Rangers have got themselves into that familiar mess where the club feels like it’s being run to suit a theory rather than to win matches in the here and now. You hear plenty talk about “models” and “structures”, but the truth is the support judge it by one thing: trophies. And we’re still looking for the plan that consistently delivers them.
A line I saw summed it up brilliantly: workers get paid for what they do, managers for what they know, and the people above them for who they are. That hits a nerve because it can feel like appointments in the summer leaned more towards status and connections than clear footballing competence. The “proof” is what came afterwards, with more confusion than progress.
Pick a direction and stick to it
One of the most frustrating bits is how often we seem to bounce between an English-style approach and a European one, without ever properly committing. The player-trading idea has had moments, to be fair. Rangers have brought in players, improved them, and moved them on for decent money. But that only matters if the team on the pitch is still strong enough to dominate domestically and cope in Europe. The balance hasn’t been right.
And while we chase this “market” and this profile, we keep acting as if signing from our own league is beneath us. That’s madness. Scottish football isn’t perfect, but it’s the environment we have to win in. Are we really such a super European outfit that we can ignore players who already understand the tempo, the physical side, the away grounds, the pressure? We’ve won titles with players others laughed at. That’s not nostalgia, that’s just reality.
Philosophy is fine, obsession isn’t
The biggest danger is when a club falls in love with a “footballing philosophy” more than it falls in love with winning. You end up trying to turn every player into the same type, even when it doesn’t suit them. Not everyone needs to be a pure technician taking risks in their own third. Sometimes you need simple, aggressive, streetwise football. Especially up here, when teams are sitting in and waiting on mistakes.
That’s why it was interesting seeing Danny show a more pragmatic side. With Raskin back involved on Sunday, the midfield looked like it had someone who actually wanted the ball and could help connect the game. It reminded me of the old idea of a sweeper, not in the literal sense, but in the principle: centre-halves win it, give it to midfield, and let the players who can play actually play. There’s nothing wrong with being direct at times. There’s nothing wrong with clearing your lines. It’s Rangers, not a coaching seminar.
Recruitment should be about hunger
More than anything, Rangers need players who want to win here. Not players who view the club as a stop on the way somewhere else. Ambition is fine, but you still need men who can cope with the demands of Ibrox and actually take pride in the ugly side of the job. And yes, there are plenty in our league who come with that edge built in.
“We are the people” can’t just be a line we repeat when it suits. The board have to get a grip, pick the right football direction, and stop chasing a shape-shifting identity. Otherwise we’ll be having the same conversation next season too.
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