There’s been plenty noise around Rangers for a while, but this bit from Cavenagh’s discussion with the Fan Advisory Board actually felt like substance. Not a promise of instant miracles, just an admission that the Scottish game has its own demands, and you ignore them at your peril.
The key line for me is the simple acknowledgement of “the weight of the shirt” and the physical intensity of the Scottish league. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you’re not ready for the tempo, the contact, the tight pitches, and the fact every away day feels like a cup final for the opposition, you’ll struggle. Plenty of good players have.
Scottish experience isn’t a nice extra
We’ve seen this story before at Ibrox: sign players who look the part on a spreadsheet, then watch them take months to settle or never settle at all. That’s not to say “Scottish” automatically equals “better”, because it doesn’t. But a squad needs a spine that understands the rhythms of the SPFL, the refereeing, the second balls, the pressure of being expected to win every week, and the reality that drawing one match can feel like a crisis.
The minutes suggesting a certain percentage of the squad should have league or Scottish experience is encouraging. It’s basic squad building, really. Blend the quality with the know-how. Have enough players who don’t need the league explained to them in November.
More voices in recruitment can help, if it’s coherent
Another part that stood out was “more people involved” in shaping what the squad should look like. That can be a positive, as long as it doesn’t become too many cooks. The best Rangers teams felt like they were built with a clear idea: what we are, what we need, and what wins here.
If Rangers are genuinely lining up recruitment with what the manager wants, what the club identity should be, and what this league demands, that’s a step forward. The danger is collecting opinions without a final decision-maker who has a consistent plan.
Former players: keep it real, not sentimental
The bit about former players possibly helping to “shape the DNA” will divide folk, but I get why it appeals. Mentoring and standards matter at Rangers. When the pressure cranks up, you need people around the place who can tell a new signing exactly what’s coming and how to handle it.
Still, it has to be done properly. The right people, in the right roles, with a clear purpose. Not nostalgia for the sake of it. If it’s coaching support or mentoring that helps players cope with expectation, brilliant. If it’s tokenism, it won’t move the needle.
Overall, I’m with the fan who raised it: this sounds like Rangers finally acknowledging what we’ve neglected at times. Build a squad that can play football, yes, but also one that can handle Scotland, and handle Rangers.
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