The Curtis situation feels pretty straightforward to me. He’s a teenager with obvious promise, but promise doesn’t grow when you’re spending most weeks watching from the stand or getting five-minute cameos when the game’s already decided.
He looks like a good finisher when chances do come, and the work rate is there. You never question that side of it. But Rangers is a different level of demand, and if we’re being honest, he’s not quite ready to come into the first team and make a big impact on a consistent basis.
Minutes matter more than good cameos
Young players don’t develop in theory. They develop in real matches, under real pressure, with the same problems coming up again and again. It’s about learning how to influence a game when you’re not getting service, how to time your runs when defenders are wise to you, how to handle the physical side, and how to stay involved when things aren’t going your way.
At Rangers, if you’re a forward especially, you’re judged every week. Fans want end product, and managers want reliability. If Curtis is only getting scraps, it’s harder for him to build that all-round game he needs. A loan where he’s playing every week, starting games, and being trusted to lead a line is the quickest way to sharpen the parts of his game that don’t show up in short substitute appearances.
He’s got potential, but it’s on him to reach it
This is the key bit. A loan isn’t a punishment, it’s an opportunity. It gives him a platform to add layers to what he already has: decision-making, link play, movement, and that extra bit of composure when teams sit in. You can see the raw materials, but the final version won’t arrive without a proper run of football.
And when he comes back, he’s either closer to being a genuine option for Rangers or he isn’t. Either way, the club is clearer, and so is the player.
January has to be about improving the team now
There’s also the bigger point: we’ve got a league to win. The SPFL can be chaotic at the best of times, and if the rest of the division is inconsistent, that’s even more reason to be ruthless about what we need.
We can’t be relying on hope or good intentions. January should be about bringing in players whose current level improves us immediately, not projects that might come good in a year. That’s where proper scouting earns its keep. Get the recruitment right, reduce the risks, and let youngsters like Curtis develop in the right environment instead of being left in limbo.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
