Gersnet Rangers All-time XI | Day 2: Left-back

[Bill 13,717]

I feel sorry for anyone who didn’t see Eric Caldow play because he was in a class of his own and no one since has even come close.
 

Don’t vote for imitations, vote for Caldow. 😉😂

[26th of foot 6,082]

I did not see Tiger Shaw play but my Grandfather was a huge fan. 

 

I saw Eric Caldow on a dozen or more occasions but I was a primary schoolboy and my only firm memories of him come from '66/67 season. He had recovered from his leg break but was struggling with his mid-thirties, recovery and, the challenge from Davie Provan. My old man loved Caldow.

 

After Davie Provan, the club left back for the next decade was the bluff Fifer, Billy Mathieson. He played in the team that won the EWCW. Billy or Wullie if you prefer was stuffily solid. A Mathieson goal is real hens' teeth, I believe he notched one? Actually, there is a story that combines Billy and yesterday's topic, 'Rangers Keepers'. It was a game against East Fife at Ibrox in the early 70s and Rangers fielded a young Goalie for his first and last game. I cannot remember his name but he conceded and we lost 0-1. A middle aged guy in front of me blamed Mathieson for not stopping the cross ball and berated the left fullback, "you're tae blame, you're useless, you couldnae kick doors at Halloween". Did I mention Billy had received a ECWC winners medal earlier that year?

 

John Greig played left back from '75 to '78. He bullied/intimidated young wingers and generally enjoyed playing keepie-up with Jinky. I prefer to remember ham and egg as a wonderful driving tough tackling midfielder.

 

Ally Dawson was wonderful before the serious head injury, I thought he lost his edge after a long period of recovery. A real club servant, he Skippered the team that won the Glasgow Cup at Sellik park at the end of '86/87 season under Souness.

 

I have huge admiration for Stuart Munro, he endured and survived a whole host of far more expensive Souness purchases. We signed him for a peppercorn fee from Alloa pre-Souness. He played in a back four of English and Scottish internationals, Woods, Stevens, Butcher and, Gough. He survived eight seasons and we sold him to Blackburn Rovers for £350,000. Munro's secret was his recovery pace, a failed tackle on the half way line concluded with another successful dig on the cusp of the penalty area. 

 

David Robertson had genuine pace, could tackle and, a real pile driver of a shot. Numan had the same attributes. Papac was more Stuart Munro. A special mention to Lee Wallace, stayed on after the implosion. I thought he was poorly treated after the 2016 Scottish Cup final and at the end of his Rangers career by the club. Barisic is a fine modern day wing back and a regular Croatian international.

 

After all that, I am voting for Artur Numan.

 

 

[Malangsob 1,264]

3 hours ago, Rousseau said:

This position could see another clear winner, but...

 

Numan, Papac, Wallace ... Barisic? 👀 

Art Numan. 

[onevision 1,568]

I really liked Stuart Munro, a no nonsense fullback who took no prisoners.

Grew up with Wullie Mathieson although enjoyed John Greig playing there especially that match against them when he snapped i think Bobby Lennox? then ran the length of Ibrox to tap into an empty net.

Big Sasa playing out of position did a great job as did Numan but gonna go for Davie Robertson, what an engine he had in him and i believe he would fit in seamlessly to the modern game. 

[CammyF 8,079]

@Rousseau right back should have been after goalie not left back 😀

[26th of foot 6,082]

1 minute ago, CammyF said:

@Rousseau right back should have been after goalie not left back 😀

It is a special Rousseau tactic to fool the opposition.

[Rousseau 10,603]

6 minutes ago, CammyF said:

@Rousseau right back should have been after goalie not left back 😀

I always go left-back first. 

[Franc Ergs 1,648]

Robertson for me.

[Scott7 6,002]

25 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I always go left-back first. 

On that reckoning we should have started with outside left.

[stewarty 2,025]

Robertson for me too.