Traynor On Fleck

[ian1964 10,720]

Feb 14 2009 James Traynor

 

JOHN FLECK, by all accounts, is a level-headed teenager who can rely on the guidance of decent, down-to-earth parents. Just as well.

 

Rarely in the long history of this game can so much have been written and spoken about an emerging talent. And almost all of it has been guff.

 

Some hacks and commentators, who really ought to know better, already have this 17-year-old down as a special talent and one or two have actually attempted to chastise George Burley for not promoting him to the senior national squad with immediate effect. That's almost as equally weird as the SFA's oversight - and let's be clear on this, the coaches did forget about him when it was decided he wouldn't be in the Under-19s for afriendly in France.

 

That left him out of every squad last week but the hysteria surrounding Fleck is one more indication of just how badly off we are for genuine talents.

 

This product of the oft-maligned Murray Park development system has something, of that there is no doubt, but whether or not he possesses enough technique, intelligence, pace and desire to overcome a lack of height remains to be seen. We can only hope.

 

What is beyond debate is Fleck's readiness to start against Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow, even if his performances so far have not merited the blaring headlines. He has been good and immensely promising and has added a spark to Rangers' play.

 

So the best thing Walter Smith can do is kick this too-much too-soon nonsense out of play, stand back and let Fleck show what he's got. Besides, when you look at Rangers' squad, Fleck is as ready for this moment as anyone of the others, even those with vast experience of the Old Firm arena.

 

But there's another reason he should be thrown in at the deep end tomorrow.

 

You see, right now this boy is not acquainted with fear. He is still at that age where he believes he can do anything, be anything and beat everyone.

 

He hasn't been affected by the trappings of fame and fortune and hasn't built up a name or an aura yet so has no reputation on which to fall back should he perform badly.

 

That's why he has to make the most of every opportunity to shine.

 

Fleck is fresh and untainted and the way he barged forward to take a penalty against Dundee United at Ibrox and score his first goal for the big team suggests he is in a hurry to reach his goals.

 

The agent who was on BBC Radio Scotland the other night bleating about the pace and momentum building up around his client would do well to bear this in mind.

 

The player's own talent and attitude will determine the speed of his development rather than anything written or said about him but the agent seemed to be saying everyone should stay away from Fleck.

 

Preposterous, but this agent fellow went on tomake a great deal about how awful it was that people were approaching Fleck on the streets.

 

"Everybody wants a piece of him," he said.

 

No they don't. They might just want an autograph or something as simple as a smile in response if they wish him well as they pass.

 

There are athletes from other sports all over the world who have to deal with public adulation from a young age and it hasn't ruined them. Look at Andy Murray. He feeds off the attention and turns it to positive energy.

 

The trouble with football types, though, is they think they're so much different, but Fleck should look beyond football for his role models and always remember in his business it pays better if you are noticed and in demand everywhere.

 

But of course he'll have to maintain progress if he's to remain in the spotlight and that means he must take tests like Old Firm matches in his stride. And it would make more sense to play him from the start rather than hold him in reserve hoping the game unfolds favourably enough for Rangers to introduce him when the pressure is off.

 

If Fleck starts and the evidence begins to show he isn't ready after all there is no harm done if he is subbed.

 

He's still young and no one would judge him harshly because of that so there is more to be gained by placing him in the eye of the storm than there is to be lost by leaving him out. Surely Smith will see it this way, although he is unlikely to start Kris Boyd, even if he has been insisting he should be given another chance against Celtic.

 

Rangers, it's fairly certain, will opt for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Lee McCulloch between the usual back four and the middle line of Steven Davis, Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendesand Fleck.

 

Kyle Lafferty will probably get the nod ahead of Kenny Miller who has just returned from injury, while Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan will need to assess the condition of ScottMcDonald and Shunsuke Nakamura who were on World Cup duty in Japan. Naka played and McDonald didn't but it's the possible effects of long-haul flights that will be concerning Strachan.

 

The boss must also have some doubts about the mental state of his keeper Artur Boruc. The Pole is in trouble for whacking Aiden McGeady and can expect to be hit by a club record fine after tomorrow's showdown, so he has some clutter to clear from a head that isn't always properly screwed on.

 

And will McGeady play? Only if Strachan believes Nakamura's travels have left him drained but it all adds up to an intriguing match and hopefully the standard of play will be better than the last Old Firm game.

 

The Ibrox encounter, which Celtic won 1-0, was bereft of decent football and the players owe their fans an improvement.

 

Rangers also believe that having dragged themselves back to within touching distance of the defending SPL champions they must make sure the two-point gap doesn't widen, but it could all depend on which players win their head to heads.

 

It is never wise to predict the outcome of these contests, which are often battles of will, but if these individual struggles include Boruc against any inner demons, Nakamura and McDonald against fatigue and Fleck against Andreas Hinkel then Rangers might win a second successive match at Parkhead in the SPL this season.

 

'Fleck should look beyond football for his role models and always remember in his business it's better to be noticed elsewhere'

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/02/14/john-fleck-can-be-an-old-firm-star-if-he-gets-the-better-of-andreas-hinkel-86908-21122444/