhorst’s countrymen in the second half of the section.
Ajax stil l only have the three points earned when impres s ively thumping Rangers 4- 0 on matchday one.
Spackman, three times a Rangers title winner, will be at Ibrox working for TV in midweek.
He said: “I look forward to Ibrox next week and seeing some old faces.
“Rangers were incredible in the Europa League but this group is a serious step up in class.
“It’s now about trying to get three points against Liverpool and believing they can reach third. If they can overtake Ajax and get into the Europa League again, that would be absolutely amazing.”