We’ve drifted away from what used to make Rangers recognisable. The argument here is simple: we haven’t been picking the best Scottish talent, and that has cost us character. You can spend a lot, but if your signings don’t understand the league or what this club means, you lose more than goals — you lose identity.
Where it went wrong
To be fair, it’s complicated. Foreign coaches bring fresh ideas and different networks. That’s not the problem. The issue is when recruitment ignores the domestic game entirely, as if the Scottish market has nothing to offer. We’re not saying every signing must be local, but there’s a pattern of bypassing players who know the league and the battles involved.
We’ve seen managers come and go, and while some have left a mark, others simply haven’t understood the grind of Scottish football. SG was the rare exception who seemed to bridge modern coaching with an appreciation of the league. That mattered. It’s what many fans feel has been missing since.
Why Scottish players still matter
There’s something intangible domestic lads bring: a sense of pride, the knowledge of opposing teams, the tough away days, the press and physicality. Those attributes aren’t guaranteed by a foreign recruit, however technically gifted they might be.
Youngsters from Scotland often have that mentality from day one. They know the derbies, the scrutiny, and the expectation. They play with a different kind of bite. You can build systems around talent, but systems also need characters — players who won’t shirk when the game gets ugly.
What a smarter recruitment look could be
We don’t need a straight swap to only Scottish players. Mix is healthy. But the blueprint should include scouts who live and breathe the SPFL, a shortlist that doesn’t ignore homegrown options, and managers who value what this club stands for. Someone like Mcinnes gets the league instinctively; he’d likely have given proper consideration to names like Shankland or Mulligan — lads who know what it means to pull on the shirt.
Truth is, fans want connection as much as trophies. Get recruitment right and you get both. Keep the ambition, but don’t lose the soul.
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Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
