Ragin Barry Ferguson’s fury over Aaron Ramsey

Like Kris Boyd, Barry Ferguson could hardly contain his excitement when Aaron Ramsey moved to Ibrox from Juventus on loan. 

Apparently it was a game changer, the biggest transfer into Scotland in 25 years and all the other hype that you’d expect as an Ibrox title challenge hit the buffers. 

Two days after the signing, Ramsey and Ferguson were watching Celtic destroy the Invincible Heroes to take over at the top of the table. Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley, two non-Gazza-like signings dominated the Tribute Act. 

Since then Ramsey was given 14 minutes against Hearts and 15 against Hibs. It’s not exactly the impact cheerleaders like Ferguson expected, perhaps the reality of Burnley being the only EPL club interested in the injury prone Welshman has some substance. 

At the age of 31 and with 97 minutes of action in Serie A this season it won’t be easy to get Rambo upto match fitness, expressing his frustrations in the Daily Record, Ferguson explained: 

It’s time for Rangers to let Aaron Ramsey rip off the cotton wool. 

On the face of it, the prospect of facing Annan Athletic away on a plastic pitch in the middle of February, is hardly what lured the Welshman from Juventus on deadline day. And, yes, a lot of people would expect him to be given the weekend off rather than take the risk of sending him out on a synthetic surface in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup. 

But I’m prepared to make a bet here. If you asked him, Ramsey would play on a cow field or in a car park right now just to get some minutes in his legs and a first start under his belt. 

I must admit, I expected to see more of him than we have done over the last 10 days or so. I was surprised that he didn’t go straight onto the bench for the Old Firm game at Parkhead and I thought he’d get more than just 15 minutes as a sub against Hearts and Hibs. 

But I’d hazard a guess a decision has been made to effectively put him through a mini pre-season at Auchenhowie because he’s hardly had any football this season in Italy. 

Concluding his column in the usual style Fergie added: 

Aaron Ramsey chose to come to the club because he wanted to wear the jersey and take on the responsibility that comes with it. It’s time to let him get out there and remind the world what he’s all about. 

Following tomorrow’s match at Annan, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side face two matches against Borussia Dortmund either side of a trip to Tannadice to take on Dundee United. Wales face Austria in a World Cup play-off on April 24 

Alloa, managed by Ferguson, are currently in seventh place in League One with 25 points from 24 matches, two points ahead of Dumbarton in the relegation play-off place.