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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Kyle Lafferty has told The Daily Record that he was released from Rangers as a result of his sloppy standards in training.
What’s he said?
Lafferty has broken his silence for the first time since being released by Rangers last month, detailing his exit and blaming only himself. The Northern Irish striker was only signed by Steven Gerrard in August last season but he left by mutual consent after a disappointing season back at the club he supports.
The 31-year-old scored just six times in his 30 appearances last season as he played a supporting role to Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe. Having taken a pay-cut to join the club for a second time it looked like he was willing to do whatever it takes to make a success of his spell at the club.
Yet, he admits he only blames his poor attitude, stating: “He [Gerrard] watched me every day in training and I will be the first to hold my hand up and admit I’m not the best trainer. When I joined Rangers from Hearts last summer I took a pay cut and planned to finish my career there.”
The right move from Gerrard
With Lafferty revealing he took a pay-cut from his time at Hearts to be reunited with his old side last summer, he would unlikely have been on a massive wage at Ibrox. Gerrard could’ve kept him at the club knowing he wouldn’t be sapping vast sums out of the Gers resources every week, and that Lafferty has shown his faith in the club by lowering his earnings.
Yet, the Light Blues boss was aware of Lafferty’s lack of application in training and decided to move him on. The ex-Liverpool captain wouldn’t have been blamed for keeping an experienced goalscorer around the club, but he saw a problem and dealt with it swiftly.
In moving on a handy yet problematic squad player, Gerrard has shown a ruthless edge that can be hard to develop as a young manager still coming to grips with the transition from teammate to manager.
It sends a message to the rest of the Gers squad too – it doesn’t matter how good you are or how many goals you’ve scored, the gaffer will expect the type of effort that he gave week in week out during his playing days, and to not give it is basically asking to be axed, given Lafferty’s admission.
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