David Watson looks a really tidy player and you can see why a lot of the support are keen on him. He has obvious talent and, importantly, he already knows the league and the tempo of Scottish football. Having boys who have grown up in the SPFL and understand the physical side, the pitches and the style we face every week is a big bonus. Ignoring that kind of profile is something we have absolutely been guilty of in the past when we’ve gone shopping abroad and expected players to hit the ground running straight away.

Midfield is already bursting at the seams

The flip side is that central midfield is probably the last area of the park we can call short. We are already overloaded in there. Connor Barron is playing really well and, at the moment, feels like one of the first names on the team sheet. He brings energy, a bit of bite and he looks like he’s growing with every game.

Then there’s Nico Raskin. He might be a bit off his best just now, but class is permanent. It would be daft to suddenly decide a player who is involved with Belgium at major tournament level somehow isn’t Rangers quality because his form has dipped. If we get him back to his proper level, he is still a serious asset in that midfield group.

The frustrating puzzle of Diomande and the number 10 role

It’s a similar story with Diomande. He clearly has ability, but he can be massively frustrating to watch. The talent is there, yet the consistency, decision making and impact over 90 minutes still feel a bit up and down. On top of that, we already have plenty of players who can operate as the advanced midfielder in a three, or in and around that number 10 pocket.

So the key question with someone like Watson is simple: is he genuinely better than what we’ve got in that attacking midfield mix? Is he ahead of someone like Lyall Cameron in terms of profile and ceiling? And closer to home, what does it all mean for Bailey Rice? He can play deeper and is more defensive than Watson, but he can’t get a look-in for minutes in our midfield as it is.

Quality over quantity has to be the way forward

Watson could well be a good addition and, in terms of age and SPFL readiness, there’s plenty to like. But the last thing Rangers need is just a bigger, costlier squad for the sake of it. Any move like that has to be because the club are convinced they can develop him, improve him and turn him into a player who genuinely challenges for the first team, not someone who just pads out the bench.

That’s the balance we’ve not always got right. If we’re bringing another midfielder in, especially from within the league, it has to be with a clear plan: where he plays, who he pushes, and how he actually raises the standard of the XI, not just the numbers on the squad list.

Written by Jersey-Ger: 9 December 2025

Tags: squad