There is ability in this Rangers squad, particularly in the attacking areas, but you simply cannot judge young players properly when the whole team is off it. When the overall level is poor, every youngster automatically looks worse than they actually are.

Scrappy wins, confidence and a misfiring attack

Like Danny Rohl, a lot of us probably thought that if we just started grinding out wins, even ugly ones, the confidence would follow and performances would pick up from there. It has not really worked out that way. The wins have not consistently turned into the sort of authority on games we were hoping for.

To be fair, there were signs of life in the attack on Wednesday. The general play in the final third looked a bit sharper, movement was better and we were getting into the right areas more often. The big frustration, as usual, was the final product. That last pass or finish is still missing all too often, and that is the bit everyone remembers when they judge players.

Recruitment calls and players fitting the style

Most of us accept now that Thelwell was not a great fit for Rangers in terms of recruitment. But even if he was not suited, someone else at the club, whether that was Koppen or others in the structure, clearly believed these signings would contribute for us. They were not brought in for a laugh. There was at least an idea that they could fit a plan.

Take Miovski as an example. Right now, our style does not look like it suits him perfectly. He can look a bit isolated at times, and we do not always play to what seem to be his main strengths. That said, there was more from him on Wednesday than we had seen before, little flashes that suggest he might grow into it. Maybe it ends up being more about him adapting to what Rohl wants, rather than the whole team being tilted to suit him.

It is similar with Chermiti. He looks more like a project than an instant solution. You can easily see him being the backup to a new number 9 that we either buy or bring in on loan, learning the role, being mentored and given time to get used to the demands. A bit like what we saw previously with Iga, where patience was part of the plan rather than an afterthought.

The mentality jump at Rangers

That is really the core of it. The technical and physical ability is there in a lot of these boys. What will decide whether they make it or not at Rangers is the mentality side of the game. Handling the expectation, the pressure when Ibrox gets edgy, the need to perform every single week without hiding. That is a massive jump for any player, never mind younger ones.

Some will grow with it, some will shrink. We need to allow a bit of space to find out which is which rather than writing people off after a bad spell in a struggling side. That is not making excuses, it is just being realistic about development.

This window will not fix everything

And for all the noise around the window, it is worth being honest about what is possible. Without having any inside knowledge, it is obvious we are not suddenly replacing eight players this month and sending every loanee back, even if the contracts technically allowed it. Football does not work like that, especially in January.

The squad will need to evolve over a few windows, not one. In the meantime, Rohl and his staff have to squeeze more out of what is already here, help these young attackers adapt to the style, and, crucially, build the mentality needed to handle playing for Rangers. That, more than any quick fire clear-out, is what will decide who sinks and who swims in this team.

Written by Angus1812 — 5 December 2025