I got banned from follow follow for this. I did log on smashed at around 3am on Sunday morning right enough and might have taken things too far but I still think I was right.
The demonising of this guy is way over the top, worst abuse I've seen a player get in all my time following Rangers. Nobody remembers his good form that helped us to the title at the end of last season. After his dive against the sheep he was victim of a pathetic witch hunt, fair enough it was a shocker but no need for the abuse. We dont see the same abuse for other serial divers in our league.
At the start of this season he got injured playing for NI and folk were saying it was a disaster for us. Suppose thats how fickle football fans can be. He's had a terrible first half to this season, and now every touch is anticipated with baited breath by our own supporters who want him to fail so they can sit on their fat arses and say they were right.
He was benched in December, came on late in games and played well chipping in with some goals too. Injuries meant he had to come onto the left again and one mis timed tackle started the witch hunt again. Again, it was way over the top. I watched some past matches on youtube yesterday and some of the tackling from the likes of Balde, Lennon, Thompson and the rest of O'Neill's thugs wouldnt look out of place in UFC. In fact, the same fans greeting about Lafferty's tackle on Hinkel used to chant "Bobo's gonnae get ye!" I hear Hinkel made a full recover a whole 3 seconds after the tackle.
I'll admit he's been shocking lately, but right now we're not in a position to completely write off any of our players. I seem to be in the minority where I'd rather encourage our players and hope they dig themselves out of a hole. We've seen plenty players get the hate treatment from our own fans lately. McCulloch, Whittaker, Beasley, Miller and Broadfoot all got it tight for long periods.
Whittaker lost a lot of confidence from the champions league, where he got comprehensively raped. He got dropped and then eased back into the side from the bench, he's now back playing well.
I think Lafferty should be dropped and Archie Campbell should be promoted to the first team. Lafferty can then be eased into the side when we're ahead in games as he is really struggling with the pressure.
He's going to be here for a while yet, so instead of constantly getting on his back I'd rather people tried to encourage him. He's not half as bad as people are making out. If he turns this around he wont be the first to do it. Maybe Broadfoot could help him out by taking a foul throw, then all the bawbags can vent their spleen at him for a bit.