Managers Don’t Sign Players Off One Match

There’s something that always makes me raise an eyebrow in modern football: the idea a manager can watch a player once, for 90 minutes, and come away thinking, “Aye, that’s the one.” Of course Danny should have a say in who comes in the door. He’s the one who has to coach them, pick them, and live with the fallout if it doesn’t work. But if we’re being honest, a single live viewing should never be the foundation of a signing.

One game can lie to you

Football’s a funny sport. A lad can look a world-beater one week and anonymous the next. Maybe his team is set up to protect him, maybe the opposition sits off, maybe he gets acres of space and everything looks easy. Or it’s the other way around: he’s marked tight, his midfield can’t keep the ball, and he spends the afternoon chasing shadows. If the manager’s only really “scouted” him in that one match, what are we actually judging?

This is why proper recruitment matters. You need a body of work. You need to see how he plays when things are going well and when they’re not. How does he react after a mistake? Does he hide or demand the ball? Does he keep his shape? Does he sprint back when the move breaks down? Those are the details that rarely jump out from a single viewing.

What is the recruitment team for?

For me, the manager’s role in recruitment is to set the profile: what positions need filled, what type of player fits his system, what character he wants in the dressing room. After that, the heavy lifting should be done by the recruitment staff. They should be the ones building the shortlist, checking background, watching multiple games, and doing the unglamorous work that stops you making emotional decisions.

So when you hear that a manager has “gone to watch a player”, it shouldn’t be treated like the deciding vote. It should be the final bit of confirmation. A chance to see things you don’t always get on video: his communication, his body language, how he handles the tempo in real time.

Overseas targets can’t rely on one pair of eyes

There’s also the practical side. If you take the logic to its end, you’re basically saying clubs can only sign players their manager has watched live. That’s nonsense. Managers can’t be everywhere, and Scottish clubs in particular have to be clever and wide-ranging in where they look. If you rule out anyone overseas because the manager can’t hop on a flight every week, you’re limiting yourself for no good reason.

Truth is, good recruitment is a system. The manager matters, absolutely. But the club has to be set up so that the decision doesn’t swing wildly on one afternoon in the stand.

A bit of perspective in the arguments

And while we’re at it, the wider point about folk throwing stones is fair. Rival fans will always talk, especially when they think they’ve got the upper hand. But football turns quickly, and nobody’s immune from a bad spell. If we want Rangers back where we belong, the focus has to be on getting our own decisions right, starting with recruitment that’s thorough, consistent, and not based on a single 90 minutes.

Written by Angus1812: 20 January 2026