The hardest thing about talking about the “required quality” for a Rangers player is that, unless they have already played in our league, there is always going to be a gamble attached. You can do all the scouting you like, run all the numbers you want, but until they feel the weight of that jersey and this environment, you simply do not know.
We have seen that clearly enough in recent years. Some of the lads who have not really panned out so far, like Rothwell and Aasgaard at the moment, did not arrive as unknowns. They came with decent reputations, operating at levels most would say are at least on a par with the SPFL. On paper it looked fine. On the park, and under our particular pressure, it has been a very different story.
The character question at Rangers
That is where attitude and mentality come right into the middle of the conversation. At this club, in this city, with our support and our media, character can be every bit as important as technical ability. You need players who can soak up pressure, not just when things are going well, but when the crowd is edgy and every misplaced pass is getting a groan.
In Scotland, the “Big 2” are given next to no space domestically. Most sides sit in, squeeze the game, and make you break them down week after week. It is no real surprise that Europe has sometimes felt like a better hunting ground for us, because the games can be a bit more open and the style of football can suit certain players better than the constant scrap we see on SPFL pitches.
Different arenas, different demands
The problem is we cannot realistically afford to build one squad for the league and another one for Europe. Yet it is becoming more obvious that the demands are not identical. What works away to a technical side on a European night is not always what works on a tight Scottish pitch on a Sunday.
Ideally, you sign players who can adapt and be effective in both arenas. The truth is, we have struggled to consistently find that blend. It shows in some of the recruitment over the past few years. A player looks like he should be fine at our level, but once he is asked to handle the physical side, the lack of space, the intensity of every dropped point, it can all look very different.
Time, analytics and Danny Röhl’s rebuild
That is why, for me, it is vital that Danny Röhl is given the time and backing to get a proper long-term handle on squad balance. We need a clearer idea of what profiles genuinely work for Rangers in this specific environment, not just what looks good on a highlight reel or a scouting report.
Analytics should be able to help us here, not by magically guaranteeing success, but by tightening up the odds. If whatever system we are using can be sharpened so that it properly reflects the realities of the SPFL as well as European football, then it might finally start pushing us forward rather than leaving us stuck in the same cycle.
The aim has to be simple enough: a Rangers squad that is competitive on all fronts, built around players who can handle the jersey, cope with the heat, and still move those financial wheels forward. Getting there will not be straightforward, but the direction of travel has to improve from here.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
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.
