04 Mar 2026 11:08:09
Connor Barron - is he all that?
Some say, "headless chicken" ( myself included previously ), others say pivotal to how we play.
I think technically he is lacking in ability at times.
Others think his chasing and harassing is enough.
But I think it was patently obvious in the second half against Motherwell and Celtic ( yes, I know he didn't play ) that what we really need in the middle is someone to control the tempo of the play.
Take the ball and slow things down, keep control instead of the consistently punting balls forward to no one and inviting the opposition back onto us.
This season in the SPFL:-
0 goals.
2 assists.
7 – average possession lost per game.
13 starts.
19 appearances.
35% cross accuracy.
40% long ball accuracy.
54% ground duels won.
85% pass accuracy opposition half.
Statistically he has improved immensely under Rohl.
But is he another player who gets better and better the longer he is out the first team?
04 Mar 2026 12:18:56
I agree, sometimes a sense can distort your views, especially when we look at current deficiencies. I prefer to think how he was being viewed at the time. Before his injury, he was getting really good reviews in many quarters, and was becoming one of the 1st names on the team sheet, with a few MOM awards. Even some of the headless chicken posters started giving him some credit.
He was also breaking into the Scotland squad, so I don't think it's all just blue tinted hindsight. Stats aren't always the best for that type of player, so I think it's more about whether u appreciate what he brings or doesn't bring to the team. I like him, but yes, I'd love even better. I think he's at the very least an excellent squad member, and one to bring off the bench when needed.
04 Mar 2026 12:26:43
He reminds me of Stuart McCall.
04 Mar 2026 12:35:12
We could have done with him in the midfield in the second half on Sunday there. We wouldn't have dropped points. When Dio came on, we looked worse, unfortunately. It probably was his worst game for us.
04 Mar 2026 12:42:05
I think we all await the long-promised, experienced number 6, but until then Barron is probably the best we have at disrupting play and, if not winning the ball back, at least stopping the opposition having the time and space to play their game.
I don't expect that type of player to have lots of assists and goals, though. I also think that the new number 6 will further improve him in that role, that is if it is where the club sees him playing.
He is still young and inexperienced in that role, but I think we saw improvement from him.
So, he has limitations, but was playing well before he was injured, and gives us, at worst, another sub who is dynamic if he comes on.
04 Mar 2026 12:42:32
He wouldn't be in Scotland Squads if he wasn't performing for us.
04 Mar 2026 12:44:43
Agreed, Kaiser. And on top of that, there was a fair bit of talk of interest from Italy.
04 Mar 2026 12:49:27
The lad, Joey Veerman, who we missed out on, with his range of passing, would be ideal for that role, with Chukwuani and Barron as choices to play alongside.
You never know, we keep players on our radar for a while.
04 Mar 2026 12:50:29
I've often thought that too, Carson, though obviously not as good.
04 Mar 2026 13:02:06
Barron has improved massively as a Rangers player, first signed squad player, now we're better with him in the team.
04 Mar 2026 13:03:17
But yes, we're desperate for a number six that can control the game.
04 Mar 2026 13:12:41
Rosevale, we didn't miss out. He didn't want to come, from what my understanding was.
04 Mar 2026 13:52:02
Barron certainly strengthens our bench, but I don't think he would have made a difference at the weekend. We couldn't keep the ball, and we kept shelling it long, with only 1 target man instead of 2 when Naderi came off for Dio.
I don't think Barron would have made a difference in that sense. He would have been a good option to have for fresh legs off the bench for Raskin or Tochi to disrupt McGregor and Hatate's game, though.
04 Mar 2026 14:18:33
He's technically much, much better than people give him credit for. His use of the ball in tight spaces is brilliant and we have been missing that.
04 Mar 2026 15:25:34
Barron could not lace McCall's boots.
04 Mar 2026 15:40:19
Use John for now.
But, McCall has a long illustrious career, so ye can't really expect the lad to be held head and shoulders above McCall.
I think Connor Barron is going to be a very good player and will have a great career whether it's with us or someone else.
I actually feel, for his own benefit, he'd be better going to Italy and showing all how wrong they are.
04 Mar 2026 16:06:14
We need a 6 that controls the tempo, not one that runs about. It's definitely that Hagi syndrome, mph, with Barron.
04 Mar 2026 16:36:31
I never once said he should be held above McCall. I said he reminds me of him. McCall never had a good goal return or assists either, but was always in the team because of the job he did.
04 Mar 2026 17:47:42
Imo, opinion: totally different players.
Barron will never get close to the career McCall had.
04 Mar 2026 18:27:40
Carson, he is very like McCall, maybe you're correct. ?
We won't be able to compare them properly for a few years yet.
04 Mar 2026 19:19:42
Agree, Stevie, mate. I believe he's shown the biggest upturn under Danny and will push on.
04 Mar 2026 20:23:11
McCall was one of my favourite players, so I wouldn't compare them abilitywise, but the role he plays and his style of play remind me of him. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we'll ever see players of the class we had in the past, so, often these kinds of comparisons get misunderstood as being as good as rather than merely seeing similarities, Carson.
04 Mar 2026 20:42:54
You're right, gees, that was the case, and that's what I meant by missing out, though I didn't expand.
Not easy to find, but that type of player is what we need.
04 Mar 2026 20:50:59
Kaiser, 100% mate. It's his work rate. A lot of people don't understand his role in the team and use goals and assists as a way of putting him down. Some of the best midfielders in the world have low goals and assists. Barron's played 19 games before his injury, and he will make the team stronger when bk.
04 Mar 2026 22:28:09
Barron in no way is and will ever be as close to McCall at all. ?♂️ This place gets worse and worse.
04 Mar 2026 22:29:13
Carson, if he makes that much of a difference, why were we struggling to beat teams when he was playing? If he is that good, you would think we were romping every game when he played, the way people talk about him.
04 Mar 2026 22:52:46
Cos there's also 10 other players, Storm, who aren't as good as we used to have. Put McCall, Rodri, Kante, or whatever No6 u choose, and we still wouldn't be romping it if we can't defend or create goals. Pretty strange argument there, mate.
Noone is making out he's world class or anything like it; just some like him and can see what he brings, while others can't. U almost make it seem like he's the worst player ever, and he ain't that either.
05 Mar 2026 05:02:33
Those are your opinions, Storm and John. ? If other posters rate Connor Barron and think he has a similar style to Stuart McCall, that's their opinions. ? So the site doesn't get worse and worse, Storm, it's different opinions, mate, that's all. ? John, there's no poster saying Barron is as good as McCall, but, imo, remember my opinion, Barron is a better midfielder in what he does than some give him credit for, and I like that type of midfielder in my team, and, imo, if Barron was in that midfield or on the bench to bring on last Sunday, Hatate would never have been afforded that freedom and we would have won the game, again, imo.
? ??