Sometimes getting a wee fright at an early age isn’t a bad thing, but Patterson must now show remorse
As he closes in on a significant milestone as a ma
Steven Gerrard has been left bitterly disappointed by the actions of Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Bongani Zungu, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear.
The five of them have no excuses. They knew the rules, but they chose to break them. They weren’t forced into doing so. It’s all of their own making.
Patterson and Mebude are 19, and Kinnear a year older, while Bassey is 21 and Zungu 28.
For me, it doesn’t matter what age you are, you still know when something is wrong.
If they have gone to a party, then they deserve to be punished.
Had they gone to visit a grandparent, it would still have been wrong – but you could have half understood it.
But a party? Come on.
At a time when Rangers are flying high in the Premiership and doing well in Europe, it brought negativity to the front door at Ibrox.
Steven has been left to deal with a problem that was not of his making, but he will not shirk from it.
Rangers are now in discussions with the SFA and the Scottish Government,
What an opportunity the boy has missed due to his poor decision-making off the park
while all five players have been told to isolate away from the club.
They will be feeling terrible, I’m sure, and Patterson, in particular, will be really disappointed with himself.
He is very highly-rated, and was recently awarded a new contract.
He has been in the first-team picture for over a year now, and he is trusted to do a job on the park when called upon. That’s a huge compliment.
He most likely would have been given an opportunity on Thursday night during the Europa League win at Royal Antwerp.
James Tavernier had to go off injured midway through the first half, and Patterson would have been his natural replacement.
What an opportunity the boy has missed due to his poor decisionmaking off the park.
It will now be down to Steven what happens to the player in the longer term.
Sometimes getting a wee fright at an early age isn’t a bad thing.
As long as the lad shows remorse and learns from it, then he may well be able to bounce back from this setback.
He should have been on the park on Thursday night, and part of an incredible 90 minutes and another fine victory in Europe for Rangers.
Steven has now been in charge of 42 European games, and has won 23 of them with only five defeats.
His team keep producing, time and time again, and that is a record to be very proud of.
They were staring at a defeat a couple of times in Belgium, but Steven showed great tactical acumen and a real positive desire to win the game.
It was clear he was not going to settle for a 2-1 defeat, or even a 3-3 draw.
When it was required, he made positive substitutions, with Ryan Kent and Ryan Jack coming on.
The manager knew the game was there to be won, and didn’t want to leave Antwerp with any regrets.
Kent’s introduction was perfect. He scored the third goal after some good skill and an excellent finish, then he won the penalty kick which clinched victory.
Any win in Europe, especially away from home, is a good win.
So Steven can go into the second leg on Thursday with his reputation in Europe as a manager enhanced even further.
He displayed real football knowledge, and real positivity in Antwerp.
When his team had setbacks, whether it was conceding a goal or losing a key player to injury, he remained composed and called it right in the immediate aftermath.
There is still work to be done on Thursday night in the second leg at Ibrox, but I’d be very surprised if Rangers do not progress to the last 16.
They then just need to hope that the draw is kind to them.
That’s something they can’t control, but what is in their hands is winning the title.
Rangers still enjoy a comfortable lead over Celtic, but Neil Lennon’s men are in good form and have now gone on a five-game winning streak.
That will be a warning to everyone at Ibrox that they need to stay focused and not take anything for granted.
David Moyes has been a manager for 23 years, and is closing in on his 1,000th senior game in the dug-out.
The Scotsman is rightly proud of his longevity, particularly in the past decade when firing gaffers has been a constant.
With more clubs in the English Premier League having wealthy foreign owners, they also tend to overlook British bosses.
But Moyes has managed to keep
I’m not sure how long I’ll go on for or, indeed, how long football will want me
himself both relevant, and also sought after.
Since taking over at Preston North End in 1998, he has gone on to take charge at Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and now West Ham.
Over the years, he has also rejected countless offers.
At 57, he feels he has yet to peak and still has plenty to offer the game.
When he takes charge of the Hammers this afternoon at home to Spurs, it will be his 969th match in the dugout, and he hopes it ends with another three points in what has been an outstanding campaign so far.
Moyes told The Sunday Post: “I believe I’m over 960 games as a first-team manager.
“If I get to the 1,000 mark, then it will be an achievement to be proud of. It will be quite prestigious.
“The majority of games will have been in the EPL, but it all started in the Auto Windscreen Cup.
“That was back in January, 1998, when I took over as player-manager of Preston.
“We played away to Macclesfield, and won 1-0.
“Now I am where I am, and I have had a fantastic time in management. Yes, some ups and downs, highs and lows, but it’s been some journey.
Moyes in his first season as Preston manager back in 1998
“Not many managers have managed to get past 1,000 games.
“But if I do get there, and join a group that includes the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Neil Warnock, it will be a lovely milestone.
“I’m not sure how long I will go on for or, indeed, how long football will want me.
“However, I can’t see myself carrying on into my 70s in the way Roy Hodgson is doing, and the way Sir Alex carried on until he was 71.
“But I still feel young and energetic, and this is a season I am really enjoying.
“It’s been terrific so far and we still have things to do. I am ready for it, as are my staff and my players.
“There is definitely more to come from myself as a manager.