Why Gassama Cannot Be Above Criticism

One Rangers supporter argues that Hamza Gassama’s early promise has faded badly, questioning his work-rate, decision-making and team play while calling for Danny Röhl to give Curtis more minutes instead.

Hamza Gassama arrived at Rangers with a bit of buzz and, to be fair, he did start his Ibrox career brightly. There was energy, direct running and a sense that we might finally have a wide player who could get fans off their seats. But over the last couple of matches, and really since those early weeks, one supporter view is becoming harder to ignore: Gassama should not be escaping criticism.

Early spark, sharp decline

The contrast between Gassama’s start and where he is now feels stark. The raw pace and enthusiasm are still there in flashes, but the overall contribution has dropped off badly in the eyes of many in the stands. When supporters see the same usual suspects getting it online after poor results, they are starting to ask why Gassama seems to get a free pass.

When a player begins well, there is always a tendency to cling to that first impression. However, Rangers are judged on what is happening right now, not what happened in the first few outings. That is where frustration is starting to grow.

Questions over work-rate and discipline

The biggest concern highlighted is his defensive work-rate. The image of a team-mate, especially someone as experienced as James Tavernier, turning round to have a go because a man has been allowed to run off untracked is exactly the sort of thing that infuriates supporters. At Rangers, failing to track a runner is never just a small mistake; it is seen as a basic standard being ignored.

Wide players under Danny Röhl are expected to graft without the ball, help the full-back and make sure the team stays compact. When a winger appears to watch play go past him rather than sprint back, it jars badly with what fans demand from anyone wearing the shirt.

Greed, decision-making and end product

On the ball, the accusation is clear: Gassama looks far too focused on himself rather than the team. The criticism is not that he tries to make things happen, it is that his head never seems to come up quickly enough to see better options. Supporters are seeing shots taken when a simple pass is on, runs into traffic when a wide ball would open the game, and generally poor decision-making in the final third.

At a club where every attack is scrutinised, that combination of perceived greed and wasteful passing quickly tests patience. A winger can lose the ball trying something ambitious if the intention is right and the work-rate is obvious, but when it looks like ego over team, the mood turns very quickly.

Time for Röhl to rotate?

The logical next step, from this supporter’s point of view, is straightforward: Danny Röhl should be willing to take Gassama out of the firing line. A spell on the bench can sometimes reset focus, remind a player of the basics and show that no one is guaranteed a start.

That also opens the door for others. Curtis is the name being put forward as the obvious alternative. Despite playing far fewer minutes, he already has more goals than the two summer striker signings combined, which is a damning reflection on the recruitment up front and a compliment to his natural eye for goal.

Giving Curtis a run would not only reward productivity, it would send a clear message to the squad: end product, work-rate and team play matter more than reputation or early promise. For a Rangers side trying to build a ruthless, winning mentality under Röhl, that might be exactly the sort of selection call that needs to be made.

Rangers News Views aims to give supporters honest, thoughtful coverage without the usual rumour mill.

Written by bigbluejim 4 12 2025