Bajrami v Hatate — Not the Same Test

Just because Bajrami kept McGregor quiet doesn't mean he'd handle Hatate the same. They're different players with different roles and responsibilities on the pitch.

To cut to the chase: matching up against one midfielder and expecting the same result against another is naive. Bajrami doing a good job on McGregor the other day is promising, but it doesn't prove he's the answer against every opponent. Players have distinct profiles and games — and you can't just plug one performance into a different tactical puzzle and expect it to fit.

Different tasks, different tests

Think about it this way. Some opponents like to sit and dictate from a central base, others want to drive in behind, run the channels and cause havoc with movement. Keeping a steady, possession-oriented midfielder quiet is one kind of job. Dealing with a player whose game is based on mobility and off-the-ball runs is another. To be fair, Bajrami showed he can handle certain roles, but that doesn’t automatically translate to every scenario.

Why mobility changes everything

Mobility forces you out of shape. It drags defenders and midfielders around, asking questions of your pressing triggers, your backline spacing and who cops the runner. A less mobile player is a different defensive chore — you can squeeze channels, close down the passing lanes and rely on positioning. A mobile, rotation-heavy opponent requires quicker transitions, more communication and sometimes different personnel to plug the gaps.

Selection, sense and patience

So when people leap from one good performance to wholesale certainty, I get a bit sceptical. Squad selection should be about matching tasks to players. To be clear, I’m glad when someone like Bajrami gets praise — but context matters. Fans can be quick to flip from “too lazy” to “miracle worker” depending on a single outing. The truth is often in between.

If you want to talk football properly, that’s the debate worth having: which players suit which tactical jobs, and how the manager sets the side up to cope. Not every opponent is the same, and that’s what makes these conversations interesting. Rangers News Views or not, let’s keep it about the football.

Written by Angus1812: 22 March 2026