I’m stunned at some of the takes floating about. Raskin was hung out to dry by that vegan imposter last season and still came back into the side as one of our better performers. People write him off and don’t seem to understand what he brings, balance, bite and a real sense of structure in midfield. When he was out the midfield looked nowhere near as good. That’s not hyperbole; it’s the way the team shifted without him.
Why Raskin matters
To be fair, Raskin doesn’t grab headlines with flashy stuff. What he does is quieter but vital: he protects the backline, times his tackles, and keeps the engine room honest so the creative players can do their stuff. You can see why a lot of us wanted him given a long-term deal and the armband. Leadership isn’t only about speeches, it’s about setting standards week in, week out.
Diomande and Chukwuani - not cutting it
Diomande has potential, sure, but for me he’s never properly suited to the Scottish game. He flatters to deceive too often; pace alone won’t win everything. Chukwuani? I’ve said before and I’ll say again: I don’t see it. He looks out of his depth more times than not and doesn’t offer the consistency we need from players in his position. Harsh, maybe, but honesty matters.
None of this is to be needlessly negative. It’s about identifying what works and what doesn’t when we’re building a side capable of challenging. If the plan was to shape the team around someone, Raskin was the obvious choice.
What we should have done
Handing Raskin the captaincy and committing long-term would’ve made sense. His style fits the Scottish game and he gives the squad a clear spine. That opportunity has probably gone, so the sensible route now is to make sure we get top value for him if he’s moved on. And finally, can we stop pretending Lundstram was the better player? It’s not close.
We’ll learn more as decisions are made, but for me the takeaway is simple: recognise the players who do the dirty work and stop getting distracted by looks or moments. Raskin deserved better from the start.
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