Matt Mckay

[Irwin Sparkes 97]

This Whittaker bombscare in every game he's played is turning into a proper myth. He was brilliant at St Johnstone.

[derekweir29 505]

Seen few clips ideal player.

[MarzM 1,264]

So he can never be dropped?

Well thats why IMO Walter never dropped Edu. He had to justify paying (correct me if i'm wrong) £2.5M for the numpty!! Now Whittaker has got a massive paycheck he will almost certainly be first choice unless he's injured!! Which really sucks as im in the "I'd like to see Cole or McMillan get a chance" camp.

The Youtube clip makes this guy McKay look good. Then again im sure you could make almost anyone look good by putting a highlight reel together.

The problem i see coming up is that Ally is too loyal to certain players. If we get another CB is he still going to play Weir? At the moment it looks like he has no intention of dropping Edu/McCulloch. So even if we get this guy, will he play?

[RFC_Scott 0]

Have a funny feeling he might be used on the left, dont think Edu or Mcculloch will be dropped from the team anytime soon. Would like to see Ness being given a chance. So what type of midfielder is Matt Mckay? Is he a playmaker? We are definitely in need of one.

[RFC55 110,322]

Has he signed lads or just in talks?

[djbroxybear 660]

This Whittaker bombscare in every game he's played is turning into a proper myth. He was brilliant at St Johnstone.

He is not a RB mate he cant defend he is better going forward at best, we get a handfull of good games out him a season and goals. He is not worth 20k per week 5yr deal he should have been punted.

[Irwin Sparkes 97]

He is not a RB mate he cant defend he is better going forward at best, we get a handfull of good games out him a season and goals. He is not worth 20k per week 5yr deal he should have been punted.

Whittaker has started every single season poorly. I'm not concerned as yet.

[djbroxybear 660]

Hope we still get Verhoek but i get the feeling this guy is replacing him in transfer target wise

[wearethemighty 186]

If hes signed, whats the chances of him get clearance to feature against Maribor ie work permit

[djbroxybear 660]

Whittaker has started every single season poorly. I'm not concerned as yet.

Mate i am concerned he cost us against Hearts he was marking the guy who scored, he cost us against Malmo first game his mistake cost the goal, 2nd leg against Malmo his stupidity cost us aswell this is just the start of the season he is a liability.

[Irwin Sparkes 97]

Given the standard of player we've been linked with this summer, i seriously doubt we would've replaced Whittaker with someone better. He's had a nightmare start to the season but still managed a classy showing in Perth. If the team start playing well, but Whittaker is still shit, then i'll be concerned.

[mattmckay 2]

Have a funny feeling he might be used on the left, dont think Edu or Mcculloch will be dropped from the team anytime soon. Would like to see Ness being given a chance. So what type of midfielder is Matt Mckay? Is he a playmaker? We are definitely in need of one.

hes not a specialist playmaker. more of a technical box to box player that can occasionally fill the role of a playmaker but to have him play as a number 10 full time and expect to see results will not work.

McKay is the type of player who will never lose the ball in tight spaces, he can pass long and short and has a great eye for slide rule passes but hes not a deep lying playmaker that you would want to dictate the pace of the game or a trequartista that sits just behind the strikers. instead he does a variety of roles. he can do simple things right but also very complex things in midfield with combinations with other midfielders.

I can understand why someone is questioning why he is still playing in australia at 28. well, like scotland, australia also has terrible fascinations for players with physique over skill. mckay and many others have been overlooked for a long time because they were deemed too small.

but also in saying that....the a-league is a small time league, there is not much coverage of it overseas so not many people will know of it or of it's players. For sure, not every a-league export is going to find success in europe. i have seen that first hand with numerous former a-league players running back to the a-league with their tail in between their legs after failure in europe. but for every failure, there has been successes, and even more so. out of every player that has "graduated" from the a-league to europe, mckay is easily more prepared and better in general situation-ally than any other player over the last 6 years

[toolongawake 1,215]

By pedigree, i mean their standing or history in the game

Of course you may sign someone with no pedigree who ends up being great, but a 28 year old still playing in the Australian league? I'm not exactly creaming with excitement

Allan McGregor is 29 and still plays in the SPL

[mattmckay 2]

McKay plays internationally for Australia as a left sided midfielder, he basically forced long time international Brett Emerton to the bench. He has also played 2 games as an emergency leftback.

