Puzzled by a very peculiar practice
Caixinha’s approach to O’Halloran beats Saints boss Wright
4 Loan star Michael O’Halloran is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this term, having netted on four occasions for St Johnstone
IT has taken Michael O’Halloran just five games to transform himself from frozen-out Rangers star to Scottish Premiership hot property. Discarded by Ibrox boss Pedro Caixinha, the unwanted winger now tops the league scoring charts after his four goals on loan at St Johnstone took the unbeaten Perth side to joint second place alongside Celtic.
If Rangers’ loss is proving St Johnstone’s gain, it’s also a situation that has left Saints boss Tommy Wright completely baffled after he and O’Halloran picked up the Ladbrokes manager and player awards for the month of August.
On the one hand, the Northern Irishman is thrilled at being able to work again with the talented 26-year-old he sold to Rangers for £500,000 in February 2016.
But Wright still can’t fathom Caixinha’s decision to publicly declare that O’Halloran was not good enough for Rangers and has no future at Ibrox.
‘You would have to ask Pedro Caixinha why he said what he did about Michael. It’s beyond me,’ shrugged Wright.
‘Michael is an asset for Rangers and he’s basically ruled out him going back. I find that difficult.
‘I don’t really want to get into a “he said, I said” situation. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and Pedro had a clear vision of what he wanted when he came in. Quite a lot of Rangers players weren’t part of that vision.
‘Sometimes, people have their mind made up on certain players. Pedro wanted to bring in eight, nine, 10, 11 players... I’ve lost count.
‘Michael was surplus to that, but it’s easy when you’re at a big club not to have a look at what you’ve got and say: “He’s not exactly what I want, but I’ll work and get the best out of him.”
‘It’s easy to dismiss him and bring in other players when you’ve got the money.
‘But whatever has happened, I’m delighted I’ve got Michael. It was a no-brainer to bring him back.’
Wright tried to sign O’Halloran outright this summer, but Rangers were unwilling to sell. Now that he has been deemed surplus to requirements in Govan, the St Johnstone manager may try again in January. But the double-edged sword is that, if the winger keeps up his fine scoring form, he could yet price Saints out of a move.
‘Let’s hope we can hold on to him for some time,’ said Wright.
‘Our plan now would be to extend the loan — or maybe if I can get the chairman to release a few quid, we might even buy him.
‘The worry is that his value increases, but the worst-case scenario is we have him here until January.
‘I’ve been planning for that. We’ve lost our leading scorers every season and that will happen because we’re a smaller club.
‘If Michael burns it up from now until January and someone pays £500,000 or whatever and we can’t keep him, then I’ll just be happy at the job he did for me.’
Wright was surprised O’Halloran didn’t get more game time under Caixinha’s predecessor Mark Warburton, who signed the winger after he helped Saints knock Rangers out of the League Cup at Ibrox in September 2015.
‘I thought he would be a good signing for Rangers,’ added Wright.
‘Mark Warburton was buying someone with pace, who can create and score goals. He’s also a winner because he won the Scottish Cup with us. I thought he’d get the Rangers fans on the edge of their seats.
‘I know from speaking to Mark Warburton some time after he signed that he felt Michael wasn’t as effective because teams sat in deep against Rangers. But I tend to disagree with that.
‘If you look at the goals he’s scored for us this season, how many Kilmarnock and Motherwell defenders were behind the ball?
‘I genuinely thought he would have done really well at Rangers.
‘He’s had a bad time, but I had no hesitation in taking him back. The dogs in the street knew I’d been after him since last January. And it’s great to see him with a little spring in his step again and a lot happier.’
O’Halloran has been re-energised by spending his Saturdays on a
pitch instead of in the gym. ‘It’s been frustrating not having a game to look forward to,’ he admitted.
‘On match day, I’d be in with the fitness coach and then do an extra bit in the gym. It’s hard watching the scores come in when you’re not involved.
‘The last game I started was back in January, so I’ve been doing lots of running and trips to the gym. I didn’t go on holiday this summer so I could work on my fitness and wait for an opportunity to come. But now I’m looking forward to Saturdays again and playing at 3pm.’ While Caixinha (below) may not rate him, O’Halloran always knew Wright would get the very best out of him. ‘I am happy at St Johnstone. I’m thriving playing for a manager who appreciates me and for a team who appreciate me,’ he added. ‘The manager is a great man manager. He is good tactically, but he knows me as a person, as well as a player. ‘I always want to go out and do my best for him and for the team.
‘I think I have matured as a person after my time at Rangers and I did enjoy parts of it. Any kid will tell you they want to play in front of big crowds.
‘When I met (Rangers fans) out and about, they were saying they would like to see me get my chance in the team.
‘Obviously, the (Caixinha) comments were disappointing and football is always about proving people wrong.
‘But my motivation is just to get back playing football matches. I always try my best.’