14 Dec 2025 08:50:01
@Angus
One of your posts made me laugh this morning not in a bad way. It was a very valid point and a good question. I laughed because I actually agree with what you're asking, even though I probably sit in the same camp as the guys who don't think Rothwell has been good enough at Rangers.
As you say, how do we judge players when we sign them? We're obviously scouting them at their previous clubs and looking at what they've done over the course of their careers, and that's how we decide whether they might be a good fit for us.
That said, there has been a large number of players in recent years who've come up from down south and just haven't been good enough once they arrive here. I'm not sure why they suddenly seem to fall short.
Is it the pressure of having to win every game? Is it the reality of the size of the club and the support, and the expectations that come with that, knocking their confidence? I genuinely can't put my finger on why so many decent-looking players from down south come to Rangers and then don't seem to cut it.
Aribo and Bassey, Lundstram and Tavernier and maybe Cantwell, who possibly could have made it if he'd kept his head down show that it can work.
So there are a few who've made a real impact, but there are also a lot who just haven't worked out.
14 Dec 2025 10:00:32
This is what puts Starlizard and Jamestown Analytics so far ahead of the game.
They aggregate long-term data on every player who has met a minimum games threshold across almost every league, going back many seasons.
When identifying potential signings for Hearts, they don't just assess individual targets in isolation. They analyse every player in that position across the Scottish League over a 3–5 year period, identifying the performance markers that consistently appear in successful players — and, just as importantly, those that appear in unsuccessful ones.
That allows recruitment decisions to be based on probability, rather than form.
It's scarily impressive, and it's easy to see how it's been so effective for Brighton.
14 Dec 2025 10:16:41
I would agree that previous form and achievements are a huge part of why players get scouted and signed for bigger clubs but I get what the other guys are saying. Its not that they think it doesn't matter but more that they don't care what they done previously. As Rangers fans, you'll only be judged on what you achieve at Rangers.
You could be the Messi of the championship but if you can't do it up here with us then you'll always be judged as a dud. I think that's what the other guys meant when they said it doesn't matter what they have done previously.
14 Dec 2025 10:25:46
Its surely a mentality thing with some of these players. Clearly have ability but when they see the size of our Club and the demands they crumble.
14 Dec 2025 10:32:50
Signing potential is important but a gamble but also looking at ones with experience of challenging for titles. Perhaps focusing more on other European clubs playing at a similar "level" rather then just over focus on riches of English football.
Look at the success of other nations who have had success outside the top 5 leagues and the money they raise from talent they find. I think Koppen had started us on that road so hope we get back on it.
14 Dec 2025 10:42:20
Stig it is regularly said on here that what they did at other clubs doesn't matter but that is how scouts tell so I was intrigued as to how you judge a player without looking at their form.
I personally don't think they become bad players when they come up here. It is a mentality thing and possibly the speed of the game. One of our successes recently was Dessers who despite all the grief he got still turned up, got into positions and scored goals. Might not have been the best but it is that mentality which is needed. Tav is another who turns up every week despite getting constant grief.
very rarely though do young players have it, Bassey and Iga being exceptions possibly.
it is always why I suggest we support the players more rather than react to poor passes etc. not to blame the fans but to try to say the young lads are struggling to adapt to the demands up here and we can make it easier for them. there will be few who are used to the demands of club who can't lose any games and it is mental development which is needed to get us real cash when they go.
14 Dec 2025 11:39:36
Good replies, guys.
EHL it's certainly seeming to be working at Hearts right now, and this is only the first transfer window it's been tried in, I'm assuming for them?
I was actually checking the league table: Hearts have played 17 league games and have only lost one so far. Whatever happens, they're having a great season up to now. If they'd managed to turn a few of those draws into wins, they'd be right out of sight just now.
I've always said that Derek McInnes, with proper backing at the right club, would do very well and he's proving that point as things stand. I could see Hearts in a much better light again next season, and it makes the league far more interesting and exciting when we have a few teams up there challenging.
14 Dec 2025 12:53:45
Jamestown Analytics is a secretive, high-impact football data firm, an offshoot of Tony Bloom's Starlizard, providing advanced analytics for player recruitment, coach selection, and opposition analysis to clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion, Como, and Hearts FC, transforming decision-making with data-driven insights for performance and recruitment
EHL - certainly proving a success in the transfer market for Hearts at the moment with signings such as Claudio Braga but surely only certain clubs will have access to this system especially if it's an offshoot of a company owned by Tony Bloom.
What other analytic scouting systems are available as Rangers need to take a leaf out of Hearts book when looking to sign players?
No doubt Danny Rohl will know of them especially having worked at top clubs like Bayern Munich.
14 Dec 2025 14:35:23
Copland is extremely well protected and only accessible to the "Bloomsmen" — and no, I haven't made that up. It's a very select group with unrestricted access to the data.
Despite being used by Hearts to support recruitment, the club itself doesn't have full access, but feed the Bloomsmen the positions that they want to strengthen.
The analyst team works with a reduced version, which shows analytics for teams in our league to help with matchday preparation.
As a result most players and staff know their rating on the platform though — including me — which is actually quite fun.
14 Dec 2025 15:35:20
EHL - not doubting your knowledge for a minute just asking if there are any other analytic scouting systems available to other clubs.
14 Dec 2025 16:14:16
Sorry Copland - didn't mean that to come across rude if it did.
There are two main data platforms that most other clubs use - pretty much all the game and training data is available on them.
The difference is, it's just data and it's down to the clubs to carry out their own analysis and build their own models.
14 Dec 2025 18:52:16
The suggestion would be that these players are good but can't cope with the pressure.
We used to be able to judge whether a player has the character to play for us.
For me with some of these players is that they aren't good enough.
Djiga, Fernandez, Aarons, Aasgaard, Chermiti, etc are not the level of player we need.
14 Dec 2025 18:52:29
Angus, I say it doesn't matter because it was used against me wrongly by your pal star when he was losing a debate as per. That's the only reason I say it these days. But here again you are trying to use it in a debate and it's utter bs.
14 Dec 2025 19:40:01
Stig, I think it comes down to attitude and application. These guys, when scouted, clearly look to have ability, but when they get here, I think the only ones who are successful are the ones that apply themselves properly and are humble.
The failures look to all have the 'this will be a doddle' kind of attitude. This is only my opinion and how I can best try answer that question most of us wonder about.