Barry Ferguson names three Ibrox stars that have ‘chucked it’ as he warns Gio over vultures

Barry Ferguson has named three Ibrox stars that aren’t battling to save Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s job.

The former Rangers captain has form on the subject as Paul le Guen would confirm.

Last week’s 7-1 hammering from Liverpool was followed by claims that players had chucked it, bringing on three substitutes Jurgen Klopp’s side scored five times in 25 minutes with minimal resistance.

That resulted was followed by half-hearted performances in the wins over Motherwell and Dundee that have confirmed the suspicions of many.

Last night the Aston Villa squad got rid of an unpopular and arrogant boss that had played at the very highest level, at Ibrox it seems that there is a very similar situation developing.

Explaining the situation to Daily Record readers, Ferguson writes:

I must admit I do feel for my old team mate as the vultures begin to circle around Ibrox.

Because right now I see a guy who needs help and support from people around him who are not just letting him down – but pushing him out into the firing line. I watched Wednesday night’s latest win over Dundee and, let’s be honest, it was painful to sit through.

Just as it was at Motherwell on Sunday when they scraped a 2-1 win. It’s so flat that it’s difficult to watch. But what disappointed me most of all was that I could only see one guy out there in a blue shirt who was busting a gut to make things happen – and he’s the one who turns 38-years-old at the end of the year.

Not only did Steve Davis open the scoring after nine minutes but he spent the rest of the night haring around that pitch trying to spark everyone else into life and leading from the front. That worries me.

And it will most definitely be a major concern for Gio at such a critical point in his own managerial situation. When he needs a team full of players who are prepared to run themselves into the ground for the cause, the only one who is giving his all is the oldest guy on the pitch.

I’ll excuse John Lundstram from criticism because at least he was also showing for the ball and taking on responsibility in the middle of the park. Ridvan Yilmaz was another who showed a bit of appetite to bomb forward and make things happen down the left flank.

And youngster Leon King continues to do an admirable job in really difficult circumstances. But where were the rest of them? Who else was able to look at himself in the mirror in the dressing room, content that he had left everything out there for the team – and for a boss under mounting pressure?

Certainly not Malik Tillman, Fashion Sakala or Alfredo Morelos – the three players who probably had more to prove than anyone else given that none of them have been trusted with a regular starting place.

I like them all. They have different attributes to bring to the team but none of them is showing any level of consistency or showing they deserve to stay in the team.

On Wednesday van Bronckhorst takes his side to Italy to face Napoli in the Champions League.