19 Jun 2026 14:32:31
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers Pre-Season Matters This Year
19 Jun 2026 14:37:43
Good to see you posting again, Ehl.
19 Jun 2026 14:39:45
Excellent. Very informative article. Thanks, Ehl.
19 Jun 2026 14:52:42
Cracking article Ehl!
Out of interest, which players that you've worked with have the highest VO2 max levels?
19 Jun 2026 14:53:57
Good article Ehl, very informative. Hopefully get it right this season, as usual we need to hit the ground running.
19 Jun 2026 14:59:47
Ehl, great to see you on posting
What an article, Mate. Think that might be the best one I've read yet on here!
An expertly written article from a man who clearly knows his stuff.
One thing I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on is what pre-season looks like if a significant number of the players we're targeting don't arrive until later in the transfer window?
Given the number of departures already, and players being allowed to move on, how much of an impact does that have on the physical profiling, tactical work, conditioning programmes and squad cohesion you've outlined here?
If new signings are arriving after key parts of pre-season have been completed, are they effectively playing catch up in terms of fitness levels, tactical understanding and relationships within the team?
With the early European qualifiers looming, it feels like timing of recruitment could be almost as important as the recruitment itself.
So what is the impact to our recruitment?
Will now see players coming in, sooner than later?
19 Jun 2026 15:12:13
Brilliant Ehl.
19 Jun 2026 15:17:00
Excellent piece Ehl, there was me thinking it was all about sticking the round thing in the net!
Seriously though, I knew there was a fair bit to being a modern footballer, but you have broken it down so well with that piece. I certainly have a better understanding now, so thanks for taking the time to write these pieces.
19 Jun 2026 15:17:50
Ehl, Gid tae hear from you again.
19 Jun 2026 15:26:31
Very interesting to see what is now involved in pre-season. Thanks for information.
19 Jun 2026 15:41:10
Stig, I think our first competitive game this season is the 31st of July.
I'd expect that all the pre-season work between now and the 3rd of July will all be focussed on building each individual players' fitness levels up to a point where most of the group will come together to start the more tactical team focussed sessions. Some players may require additional work before joining the group.
This will give the core of the squad 4 weeks to work together ahead of the first game.
For the players returning from the WC, I'd expect them to be given a 1-2 week individualised pre-season before fully integrating with the main group.
Same goes for any new signings who are signed after pre-season has started - however this can be complicated as we will sign players from Scandinavia who are currently mid season, we will also sign players mid window who have started a pre-season with their previous clubs and we will also sign players mid window who haven't had any pre-season.
So it becomes a juggling act to make sure every player gets the right time to embed the required conditioning before starting the competitive games.
Chemriti is a really good example. He signed late in the window and joined us after an injury-ravaged season, and with very little pre-season under his belt. Yet we opted to throw him in straightaway. As a result he really struggled for the first chunk of the season.
19 Jun 2026 15:48:24
Thanks for the excellent article, and glad you're posting, as we need this kind of informative insight. I 100% agree with everything u have written, which is exactly why I was disappointed to read about delaying the return to training. Top man.
19 Jun 2026 16:11:05
Very good article, Ehl, can u confirm that any player returning from WC requires to have a full 14 days off before they can return to training as stipulated by FIFA?
Do u feel players returning r in peak fitness and only require fine tuning?
19 Jun 2026 16:15:45
EHL, what positions are the players from Scandinavia you are referring to? ?????
19 Jun 2026 16:15:47
Ehl, excellent article and follow up. This is one of the main reasons I come on: to understand better the machinations of a football club.
To me, it seems from what you say that the pre-season programmes to get each player or group can be adapted for whatever period of time they have after signing or returning from WC etc.
So, as long as it is done well, they should be okay and caught up for 31 July.
19 Jun 2026 16:20:31
John, I thought last season we lacked fitness. Would be delighted if this was highlighted and resolved.
19 Jun 2026 16:26:34
Ehl, thanks for your reply.
Think I caught a wee hint in that reply too. ?
?
Your knowledge and insight is second to none, mate.
So pleased to see you posting. ?
19 Jun 2026 16:26:49
Love this post, cheers Ehl.
19 Jun 2026 16:42:46
Superb post, as always, Ehl. ? Nice to have you back posting, my friend. ? ??
19 Jun 2026 16:42:50
I've decided to come back early from a month in Hameledayme. My first point is. Ehl said "We will sign players from Scandinavia" not we Might sign. Care to elaborate, Ehl?
19 Jun 2026 17:08:32
Genuine question, do people want Ferguson because of his name, who his dad and uncle are, or because he is a good player? I don't watch Serie A so can't say I've seen much of him since leaving Aberdeen. Other than the weekend's game against Haiti, anytime he has played for Scotland, I have never sat and thought he is the type of player we need.
19 Jun 2026 17:47:58
Kaiser, I get where you're coming from re delayed start to training, I understand from last season the following would not be there today.
Six loan players obviously.
Six at World Cup again, obvious.
Gassame, Antman Fernandes, Bajrami Chermiti 21s should all return mid week.
Tav left.
That leaves about ten first team.
19 Jun 2026 17:49:41
Ferguson will improve Rangers starting 11.
19 Jun 2026 17:59:07
"we will sign players from Scandinavia who are currently mid season"
Interesting comment from you there, EHL.
19 Jun 2026 18:07:26
100 percent John him and Raskin in the midfield would be just brilliant.
19 Jun 2026 20:01:02
John, they could maybe get a game of 5s going, lol.
20 Jun 2026 07:18:07
Ehl, excellent article. Q? You touch on recovery, is this made easier due to the work prior to looking at that area, or is there a structure specifically to enhance recovery time in situ in a game setting, eg increased lung capacity, lactic dispersal, isotonic intake, or is it basically just down to peak fitness and the body's ability to be "match fit"?
Obviously, recovery after, say, an extra time game, where some may be overextended?
Cheers, bud, hope my Q makes sense.
?