Matt Crooks opens up

[Gary1999RFC 54]

Matt Crooks admits it himself. He could stroll down any street in Glasgow and even the staunchest of Rangers supporters would barely bat an eyelid.

And it hurts him. Not that he’s the vain type who needs the adulation and recognition. Far from it.

 

No, the sheer frustration comes from deep within. The fact that, so far at Ibrox, he’s failed to show anyone what he can do on a football pitch.

When Crooks arrived from Accrington Stanley in the summer it wasn’t Britain’s most talked about transfer. But when Rangers fans took one look at him, they were filled with optimism about what he could bring.

Gaffer Mark Warburton, naturally, had talked him up. But his size and stature – as well as his versatility – looked like being key attributes.

The Govan punters were tipping him to be the club’s new centre-half or midfield anchor. Instead, he’s become the forgotten man of Ibrox.

Crooks has played just 99 minutes in a blue shirt. And his only start at Hearts in November was a disaster.

He looked lost in a progressive midfield role and was hooked with Rangers 2-0 down. He hasn’t kicked a ball since.

Granted, he’s been hampered by injuries. It didn’t help that he arrived from Accrington crocked after the League Two club’s inaccurate prognosis of a knee injury

But he’s now fully fit and raring to go. The problem is, he can’t get into Warburton’s side as they look to cement second place in the Premiership.

That’s why he’s already spoken with the Rangers boss about getting out on loan this month.

It wasn’t easy to do. In fact, he’s wrestled with the idea in his own mind for weeks. But ultimately, Crooks feels that he’ll be happier at a smaller club playing – than at a bigger one warming the bench.

“I was at Manchester United until I was 15 before they released me,” he said. “I cried my eyes out because I’m a United fan. Moving here felt like I was getting back to that level, in terms of the size of club.

“When I was at United, I took it for granted. I don’t want to do the same here.

“I need to take full advantage of this place and use it to the best of my ability.

“I want to be at a big club and if I’m doing well at Rangers, it’s the best scenario for all parties. But if you’re at a little club and you’re playing – you get more out of it than twiddling your thumbs at a big club like this.

“I’ve had the same disagreement with myself over and over again. I don’t want this club to think I'm giving anything up. But at the same time, I’ve been fully fit for two months and haven’t played.

“I’m almost 23 and I just want to play. You learn a lot just from playing. That was the case last season for me. It’s been hard going from playing in every game to not playing at all.

“It’s a dilemma, whether I should stay and stick it out. But I’ve still got three years left on my contract so it’s not as if time isn’t on my side.”

Crooks has the kind of physical presence you might think the current Rangers side are crying out for. But for one reason or another, it hasn’t happened for him. And you can tell just how much it has irked him.

He said: “It’s not been ideal, that’s putting it mildly. It’s been hard. But I always try to think positively and I’ve had harder times than this.

“I damaged both of my ankles in the past. I had reconstruction on my left one and cartilage work on the right. At Accrington, when I was injured for the first few months it wasn’t great. That didn’t help me.

“We only had a council gym to use and one physio in a shed. So it was different to here. They didn't realise the impact of my injury until two months in. I don’t want to say too much – but that was challenging.

“I can’t complain now. I’m in a privileged position at Rangers. But it’s still frustrating. Is it easier because I’ve been through a period like this before? It depends what day it is.

“Sometimes it’s really hard and you can’t stop thinking about it. But on the other hand, I know that it’s happened before and bad times don’t last. I can pick it up again.

“I don’t think the Rangers fans really recognise me. In the street, they probably just walk by me not knowing who I am. I haven’t been able to show them what I can do yet.

“Even in the Hearts game, I wasn’t expecting to play. And it didn’t work out for me. That was a chance for me but I didn’t take it. That’s frustrating but it’s up to me to change that.

“The position wasn’t strange for me. I haven’t played that role in our formation before. But in midfield, I’m not just a sitter. I like to drive forward with the ball. That’s not an excuse for the way I played.

“I definitely see myself as a midfielder and not a defender. That’s where I want to play. People say Tynecastle was a tough environment for my first league start. But I should have been able to handle it. I’m strong enough and good enough to cope with situations with that.”

The one saving grace for Crooks is that throughout his torment he’s had Josh Windass to keep up his spirits.

Although now, even his old pal from Accrington has been given the bump, with Crooks’s girlfriend joining him in Glasgow. His focus is solely to try to get in the Rangers team and, if not, play regularly somewhere else for six months.

