15 Jul 2026 17:56:05
I've seen a lot of derogatory comments about Souttar and I think they are out of order.
I personally don't think he's ever had an accomplished partner at CB whilst he's been with us. Possibly Balogun but with being out the team so frequently probably wasn't able to form a good understanding with one another.
I want to cast everyone's minds back to when we had the big Greek CB Kirgiakos. He also got a lot of stock for constantly being caught out of position. However what most fans at the time could t see was he was paired with Julian Rodriguez who was an absolutely shocking CB. So Kirgiakos was having to to his job whilst covering for JR and it looked like he was awful. But he wasn't. And eventually signed for Liverpool.
Im not saying the is is the case with Souttar but it does highlight how we can form opinions about CB's when we really need to look at the unit. I think you'll find any highly rated CB has/is always playing beside a similarly rated CB with a good understanding of one another's game.
{Ed001's Note - Kyrgiakos was awful for Liverpool.}
15 Jul 2026 18:47:35
I agree with you, Zikos. 👍 Whatever anyone's opinion of Big Soapy is, there's always some who have to make it personal and nasty as possible. What a way to think. 😡 Souttar, imo, is a decent centre half, and good luck to Big Soapy wherever his career takes him next. 👍🇬🇧
15 Jul 2026 18:56:04
I really liked the signing of John Souttar. Thought he could develop into a Rangers captain, but he never got close to the standard I thought he could reach.
Last season he was terrible. He looked a liability every time he took the field.
I understand why fans are negative about him.
What I agree with is the nature of the criticism is appalling at times. Not just him, but the personal nature and sheer nastiness at times is just not needed.
15 Jul 2026 18:40:24
Zikos, he's not nearly as bad as some make him out, didn't pick up serious injuries earlier on in his career, he'd be a far better player, but still a good cb, he was poor after coming back from his last injury, I can remember that Ed001.
15 Jul 2026 19:18:56
I think he'd be decent with an experienced, proper CB in there beside him. Not a young lad, which seems to be the case atm.
Also agree that he would be very good in a back 3.
15 Jul 2026 19:28:03
Not nearly as bad as some made out, and I've defended him often on here, but with so many mistakes last season, I would have no confidence in him as one of our CB's.
15 Jul 2026 19:29:26
If Ben Davies had been worth the outlay or the wages, John Souttar would have been viewed as ample cover as intended. Souttar kopped all the flack while Davies trousered the big pay pack over their respective time at the club.
Souttar will do well in the Championship. I think it is the right time to move him on, and wish him well with his move wherever he ends up next.
15 Jul 2026 19:34:36
The other thing I would add is there isn't any guarantees that Godfrey is any better.
Last year we brought in Aarons to ultimately replace Tav, but it turned out he wasn't half as good.
Hopefully this doesn't turn out the same way. 🤞
15 Jul 2026 21:07:18
Tommy, TBH, Souttar was decent up until he came back from his injury in December last year, mate. 🤔 It was after that his form wasn't good. 🤔 🇬🇧
15 Jul 2026 21:34:37
Some of the criticism is a bit Ott, but I've never seen a CB who misjudges the ball in the air as badly as him, and who has to make so many last ditch challenges going to ground due to his positioning being wrong.
15 Jul 2026 23:12:32
Ed I know he was a squad player at Liverpool. But to say he was awful is a bit unfair considering how poor Liverpool were in general during that period.
{Ed001's Note - it is not unfair mate, he was absolutely terrible for us. I was being nice about him. One of the worst players I have ever seen in a Liverpool shirt.}