Popular Post Frankie 8,150 Posted April 19 Popular Post Share Posted April 19 It's safe to say that since my last site editorial things have not gone well for Rangers... Despite a late draw against Celtic after an awful first 45mins in that game, the side have capitulated further in our subsequent matches at Ross County and Dundee to fall three points behind our rivals at the top of the table. Yes, the title hasn't gone yet and we've clawed back success from worse positions but with the team (and manager if we're being honest) looking a shadow of themselves in recent weeks, Celtic are now massive favourites. With that in mind and with supporters debating/arguing amongst themselves about who is to blame for poor results and who should stay or go over the summer, it's a good time to examine the general status of the squad which you can view in the image above. Please bear in mind these are my opinions only and I appreciate these will differ markedly from supporter to supporter (and perhaps from week to week for some people). Indeed, rather than calling for players to leave, it's perhaps easier to say who we'd keep so from all those who have featured at least once this season (or nominally considered a first team player), I've highlighted those I'd keep in white and those out of contract (or on loan deals due to expire) in orange and those I'd try to move on in red. If I'm not fussy either way, I'll leave them as grey. For info, there are 37 players on the graphic above so I'd suggest we really need to decrease that number to closer to 30 for next season. After some consideration, from this squad of 37, I have only nine players I'd really want to keep and it may well be from those, Butland and Yilmaz could be sold to help finance any new signings leaving us with just seven players plus Tavernier and Goldson plus another seven fringe/youth players, meaning we'd need to sign at least 12 players in the summer if we accept returning loanees such as Hagi, Cifu and Lammers will also be moved on permanently. I would imagine both Diomande and Cortes will be retained (I think the former is already agreed) so that takes us down to 10. If possible, I'd also be happy to bring back Sima and would actually give a (suitable) extension to Lundstram. That takes us to eight players; not an unrealistic amount to sign in one window given we did the same last summer but it could be more difficult if fans really want rid of Tavernier, Goldson and Lundstram - three key/influential players whether we like it or not. Who would you have as our new captain from the right hand column of retained players? It's also worth noting the poor performance (and/or utilisation) of our youth system. Ross McCausland was a surprise, and arguably forced, addition to the starting XI earlier this season but he's struggled to maintain his position since whilst other highly thought of younger players like Leon King and Bailey Rice have been unable to force their way into the side. There are few others we could consider likely to do so in 2024/25 so I wouldn't expect any wonderkids to magically appear. If we look at the right column of the graphic and make some admittedly strong assumptions (though they are popular amongst a vocal element of the support) then you can see how weak our squad could be for next season. Only one inexperienced goalkeeper of note, only one centre-half of note, no left back and just three senior midfielders means it's only really the attacking area of the side that looks reasonably competent. And even that relies on Sima and Cortes returning from their initial loans with the latter and Danilo also regaining full fitness in short order for the season starting. To say the squad would be well short of the standard required and would need significant investment is somewhat of an understatement. With that in mind, it's clearly crucial that we maximise the quality of those that come in but nothing is certain there in terms of contribution. Long term injuries to Danilo, Dowell and Cortes over this season show one unpredictable and negative outcome whilst the rest of our recruitment last summer really was abysmal with only Butland, Sima and Dessers (to a limited extent in his case) offering any kind of positive return and none of them may be here next season! In conclusion, I'm as annoyed and disappointed as every other Rangers fan with recent let-downs and emotionally agree we need to start again in many areas of the squad. However, this article shows such emotion is difficult to apply in a constructive, team-building manner. It's also very, very expensive with no guarantees. Nevertheless, we cannot afford another poor window - both in financial and sporting terms so the pressure is definitely on the manager and scouting department to deliver substantial improvement in an affordable, innovative fashion. That is very much easier said than done... 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,150 Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 Thanks to @compo for the inspiration... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whosthedado 1,499 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Groundhog day 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny3k 501 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Can't disagree with a single colour on your graphic 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny3k 501 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Also, very hopeful we can get Cortes back, what do we think that chances of that actually are though? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 13,623 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Every Summer it's 'this is huge' etc. It's getting boring (not having a go at the article, btw, just the general situation). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,247 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 (edited) A lot of what happens in the summer will depend on grabbing the title and with it a guaranteed CL group income, no matter how the results will go there. Should we achive this, Sima is probably highest on the agenda. Cortes and Silva at best new loans, as their contracts are long at their parent clubs, Clement hooks Silva far too often of late and Cortes has barely set a foot on Scottish soil. We shall see. Diomande (obligation to buy) and Raskin are for the creative CM role that we have seriously been lacking, but both don't look physically made to complete a full Premiership run. Lundstram and Jack ... many thanks for the memories. Maybe Sterling can step into that enforcer role, but we do need one or two more. We need at least two more centre-halfs, since Balogun won't be here next season, Davies most likely neither. Hagi (2026), Lammers (2027), Cifuentes (2027) are out on loan and might come back for the manager "to have a look", while Devine (2025) has been playing football again with Motherwell (he was not used by them for half a season, it seems), as a left and right midfielder. Still baffled by Beale's decision to loan out Hagi ... and it backfired handsomely. Edited April 19 by der Berliner 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,150 Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 36 minutes ago, lenny3k said: Also, very hopeful we can get Cortes back, what do we think that chances of that actually are though? Will depend on his injury I'd imagine. I think we were very keen to buy him but that may have changed given we've not really seen enough of him. Diomande is a loan with an obligation to buy so that deal is agreed already. Sima I doubt we can afford but another year's loan might be attractive to both parties unless his form gets him a better move. Silva I don't think I'd keep. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,150 Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 19 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said: Every Summer it's 'this is huge' etc. It's getting boring (not having a go at the article, btw, just the general situation). It is beyond tiresome but not any less true. The fact that many supporters are asking for Tav, Goldson and Lundstram all to be moved on makes it even more important we get the replacements right. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny3k 501 Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 1 hour ago, Frankie said: Will depend on his injury I'd imagine. I think we were very keen to buy him but that may have changed given we've not really seen enough of him. Diomande is a loan with an obligation to buy so that deal is agreed already. Sima I doubt we can afford but another year's loan might be attractive to both parties unless his form gets him a better move. Silva I don't think I'd keep. I still think from the little we have seen of Cortes, he would be a great asset for us so hope we can do something to bring him back, whether its a loan to buy or a straight buy (at the right price of course) Agree about Sima, but every passing game I find myself wondering just how a scout saw Silva and thought thats a player to spend £35-40 million on. Don't get me wrong, in the right league and with the right players around him, I think he could be a great player, but never a £20million+ player 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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