In just under two weeks time Rangers will kick-off their season.

Once again the Glasgow side will be in the hunt to secure a return to Scotland’s top flight.

This summer has seen the Gers bring in Englishman Mark Warburton as their new manager, with Davie Weir returning to Govan as his number two.

The new gaffer has brought in three new faces with goalkeeper Wes Foderingham joining central defenders Danny Wilson and Rob Kiernan at Ibrox this preseason.

But the club have also released eleven first team players during this offseason. Plus Newcastle United’s loanees (pretty much Haris Vuckic) have also left the club.

When Mr Warburton took-over at Ibrox last month, the former Brentford boss sated that he likes managing smaller squads:

“We believe in a lean, young squad competing for places and seeing that they can contribute.”

The fifty-two year old manager also said he wouldn’t buy anyone just for the sake of it:

“It’s about bringing in young players who bring value. I’m sorry for repeating myself but it’s really important to me and David.”

“It’s about players who add value not just on the pitch.”

But with that said the Gers currently only have a twenty-two man squad. That number includes three keepers and one of them (Liam Kelly) could be set for a loan move to Cowdenbeath.

That pool of players also includes various youngsters who have failed to make an impression on the first team as of yet in the Rangers careers. Obviously Mark Warburton likes to give youth a chance in his teams but you’d imagine that a few more new recruits need to arrive.

For me at least four new signings need to come in a bolster the numbers and improve the squad.

Jordan Thompson, Reece Wabara and Andy Halliday have all spent time at Murray Park in recent weeks as they have had trials with the view of signing for the club. Veteran midfielder John Eustace has also joined up with the squad as the Gers coaching team monitor his fitness.

The four key positions I’d imagine that Warburton and Weir will be looking to strengthen will be a new right-back, an experienced central midfielder, a creative forward/attacking midfielder and a goalscoring striker.

Clearly the new boss has started by laying strong foundations at the back with two central defenders and a goalie coming in. But you also need someone to control midfield and an attacker to finish off chances.

Former Derby County captain Eustace could be ideal in the Ibrox engine room. He has vast experience in England’s Championship. The thirty-five year old can be a leader on the pitch and help the younger players find a voice. But he hasn’t played since January after a knee cartilage injury resulted in surgery. Can he prove he’ll be fit before the start of this term?

Up top they have old campaigner Kenny Miller, Nicky Clark and two youngsters in Calum Gallagher and eighteen year old Ryan Hardie. So surely they’ll need another striker closer to being in his prime to help fire the promotion bid.

The loan market could also be a way ahead for the Glasgow side.

 

Some members of the Gers faithful have voiced concerns with the lack of numbers coming in at the moment. They aren’t complaining about their new gaffer but instead they want to see chairman Dave King keep his word and spend a bit of cash this summer.

I don’t think that Rangers need to throw much in the way of money around to gain top spot in the Championship next season. But surely their they will need to speed up the big recruitment this preseason and bring in a few more players that can add much needed strength in depth to the current pool!

Posted on July 14th, 2015 by scott
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