There’s a temptation at Rangers to judge every new signing within ten minutes of their debut. That’s the club we support. The noise is relentless, the expectations are high, and if a player doesn’t look like the answer immediately, the knives come out.

But the truth is, January signings often don’t produce their best form until the following season, after they’ve had a proper pre-season. That’s not making excuses for anybody. It’s just how football works a lot of the time, especially when you’re bringing players in mid-season and asking them to adapt on the fly.

Settling time is real, even at Ibrox

Whether we like it or not, players arriving from leagues abroad usually need a wee bit of time to settle. It’s not just the pace of the SPFL, or the physical side, or the weather. It’s the week-to-week demands, the travel, the expectations, and the fact that every touch gets analysed like it’s a court case.

Even good players can look a bit hesitant early on. You can see them thinking rather than playing, safe rather than brave. And if they’re joining a team that’s still trying to find consistency in its own game, that adjustment period can feel even longer.

A run of games matters more than a first impression

I’m with the view that you don’t properly judge these lads until they’ve had a consistent run of matches. Not cameos here and there, not being in and out the squad depending on the week. A proper spell where they can build rhythm, understand the patterns, and show improvement week on week.

That’s the key bit for me: signs of progression. Are they getting sharper off the ball? Are they making better choices in possession? Are they starting to look like they trust what’s around them? Sometimes the “click” doesn’t come in a single moment. It comes gradually, and then one day they look like a different player.

Recruitment isn’t judged on speed, it’s judged on output

On paper, the January signings might look a level above. And to be fair, the efficiency of getting deals done does feel like it’s improved under Stig. That part matters, because Rangers can’t afford to be dithering when the window’s open.

But nobody in recruitment gets judged for being quick. They get judged for being right. It’s what the players do in a Rangers shirt that decides whether it’s been good work or not.

So aye, let’s keep standards high. But let’s also be realistic about timelines. If the best of these signings is still to come next season, after a pre-season and a proper bedding-in period, that wouldn’t be unusual at all. It might actually be the plan.

Written by L-Mac17: 15 January 2026

Tags: transfers