From left midfield, he got 5 assists at the Asian Cup, 3 of them in 1 game in the semi final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw3aUDbUi00

But he looks set to play in central midfield against Wales in a couple days, the first time he's been given that responsibility as a starting player for the national team

[Irwin Sparkes 97]

Allan McGregor is 29 and still plays in the SPL

For the most successful club in world football. Not really the same, though i take your point somewhat

[Boab 73]

As an aside, people slating McKay for being too small is the reason why Scottish football is full of big fucking lumps and very little skill. The Scottish approach to football needs to enter the 21st century.

Billy Bremner was small.

[Boab 73]

Yup. Some of the better youth teams in Scotland are smaller clubs who snap up all the players released/rejected by the likes of ourselves for not having the physical stature required.

I recall it being Billy Stark.

[Jocky Broon 207]

hes not a specialist playmaker. more of a technical box to box player that can occasionally fill the role of a playmaker but to have him play as a number 10 full time and expect to see results will not work.

McKay is the type of player who will never lose the ball in tight spaces, he can pass long and short and has a great eye for slide rule passes but hes not a deep lying playmaker that you would want to dictate the pace of the game or a trequartista that sits just behind the strikers. instead he does a variety of roles. he can do simple things right but also very complex things in midfield with combinations with other midfielders.

I can understand why someone is questioning why he is still playing in australia at 28. well, like scotland, australia also has terrible fascinations for players with physique over skill. mckay and many others have been overlooked for a long time because they were deemed too small.

but also in saying that....the a-league is a small time league, there is not much coverage of it overseas so not many people will know of it or of it's players. For sure, not every a-league export is going to find success in europe. i have seen that first hand with numerous former a-league players running back to the a-league with their tail in between their legs after failure in europe. but for every failure, there has been successes, and even more so. out of every player that has "graduated" from the a-league to europe, mckay is easily more prepared and better in general situation-ally than any other player over the last 6 years

Assuming McKay has the ability I would have thought the biggest challenge he faces is adjusting to the climate and way of life in Scotland.Guess that applies to most Aussies moving to Northern Europe.

[Clemdog 39,389]

We had some great wee lads out on the park yesterday.

They were under 12 though.

The guy with the mad hair looked brilliant.

[mattmckay 2]

I dont know, Australia and Scotland have very similar cultures in many aspects, if not in football, then definitely outside of it. Aussies are playing professionally all over the world in places like Russia, China, Japan, India, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uruguay, USA etc. Culture shock is always a challenge but its something players need to get used to if they want to keep their job. McKay is a nice bloke anyway and for sure, Scotland is a lot colder and the weather is different than it is in Australia but not sure if he'd use any cop out excuses to get in the way of playing for a big club like Rangers. Most Australians are pretty diligent people and will always strive to succeed against "adversity" if I may say so myself!

[iain88 70]

Totally agree about size. My little brother Adam got released from rangers when he was about 14 due to his size and he has undoubted ability. As discussed, if he was born in Spain he'd be in the first team squad at a top side in la liga by now.

[iain88 70]

I think "mattmckay" might actually be Matt Mckay. If so- welcome to Rangers!

[Broxi1872 183]

I dont know, Australia and Scotland have very similar cultures in many aspects, if not in football, then definitely outside of it. Aussies are playing professionally all over the world in places like Russia, China, Japan, India, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uruguay, USA etc. Culture shock is always a challenge but its something players need to get used to if they want to keep their job. McKay is a nice bloke anyway and for sure, Scotland is a lot colder and the weather is different than it is in Australia but not sure if he'd use any cop out excuses to get in the way of playing for a big club like Rangers. Most Australians are pretty diligent people and will always strive to succeed against "adversity" if I may say so myself!

Matt are you signing tomorrow?

[mattmckay 2]

Ive been found out

[the brown brogue 1,934]

Totally agree about size. My little brother Adam got released from rangers when he was about 14 due to his size and he has undoubted ability. As discussed, if he was born in Spain he'd be in the first team squad at a top side in la liga by now.

Who does he play for now?