“More Like a Rugby Player” — Craig Moore Brutally Slams Rangers Star Over Lack of End Product

“I’ve never liked him for once” — Craig Moore launches brutal attack on Rangers star

Former Rangers defender Craig Moore has delivered a scathing assessment of Abdallah Sima Gassama, questioning whether the winger has the qualities required to help Rangers compete at the highest level in European football.

Moore did not hold back when discussing Gassama’s performance, with the former Rangers star appearing particularly frustrated by the winger’s decision-making, lack of creativity and inability to consistently produce an end product.

In an extraordinary assessment, Moore admitted that Gassama has never been a player he has particularly admired, before going even further by questioning whether the Rangers winger possesses the qualities expected from a modern footballer.

“I’ve never liked him for once.”

The comments immediately caught the attention of Rangers supporters, especially given the fact that Gassama has become an increasingly important figure in the squad.

Moore continued with an even more brutal assessment.

“I don’t see him as footballer to be frank.”

And then came the comparison that is likely to generate the biggest reaction among Rangers fans.

“He’s more of like a rugby player.”

The former Rangers man appeared to suggest that Gassama’s approach to the game is based more on physical running and aggression than the technical qualities required to consistently hurt opponents.

For Moore, the biggest concern is not necessarily Gassama’s willingness to work hard. Instead, it is what happens after he receives the ball and begins moving towards the opposition penalty area.

The former defender believes Rangers need players capable of making intelligent decisions in the final third, particularly when playing against teams that defend in numbers.

And according to Moore, Gassama currently does not provide enough of that.

The criticism comes after another Rangers performance in which the winger was heavily involved in the action but struggled to turn his energy and movement into meaningful attacking production.

Moore’s argument was brutally simple: running around the pitch is not enough at a club with Rangers’ ambitions.

“He just runs around”

While Gassama can undoubtedly cause problems with his pace and physicality, Moore believes there is a significant difference between being energetic and actually being effective.

The former Rangers defender criticised the winger for what he described as zero end product and very little creativity, arguing that his performances can sometimes become predictable.

According to Moore, Gassama frequently receives possession and attempts to drive forward, but the move often ends without a dangerous cross, decisive pass or clear scoring opportunity.

He also questioned the winger’s contribution when Rangers lose possession, suggesting that his defensive work does not always match the intensity of his attacking running.

There was particular frustration surrounding Gassama’s attempts at goal.

Moore believes the Rangers star often strikes the ball with far too much energy while lacking the precision needed to seriously trouble the goalkeeper.

In his view, power without accuracy simply results in wasted opportunities.

The former Rangers player also highlighted what he sees as limited effort when it comes to interceptions and recovering possession, another area where he believes Gassama must improve if he wants to establish himself as a reliable player at European level.

European ambitions questioned

Perhaps the most significant part of Moore’s criticism was his suggestion that players with Gassama’s current profile could prevent Rangers from making the next step in European competition.

Rangers have repeatedly spoken about their ambition to compete against Europe’s strongest clubs, but Moore believes that ambition requires a higher technical standard throughout the squad.

He argued that Rangers cannot afford to rely solely on players who can run quickly or cover large amounts of ground.

At European level, the former defender believes the margins are much smaller.

A winger may get only two or three opportunities to make an impact during a match, meaning the ability to deliver a precise cross, beat a defender with intelligence, pick the correct pass or finish calmly can make the difference between winning and losing.

That is where Moore believes Gassama still has significant work to do.

The criticism is undoubtedly harsh, but it also raises an important question for Rangers manager Derek McInnes: does Gassama’s athletic ability compensate sufficiently for his lack of consistent end product?

Rangers fans divided

Moore’s comments are certain to divide the Rangers support.

There will be supporters who agree with his assessment and believe Gassama must become more productive in the final third.

Others will argue that the winger’s pace, physicality and willingness to take defenders on provide Rangers with something different, particularly against opponents sitting deep.

Gassama’s supporters could also point towards the fact that young attacking players often require time and consistent minutes before their decision-making becomes more refined.

Nevertheless, Moore’s criticism has placed the spotlight firmly on the Rangers winger.

The former defender clearly believes that Rangers need more than raw athleticism if they are serious about competing consistently in Europe.

For now, Gassama will have the opportunity to answer his critics on the pitch.

The best response to a pundit’s criticism is rarely an interview or a social-media post.

It is usually a goal.

It is an assist.

It is a match-winning performance.

And if Gassama can begin producing those moments consistently, Moore’s brutal assessment could quickly become a forgotten chapter.

But if the same problems continue — endless running, misplaced shots, limited creativity and little end product — then the questions surrounding his place in Rangers’ long-term plans are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.