There’s a habit around Rangers that never really goes away: we decide on a player far too quickly, then spend the next few months trying to prove ourselves right. It shows up in everything, from how we talk about defenders and “fit”, to how we use transfer fees like they’re a guaranteed measure of quality.

Fit matters more than the name on the back

Take the idea that a player can be “a better defender” than what we’ve got, but still not suit the side. That’s not fence-sitting, it’s just football. A full-back who’s excellent one-v-one might look a million dollars in a deep block, then suddenly look average if he’s asked to play high, cover huge spaces, and take risks in possession.

That’s where Rangers fans can get themselves in a knot. We’ll argue “better” as if it’s universal, when it’s usually about role, shape, and what the manager is trying to build. If the system demands aggression in the press, quick recovery runs, and bravery on the ball, you need more than just solid defending.

The fee argument doesn’t settle anything

Then there’s the money chat. “13m is more than 8m” is true, obviously, but it doesn’t actually tell you if a signing will work at Ibrox. Prices reflect market timing, contract length, age, wages, even who else was bidding. And that’s before you get to the one thing we rarely factor in: settling in.

Scottish football is unforgiving. Not because it’s some mythical gauntlet, but because expectation is constant and the fixtures don’t give you breathing space. Players can look half a yard short early on and suddenly they’re “not Rangers class” by October.

“You don’t get time at Rangers” isn’t ancient history

The biggest myth is that there’s always been this historic Rangers rule where nobody gets time. Truth is, it feels like a modern mindset that’s grown alongside modern football: short-termism, quicker sackings, and the sense every season is the last chance you’ll get.

And it’s not just us. Celtic supporters can be just as impatient, which tells you it’s more about the pressure of being a Glasgow club than some unique Rangers tradition. Both clubs have, at different times, backed managers to put a style in place and allowed players a bedding-in period. It just seems harder to do that now, because everybody is living on the next result.

If it works, give the credit where it’s due

There’s also a fair question at the end of all this: if Rangers win things, are we willing to give the recruitment side credit, including Thelwell, rather than rewriting the story as if we “always knew”? Supporters spot plenty, but professionals live in the detail. They’re not infallible, but they are working with far more information than we are.

Maybe the healthier place is somewhere in the middle. Be demanding, aye. But stop acting like every player needs judged after three games, and stop pretending the transfer fee is the full scouting report.

Written by My Point Made: 15 January 2026

Tags: transfers tactics spfl