There’s a lot of chat whenever Rangers are linked with any kind of “data model”. Some folk hear it and instantly picture a conveyor belt of teenagers getting flipped for profit. But the Jamestown approach, as it’s been described, sounds a bit different from that. It’s less about buying kids for resale and more about constantly nudging the squad upwards without getting carried away by hype.
Always improving, never downgrading
The simple idea is actually pretty appealing: rate what you already have, position by position, then only recruit players who come out higher than your current options. Like a FIFA rating system, only hopefully based on real performance data rather than vibes.
That immediately answers one of the biggest frustrations Rangers fans have had over the years. How many times have we signed someone and thought, “Is he actually better than what’s already here?” A model that, in theory, prevents that sort of sideways move is at least pointing in the right direction.
Data over reputation, and patience built in
Another big part of it is the idea that players outside the Bloom Group don’t even get properly “rated” until they’ve played a minimum number of games, roughly around two seasons of data. That’s important, because it pushes against the easy traps: buying someone off a name, a highlight reel, or a short spell of form.
For Rangers, operating in a league where it’s easy to misread numbers and easy to be seduced by a “big club” reputation from elsewhere, that kind of patience could be a real strength. It’s basically saying: show us it’s real, show us it’s repeatable, then we’ll talk.
Trending up beats the purple patch punt
The other detail worth noting is the focus on upward trends. Not just one hot run, not just a purple patch, but consistent improvement over time. That’s the bit that feels most “grown-up”. Rangers need players who can handle the weekly expectation, not lads who sparkle for six weeks then disappear when the pressure bites.
It also fits with the age point mentioned. If the average signing is around 24 or 25, you’re not just gambling on potential. You’re buying footballers who should be coming into their best years, with enough evidence behind them to make the move make sense.
No model is perfect, and football never behaves like a spreadsheet. But as a guiding principle for recruitment, it’s hard not to see why this is being talked about. It’s fascinating, and it’s arguably exactly the kind of discipline Rangers have lacked at times.
A Rangers reality check
The bit Rangers would need to marry up with any model like this is the Ibrox demand for instant impact. Improving “on paper” is one thing, but you still need the right characters and the right fit for how Rangers play domestically, with most teams sitting in and making you break them down. If the club can keep the discipline of the model while still recruiting players who can handle that weekly grind, you can see why fans would be interested.
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