There’s a nagging feeling around Rangers just now that any talk of “rebuilding” is getting muddied by the same old habit: taking a step down in quality and pretending it’s a step sideways. If the latest chat about bringing back a familiar face is accurate, it lands like another wee sign that standards are being managed down rather than pushed up.

Downgrading doesn’t look like a plan

For years, a lot of supporters could at least rationalise certain deals. You don’t have limitless money, you take punts, you try to shop smart. Fair enough. But when the explanation stops being purely financial, the question becomes far harsher: is this simply a lack of ambition?

Rangers don’t need to collect “good pros” or short-term fixes that keep the squad ticking over. We need players who raise the level, week in and week out, especially in the matches where the pressure sits on your shoulders from the first whistle. That’s the bit that separates a useful signing from a Rangers signing.

Windass and the streaky problem

The issue with someone like Windass isn’t that he’s got no ability. It’s that we’ve already seen the pattern. Streaky goalscorers can be brilliant for a fortnight, then disappear for weeks. At Rangers, that’s not a minor flaw. It becomes the story.

And even with the “ex-Ranger” label, not everyone carries the same understanding of what the club demands. Some players get it straight away, some grow into it, and some never really transmit it onto the pitch when things turn edgy. That matters. It’s not fluffy stuff either. It’s composure, responsibility, and showing for the ball when the stadium is getting restless.

‘The manager knows him’ isn’t a clincher

We’ve heard the line before: Danny knows him, Danny likes him, so it’ll work. But knowing a player isn’t the same as improving them, or finding a role that consistently brings out their best. If the point is familiarity, then the standard still has to be Rangers standard.

There’s also a fair point in comparing the reaction to other potential returns. Fans have been sceptical about names like Aribo and Kent despite the fact they did contribute first time around. That alone tells you this isn’t just a “no to all returnees” stance. It’s about the level the player can still hit, and what their ceiling is now.

Truth is, if we’re revisiting the past, it should at least be for someone who moves the needle. Personally, I’d rather look at someone like Alfie coming back than a move that feels like another roll of the dice on inconsistency.

Written by wslgers4ever: 24 December 2025

Tags: transfers opinion