I'm with the view that you can't fairly line up modern players against those old Rangers sides and expect a straight answer. The game itself has moved on — and not always in ways fans like. Creativity and robust defending were part of the spectacle back then; now shape and discipline have become everything.

Freedom and flair versus structure

There was genuine freedom in midfield once. Players could drift, try the unexpected and, once in a while, tear a game open with a moment of improvisation. That kind of licence is rarer now because teams train to keep their shape, stick to roles and follow tactical instructions to the letter. You can see why managers want that — it brings control — but it also takes away some of the spark supporters remember.

The tougher tackling era

And then there was the physical side. Players felt tougher, more prepared to meet the contest. Refereeing has changed, VAR has altered how incidents are judged, and the laws have become stricter on certain challenges. Those flying tackles and shoulder barges that raised the roar on the terraces would often be penalised now. It's not necessarily worse — players' welfare matters — but it changes how the game looks and how some positions are played.

Context matters for the club

On top of the broader changes in football, Rangers went through a unique period that reshaped the club. Being stripped back and having to rebuild from the lower leagues haunts comparisons with the past. Of course I miss the swagger and occasional chaos of older times, but we have to be realistic about why things look different now. If the owners stick around and back the team sensibly, and if Scottish football generally lifts its standards, there's no reason we can't aim higher again. For now, though, comparisons are mostly sentimental — the game's changed, and Rangers had to change with it.

Written by Thestigno1: 29 April 2026

Tags: tactics