There’s a real unease among the support about John Souttar’s place in the side. People point to moments when defence looked solid with Djiga and Fernández but wobblier when Souttar was involved. Add in past errors that led to goals and you can see why the questions are getting louder: is he the weak link, or are we missing a bigger picture?
What the critics are saying
Voices around the club have been blunt. Supporters like Stevie from 4lads have suggested that our defence performs better without Souttar in the mix, and pundits such as Joshua Barrie have gone as far as saying he’s often "at the scene of the crime." Those aren’t flattering words. Fans remember the mistakes — the ones that handed chances to the opposition — and naturally those moments stick in the memory more than tidy, steady displays.
Where the fault lines show
To be fair, it isn’t always as simple as blaming one man. Centre-back pairings need understanding, positional balance and trust. You can see how Djiga and Fernández, when paired, look comfortable with each other’s movements; bring a different personality into the partnership and the shape can change. Souttar has been at the club since the summer of 2022, so it’s also fair to ask why a player with that tenure isn’t cemented as a reliable presence if he’s supposed to be a leader at the back.
Where that leaves us
Truth is, supporters want clarity. Do we leave Souttar out and back the pairing that looks more settled? Do we manage minutes more carefully to reduce the risk of costly errors? Danny will have choices to make, and so will the coaching staff. Whatever the decision, it must be based on what gives Rangers the best chance of keeping clean sheets and winning tight games. For many fans the balance has tipped — Souttar’s not getting the benefit of the doubt he once might have. That’s a tough spot for any player, but one the club must address honestly rather than hope it sorts itself out.
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