I’d love nothing more than Curtis to be the ready-made answer for Rangers, the lad who just grabs a game and drags us up the pitch. Truth is, that’s not where he’s at. He stood out under Martin partly because we were that bad, and partly because he looked like the only one willing to do something different. That makes you noticeable. It doesn’t always make you the best option.

Standing out isn’t the same as being ready

When a team’s flat, predictable and lacking spark, the first player to break the pattern looks like a superstar. Curtis did that at times. He went against the grain, tried to make things happen, carried it when others hid. I’m not knocking him for that. If anything, it’s the mentality you want.

But there’s a big jump from “thank goodness someone tried” to being the guy you build your right side or your front line around. Rangers don’t get the luxury of waiting for a match to open up either. Most weeks we’re facing a set defence and we need decision-making to be sharp, not just brave.

Gassama’s flaws are obvious, but so is his level

Gassama can drive you round the bend, no question. Falling over too easily, taking one touch too many, going solo when the simple pass is on. Those moments stick in the mind because they kill attacks.

Still, I don’t see Curtis as clearly better right now. Gassama gets into good areas and that’s not nothing. The issue is what happens next. If he tidies up the greed and starts trusting runners, he becomes a proper problem for teams. If he doesn’t, then the frustration stays.

Antman chat feels forced, and we’re too quick to judge

I’m also not sure why Antman keeps getting thrown into the mix like he’s the obvious starter. If he’s not played in nearly two months, he’s not just walking back in ahead of Curtis. And while his first game looked exactly like what we all wanted, he hasn’t consistently hit that level since. That’s not a write-off, it’s just reality.

And that’s the wider point: we’ve got to stop binning players after half a season. Some take time. Barron looks a different player compared to last season, and Raskin was nowhere near it until the manager changed and the role made sense. Development isn’t linear.

For Curtis, a loan feels like the best option for both sides. Minutes, physicality, real responsibility. Come back stronger. There’s a reason Moore’s out on loan too: not everyone is ready for first-team football at Rangers, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.

Written by DJB_Ranger: 30 December 2025

Tags: transfers