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Rangers: In our best win yet, Kemar Roofe makes his case

By Stephen Little

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Kemar Roofe of Rangers celebrates with team mate Ryan Kent after scoring his sides second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Kemar Roofe of Rangers celebrates with team mate Ryan Kent after scoring his sides second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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Rangers thrashed Hamilton yesterday to the tune of a whopping 8-0, but a side story could be the arrival of one Kemar Roofe to the starting XI…

Days after the fact, everyone is still talking about the results of the 2020 US Presidential election. It’s so engrained at the top of the news that, no doubt, terrorists are taking a break knowing their nefarious actions wouldn’t get the desired headline exposure. Every angle is analysed, where it went right and wrong, every detail right down to Joe Biden’s favorite cup of…Joe. It’s overwhelming and, for me, a bit little boring. Just a little.

Fortunately, something far more interesting is happening that may not be top news story, but it really should be. While President Trump’s fans were disputing a vote count, Bears worldwide were revelling in a goal count by Rangers against Hamilton yesterday. What a win!

8-0 against any team is a remarkable achievement, but against another team in the same division is extraordinary, even with COVID-19 layoffs taken into account. Rangers were exceptional, take nothing away from them, and now sit 9 points clear at the top of the pile with a whopping 13 goal difference advantage over second place Celtic.

The stats keep blowing my mind, how about this one – the Light Blues have kept a clean sheet in 13 of their last 15 matches. Or how about the fact that the top scorer in the League is James Tavernier, our central defender? I’m struggling to remember a more prolific start to the season, on all fronts, from the Gers.

Speaking of scorers, how about our very own, bangers only, Kemar Roofe? Despite only making one start for Rangers in the Premiership this season, he’s managed an impressive four goals – albeit two of them, and an assist for good measure, came yesterday alone. If that performance was anything to go by, there’s much more to come from the 27 year old, which Steven Gerrard confirmed after the match as quoted by Glasgow Live:

"“We’ve got people getting back up to speed.Kemar Roofe played angry probably because he never got on the pitch through the week, which I love to see.Roofe is getting close to being at his best, Joe Aribo is getting close to being at his best. I’ve got some selection dilemmas in the future but that’s what I want.”"

The selection issue is one we’ve touched on before, Rangers have way too many strikers to squeeze into the one they play on any given game. First world problems, I know, but when Jermain Defoe is only your fourth choice centre-forward, it speaks volumes.

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In any case, Roofe has more than made a case for himself having a more consistent role. He’s a natural, gifted finisher who fits well in a squad so filled with creativity and inventiveness, indeed he seems to thrive here. That, of course, can lead to frustration at game time, which certainly seems to be what Gerrard is hinting at happening. I’m fairly sure he doesn’t love to see it as much as he claims, really.

It’s a difficult balancing act, but I feel with his performance against Hamilton, Kemar deserves another chance to be our starting target man. We’ve talked about Alfredo Morelos and the rollercoaster ride that is his Rangers career many times lately, but for, all the up and down form, he shouldn’t be guaranteed a spot on name and reputation alone. Performances are the key and I feel Jon McLaughlin’s extended stint between the sticks at Ibrox was evidence that Stevie G agrees.

Ultimately, it’s up to the gaffer to keep the balance of pumping out results like yesterday while keeping the squad content they are getting the minutes they deserve. The count in America has stopped and the victor is declared, but here we’re only just getting started for a long season of attrition in which many still view us the underdog.

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