He said: “It can be difficult mentally to get through it but I had Josh with me. Day to day, he kept me going.

“That made it easier because I’ve known him for a long time. It was good to have him alongside me. But I’ve got my girlfriend and my dog with me now as well, which helps.

“I’ve left Josh behind. I had him for a year and that was enough. His dog stinks as well!”

 

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-rejection-broke-heart-9579809

[Pearson83 1,059]

So he wants or is a midfielder and to play there going forward. Today we bring in two new midfielders who are for just that position. Sorry Matt looks like it's not going to work out for you as looks like that's not where manager sees you. Always read manager saying when he brings in players they have to be able to play in number of positions and like garner crooks also struggles with that. 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,725]

If he's been fit for two months and can't get into that midfield then there's not really much hope for him here.

[BridgeIsBlue 66,606]

The fact that he can't take Hallidays position is seriously alarming..

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

So Josh's dog stinks?

Can see Crook's name and address being asked for shortly, I already know his employer.

[Swagger 7,967]

Looks absolutely awful

[DrFunke 401]

Id have had him in against celtic instead of halliday.

He had a poor game against hearts when the whole team was shite that nite.

[sassaaaa 11,406]

Fuckin ridiculous giving any of these donkeys 4 year contracts , club is still being run by clueless clowns.

[K.A.I 36,183]

I do think he's hurt it's not working out for him but I'd still have Halliday ahead of him based on the little of seen - that's saying something 

seems a nice kid he wants to be a star at Rangers that counts in my book but a loan move Defo for the best 

[PRW. 5,631]

14 minutes ago, sassaaaa said:

Fuckin ridiculous giving any of these donkeys 4 year contracts , club is still being run by clueless clowns.

If only we had you runnin the shop mate

[Captain Hilts 12,819]

Warburton said it himself that not every signing was going to be a success (which this season has turned out to be a bit of an understatement).

He's still relatively young and has plenty of time left on his contract so a loan for the rest of this season wouldn't do any harm at all. If it still doesn't work out after that it's no real loss and not an expensive one.

[sassaaaa 11,406]

10 minutes ago, PRW. said:

If only we had you runnin the shop mate

Am always available , its not rocket science.........

[Miller time 4,988]

2 hours ago, Gary1999RFC said:

Matt Crooks admits it himself. He could stroll down any street in Glasgow and even the staunchest of Rangers supporters would barely bat an eyelid.

And it hurts him. Not that he’s the vain type who needs the adulation and recognition. Far from it.

 

No, the sheer frustration comes from deep within. The fact that, so far at Ibrox, he’s failed to show anyone what he can do on a football pitch.

When Crooks arrived from Accrington Stanley in the summer it wasn’t Britain’s most talked about transfer. But when Rangers fans took one look at him, they were filled with optimism about what he could bring.

Gaffer Mark Warburton, naturally, had talked him up. But his size and stature – as well as his versatility – looked like being key attributes.

The Govan punters were tipping him to be the club’s new centre-half or midfield anchor. Instead, he’s become the forgotten man of Ibrox.

Crooks has played just 99 minutes in a blue shirt. And his only start at Hearts in November was a disaster.

He looked lost in a progressive midfield role and was hooked with Rangers 2-0 down. He hasn’t kicked a ball since.

Granted, he’s been hampered by injuries. It didn’t help that he arrived from Accrington crocked after the League Two club’s inaccurate prognosis of a knee injury

But he’s now fully fit and raring to go. The problem is, he can’t get into Warburton’s side as they look to cement second place in the Premiership.

That’s why he’s already spoken with the Rangers boss about getting out on loan this month.

It wasn’t easy to do. In fact, he’s wrestled with the idea in his own mind for weeks. But ultimately, Crooks feels that he’ll be happier at a smaller club playing – than at a bigger one warming the bench.

“I was at Manchester United until I was 15 before they released me,” he said. “I cried my eyes out because I’m a United fan. Moving here felt like I was getting back to that level, in terms of the size of club.

“When I was at United, I took it for granted. I don’t want to do the same here.

“I need to take full advantage of this place and use it to the best of my ability.

“I want to be at a big club and if I’m doing well at Rangers, it’s the best scenario for all parties. But if you’re at a little club and you’re playing – you get more out of it than twiddling your thumbs at a big club like this.

“I’ve had the same disagreement with myself over and over again. I don’t want this club to think I'm giving anything up. But at the same time, I’ve been fully fit for two months and haven’t played.

