I got it so wrong by dropping Halliday, admits Warburton
MARK WARBURTON has admitted he made a mistake in dropping Andy Halliday from his Rangers line-up. A stalwart and midfield driving force during the Ibrox club’s Championship-winning season, Halliday started the first three games of the Premiership season before falling down the pecking order.
Initially omitted for the 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock, Halliday was also benched for the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park and in his absence a midfield featuring the aging and ailing duo of Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar was completely overrun in a 5-1 defeat.
Warburton quickly restored Halliday and even handed him the captain’s armband for the Betfred Cup quarterfinal against Queen of the South.
Barton is currently serving a threeweek suspension following altercations with both Halliday and his manager in the wake of the reverse to Celtic. And Warburton admits Halliday has responded to his setback in the perfect manner.
He said: ‘With Andy we made what we thought was the right decision. In hindsight it wasn’t the right decision.
‘We always say it’s never, ever personal, it’s only professional. It has to be that way. We’ve got a bigger squad and you can’t win sometimes. You can have a tight squad and people say you need bigger numbers. When you have bigger numbers they say: “Why don’t you pick him?” That’s the nature of the beast.
‘Hindsight’s a marvellous thing to have but there’s no doubt when Andy Halliday pulls a shirt on there’s no more passionate player for the club, there’s no player more willing to do well for the club. What you see with Andy Halliday is totally genuine.
‘He was frustrated not to play but he’s come in and done really well, so he’s the perfect role model.’
While Lee Wallace retains the club captaincy, the decision to hand Halliday temporary possession of the armband looked a smart move in the wake of the blow to the player’s ego.
‘I just think he deserved it,’ said Warburton. ‘Lee was away, Kenny (Miller) wasn’t starting the game and I think it showed in his display how much it meant to him.
‘He plays with a real hunger. People say he wears his heart on his sleeve, which sometimes is a throwaway statement. In Andy’s case it’s very evident what it means for him to play for the club.
‘Everything about Andy is top drawer. His passion for the club and playing football, his desire to get better, his willingness to help the team. I think he’s been outstanding.
‘He’s a pleasure to have in the side and I’ve got no doubts about him. I just hope very much in a few weeks’ time, or a few months’ time, we’re talking about Andy and Jason Holt being alongside Barrie (McKay) and Lee in the Scotland squad.’
While Wallace has been recalled to Gordon Strachan’s pool for next weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, McKay has retained his place after making a good impression on the national coach during the trip to Malta for the opening fixture on the road to Russia 2018.
Handed his first cap as a late substitute against France, McKay has benefited from some personal reassurance from Strachan.
‘He spoke to me after the Malta game and he just said that I’ve been doing well and will get a chance,’ said the 21-year-old. ‘I could say I’m disappointed not to play but to go away and get that experience, even just watching the game, was great.’
Nominally a winger, McKay has designs on playing a more central role as his career develops and his switch of squad number for the new season was no accident.
‘I think in an ideal world I would like to play No 10,’ he continued. ‘I enjoy playing wide but the freedom the gaffer gives me here means I can drift in and express myself.
‘It’s the number the best players wear and also the shirt I wore when I made my debut in the lower leagues. When the opportunity came to get it, I had to take it.’
‘IN HINDSIGHT, IT WASN’T THE RIGHT DECISION. HE HAS HUNGER’