Dodds reckons Rangers should leave Morelos out
BILLY DODDS believes Alfredo Morelos should be axed by Rangers – as he is costing the club silverware.
The Govan side lost to Celtic in the Betfred Cup final, were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the quarterfinal stage, and face an uphill battle in Europe after going down 3-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash.
Rangers also trail their rivals by 13 points in the race for the Premiership crown as the Govan side hope to continue their quest for their first piece of major silverware in nine years if and when football returns after the coronavirus shutdown.
Morelos has scored just once in his last 12 matches and Rangers hero Dodds believes the Colombian must shoulder the brunt of blame alongside his skipper for their side’s failings this term.
On his fellow striker, Dodds – who scored 21 goals in 65 appearances for the Ibrox side – said: “I think Rangers have to make a definite decision with Alfredo Morelos once they get this season over with. If you are going to try and catch Celtic and that is your ambition, Morelos is a key player but there are certain games where he gets suspended and they can cost you.
“People might disagree and say ‘he scores all those goals’, but look at Edouard, you don’t see him getting suspended. It is still continuous with Morelos and that is the biggest problem. He either gets suspended then he doesn’t turn up. That is costing you the title I don’t care what he’s doing in between because these games that Rangers need him most he is not there.
“It has cost them the Scottish Cup as well, because he didn’t come back in time for that one. If that keeps on getting thrown in continually as it has been with Morelos, then Rangers are not going to catch Celtic. Another thing that I’ve not chucked in he’s totally lost his form - since that Celtic game that he dived and was suspended he’s totally lost it.
“Steven Gerrard might totally disagree with me but that is where I’m at with Alfredo Morelos especially.”
Aidan Smith