Ibrox exit but McCrorie has talent to make grade at Dons
MIDFIELDER TIPPED TO SHINE WITH ABERDEEN
PEDRO CAIXINHA was in no doubt that the teenager he had just handed his Rangers debut was destined to have a glittering career.
‘Ross McCrorie is going to be one of the best centre-halves in history, not just for this club but for this country,’ the Portuguese boss said after a 3-1 Betfred Cup win at Partick Thistle in September 2017.
Caixinha’s successor, Steven Gerrard, also had high hopes for the youngster, albeit in a different position, hailing McCrorie in January 2019 as potentially a future Rangers captain.
Yet, while the former Liverpool and England skipper viewed the youngster, now a defensive midfielder, as a big-game player — starting him in Old Firm derbies against Celtic and vital European matches — the 22-year-old wanted to play regular matches and spent last season on loan at English League One side Portsmouth.
After deciding his time at the club was up, McCrorie is now set to make a different kind of history than predicted for him at Ibrox as the first Rangers player to move permanently to Aberdeen in over half a century.
Hibs had made two bids to take him along the M8, with chairman Ron Gordon publicly confirming negotiations were ongoing with the ‘terrific young player’ whom he said was keen on a move to Easter Road.
But the Dons moved quickly to agree an initial loan deal then to buy the player for a six-figure sum at the end of this season.
That would see the Scotland Under-21 captain become the first player to move from Rangers to Aberdeen since Alex Willoughby was signed for £25,000 in 1969.
Yet, while McCrorie has not lived up to the initial hype, he is not the first, and won’t be the last, Old Firm starlet to befall that fate then take the decision to let his talent flourish elsewhere.
Jimmy Nicholl believes the same top-class attitude that saw the talented midfielder reach the first team at Ibrox at 19 will help him bounce back at Aberdeen after his surprise Ibrox exit.
‘From the very first moment I came across Ross McCrorie at Rangers I was struck by him,’ said former Ibrox full-back Nicholl, who was placed in caretaker charge of Rangers in May 2018.
‘His manner was quite quiet but he was very respectful and professional and, when I saw him in training, I took an instant liking to him.
‘Here was a young lad who was focused on going about his job properly and giving it his all to get into the Rangers first team and he managed that.
‘It takes more than ability to make it as a player at Rangers. You need something in your character and temperament to handle 50,000 people cheering you and 50,000 booing you.
‘It’s about how you handle that and Ross’s temperament was a real stand-out.
‘He can play centre-half, he can play right-back but I’ve always felt his best position was in front of the back four. Unfortunately, sometimes at big clubs like Rangers, people don’t think playing as a defensive midfielder is enough.
‘When you look at Ross, he reads the game so well for a young player and he would get across and cover the danger. If anyone was caught out of position, he would make up for it.
‘His use of the ball is good. Some people hit 60 or 70-yard balls and good luck to them but there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple.
‘Ross is a guy who wants his career to go the distance but it’s hard enough for any player to break through at Rangers, let alone in defensive midfield, and now he is looking to continue his career at Aberdeen. I’m sure he will be a success there.’
In May 2018, McCrorie scored an equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie on the penultimate day of the season in a performance that made a big — and clearly lasting — impression on Derek McInnes. ‘I thought McCrorie, for someone so young, was the one that dragged Rangers back into the game,’ the Aberdeen boss said at the time. Nicholl, who was Rangers manager that day, believes the partnership between McCrorie and McInnes could be a match made in heaven.
Full international honours could even follow if he consistently sparkles in the Granite City. ‘It was such a brave header he scored that day against Aberdeen,’ recalled Nicholl, who was also assistant manager to Jimmy Calderwood at Aberdeen from 2004-2009. ‘I don’t see why he can’t be a Scotland international if he does well at Pittodrie. Derek wouldn’t take him to Aberdeen if he didn’t rate him highly and know what he wants Ross to do. I think he will do great in that defensive midfield position.’