West Brom fans absolutely love Angus, and he’s clearly become a key man for them, which is why they pushed to make his move permanent. When he first went down there on loan they were raving about him every week. Yet up here he was widely viewed as bang average. That contrast really sums up a wider point about how we look at signings from the English Championship and what actually works at Rangers.
Championship quality v SPFL reality
For me, the players across the SPFL and the Championship are generally of a similar standard. Championship players are not levels above what we have up here, no matter how often that line gets rolled out. That’s a big reason why so many of them don’t really stand out when they arrive in Scotland. They’re good players, but they’re not turning water into wine.
Our league is faster, a bit more frantic and definitely more physical. There’s less time on the ball, the pitches can be heavier, and you’re getting smashed into duels every couple of minutes. A lot of lads coming from the Championship struggle with that shift in tempo and intensity. They’re used to a different type of game and it shows when they’re asked to adapt quickly.
On top of that, there’s the mentality side. The pressure at Rangers is relentless. Championship players often aren’t used to every home game feeling like a must-win, with 50,000 folk on your back if the first touch is off. Some cope, some don’t, and that edge is where we’ve been caught out too often.
Rangers’ recruitment problem since climbing back
This all feeds into how we identify players, which has been a nagging issue since we came back up the leagues. It’s not just about technical ability. That’s why so many fans keep banging the drum about recruiting the best Scottish players. They generally know the environment, they understand the expectation, and they’re usually more used to the physical side of our game.
We should also be targeting players abroad who operate in similar environments: high pressure, aggressive leagues, where winning every week is non-negotiable. If a player has already shown they can handle that kind of atmosphere, then they’re more likely to cope with life at Ibrox.
Statistical recruitment has its place and can look brilliant on a spreadsheet. But if the personality, mentality and physical profile don’t match what’s needed here, then more often than not it’s going to fall down. The numbers should support what we see in terms of character and fit, not replace it. Until we get that balance right, we’ll keep seeing players who look great elsewhere come here and just look, at best, bang average.
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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.