“I’m almost 23 and I just want to play. You learn a lot just from playing. That was the case last season for me. It’s been hard going from playing in every game to not playing at all.

“It’s a dilemma, whether I should stay and stick it out. But I’ve still got three years left on my contract so it’s not as if time isn’t on my side.”

Crooks has the kind of physical presence you might think the current Rangers side are crying out for. But for one reason or another, it hasn’t happened for him. And you can tell just how much it has irked him.

He said: “It’s not been ideal, that’s putting it mildly. It’s been hard. But I always try to think positively and I’ve had harder times than this.

“I damaged both of my ankles in the past. I had reconstruction on my left one and cartilage work on the right. At Accrington, when I was injured for the first few months it wasn’t great. That didn’t help me.

“We only had a council gym to use and one physio in a shed. So it was different to here. They didn't realise the impact of my injury until two months in. I don’t want to say too much – but that was challenging.

“I can’t complain now. I’m in a privileged position at Rangers. But it’s still frustrating. Is it easier because I’ve been through a period like this before? It depends what day it is.

“Sometimes it’s really hard and you can’t stop thinking about it. But on the other hand, I know that it’s happened before and bad times don’t last. I can pick it up again.

“I don’t think the Rangers fans really recognise me. In the street, they probably just walk by me not knowing who I am. I haven’t been able to show them what I can do yet.

“Even in the Hearts game, I wasn’t expecting to play. And it didn’t work out for me. That was a chance for me but I didn’t take it. That’s frustrating but it’s up to me to change that.

“The position wasn’t strange for me. I haven’t played that role in our formation before. But in midfield, I’m not just a sitter. I like to drive forward with the ball. That’s not an excuse for the way I played.

“I definitely see myself as a midfielder and not a defender. That’s where I want to play. People say Tynecastle was a tough environment for my first league start. But I should have been able to handle it. I’m strong enough and good enough to cope with situations with that.”

The one saving grace for Crooks is that throughout his torment he’s had Josh Windass to keep up his spirits.

Although now, even his old pal from Accrington has been given the bump, with Crooks’s girlfriend joining him in Glasgow. His focus is solely to try to get in the Rangers team and, if not, play regularly somewhere else for six months.

He said: “It can be difficult mentally to get through it but I had Josh with me. Day to day, he kept me going.

“That made it easier because I’ve known him for a long time. It was good to have him alongside me. But I’ve got my girlfriend and my dog with me now as well, which helps.

“I’ve left Josh behind. I had him for a year and that was enough. His dog stinks as well!”

 

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-rejection-broke-heart-9579809

Fuck him

I took my son to the unders game and he was playing. He asked for his autograph and he refused 

[Prso's headband 35,459]

Remarkable that he has been fit for 2 months and still hasn't had a run out in the CDM position after seeing what Halliday has been serving up

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

If he can't break into our midfield then there's not much hope for him, he should be asking himself why that is. 

[Ibroxholm 2,276]

The boy is right, he would be better out on loan trying to get some sort of match fitness and confidence back.

Would love to see him make good and prove all the perpetual knockers in our support wrong.  Same goes for every young player that comes to Rangers.

 

[scottyscott1963 18,328]

Before the boy signed the description was "he's a fucking tank"
The boy is big but without the dig I hoped he would bring with his size.
A loan might be for the best. 

[plumbGER 24,518]

That game against QoS when he came on, someone on here said he looked like a big lanky guy just picked at random from the crowd, perfectly described him.

Hopefully a loan spell can get his sharpness back and he can kick on next season.

[AlCapone 7,678]

We are Rangers and we are signing playesr from Accrington Stanley. what do we expect FFS?

[the brown brogue 1,909]

Said it before in another thread, if he's fully fit and still behind a right back and 37 year old striker, let alone Halliday etc, in the midfield pecking order its time to move on.

[centenarystand 2,227]

From what i can see him and his mate are not good enough.

Scouting is to blame.

[plumbGER 24,518]

5 minutes ago, centenarystand said:

From what i can see him and his mate are not good enough.

Scouting is to blame.

Scouting to blame and the manager for totally underestimating the task of playing for Rangers.

 

[KingKirk 25,647]

The fact he came here injured has really worked against him...

[cr3_bear 14,862]

Warburton made an arse of it playing him at tynecastle the same way he did with senderos at the piggery . 

[WATP-FOREVER 5,231]

I nearly burst into tears reading that. Ffs, man up pal, take your talk to your next game. May well make the world of difference.