To be blunt: the talent is there in flashes, but it rarely lines up. We can look brilliant against big teams, then limp through against minnows. It’s maddening and familiar—quality on the pitch, fragility off it.
Small pool, big fitness questions
You hear the same names thrown about—Gilmour, Hickey, Doak, Ferguson—and there’s merit in that. Trouble is, Hickey and Doak haven’t enjoyed consistent fitness, Gilmour’s had his own bumps along the road, and that uneven availability turns a decent starting eleven into a paper tiger. To be fair, when everyone’s fit we look solid. The problem is that never seems to happen.
The striker problem won’t go away
Call it romanticising the past, but we used to have numbers up front. Now we keep asking the same question: who leads the line? Injuries to wide players and full-backs have forced makeshift solutions rather than proper answers, and that lack of a reliable goalscorer haunts us. You can set up tactically how you like, but if you don’t have a finisher the plans only take you so far.
Youth, systems and the SFA
This is the bigger worry. There are decent Scots coming through here and there, but history shows too many vanish or stall. How do we actually move that next wave into full internationals? It isn’t just about picking youngsters; it’s about coaching, pathways, club support and a bit of bravery from the top. The SFA need proper, structural thinking—not quick fixes.
I’m heading to the World Cup wanting grit and ambition. If we park the bus and hope nobody notices, we’ll get the same hollow feeling as the last tournament. Play to win. Back the youngsters. Sort the fitness and depth. Simple? No. Necessary? Absolutely.
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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.
