27 Sep 2026 09:04:10
If anyone saw the recent interview with Barry Ferguson, the way he was talking, we were watching Dan Neil for quite a while. I hope this is pertinent now to our approach to scouting as it would seem that our previous approach to identifying players was picking names out of a hat given the vast amount of failed signings over the last few years or so.
I was optimistic about Neil's signing even though our luck in that market has been abysmal. It's refreshing to see a more pragmatic approach by the club towards our scouting and signings, which I believe coincides with the appointment of our Manager.
I think my optimism towards our signings comes from my inherent trust in McInnes' judgement. Did anyone else feel a lot more relaxed towards our signings than they have done under previous managers? It really does feel like the era of experiments is over and we are finally taking a serious approach to all football matters. I think Jim Gillespie deserves a lot of credit.
27 Sep 2026 09:37:21
On average we probably 'watch' players for around 18 months before they are signed.
Some players we have recently signed have been watched for upwards of 3 years.
27 Sep 2026 09:50:36
That's really interesting EHL. I didn't think players were watched for anywhere near that length of time. Shoes there's more to it than we think.
27 Sep 2026 09:57:39
If we watched previous signings for that long then that to me proves that there were serious issues within the club. Thankfully, I feel under Del's stewardship that these issues have been addressed.
27 Sep 2026 10:12:15
To be honest Superally I would expect us to watch a player for some considerable time and do our homework properly, so I'm not surprised that EHL has said that. What I am surprised about is that sheer percentage that have failed even though we have been watching them over a significant period of time and to be honest I think that it calls into question the competence of those who identified and watched previous players.
I think its fair to say that at least 90% of signings within the last few years have failed and with a percentage that high I think clearly there have been systematic failings within the club.
27 Sep 2026 11:16:35
The Rangers shirt is a heavy jersey to ware and no one can predict that outcome.
27 Sep 2026 11:23:02
Whitehorse. McInnes did say that he was addressing mentality when looking at signings, perhaps as I suspected, mentality was an issue before.
27 Sep 2026 12:08:15
I think you need to look wider than simply the player before you question people's competence.
Gassama was written off as a failure last season, as was Naderi - two players who are now shining.
It's easy to overlook small things that make a huge difference at football clubs. A perfect example being McCrorie, who many will classify as a 'failure'. However despite being injured, he's turned out at training every day, taking part in what he can and demanding more out of those who are there. He's also taken pain killing injections to play when we needed him and hasn't once moaned.
Its common knowledge that Naderi had injuries ahead of both Old Firm games, and McInnes even joked about him saying he was a doubt due to a dead leg.
Does Naderi do what he done over the last two Old Firm games if we don't have players like McCrorie and Shankland leading by example? I think not.
Would Naderi have been ruled out of those two games last season? Absolutely.
27 Sep 2026 12:32:32
EHL, I completely agree that having players like McCrorie and Shankland, a Scottish core who get it and lead by example are key to breeding that mentality in the squad, something I felt that was lacking in previous squads.
I also think that point justify's the point that I made about competence because this factor was overlooked and ignored by other managers and dof etc. So incompetence most certainly played its part.
27 Sep 2026 12:34:25
Era of experiments? What did we experiment with? We had experienced title winning managers and sacked them for finishing 2nd, not even seeing out a single season and the only manager you could say was a experiment is Martin. So nothing has actually changed yet cause we are only a few months in and we could still end up sacking McInnes by season's end then nothing will have changed, imo our problem has been sacking everyone and not allowing them to build a squad and getting stuck with previous ones signings.
If we are handing out credit then maybe we should credit the recruitment team whom everyone wanted rid of since it was them who scouted and suggested the signings.
27 Sep 2026 12:46:03
DJB we experimented with Managers and players not suited to the game in Scotland. I think the years of failure are testament to my point. I don't believe sacking them was the issue because it was quite clear I feel that from a tactical perspective they had no idea how to play teams in Scotland, again results and years of failure are testament to my point.
I believe hiring them was the issue. "Getting stuck with previous ones signings" backs up my point regarding poor recruitment.
27 Sep 2026 13:58:25
Signing almost dozen players every season since Mark Warburton was in charge is testament to a long record of poor recruitment, needing to replace those we signed every year.
Regarding scouting. Most clubs will have a large network and long lists of players they are watching, some for years, others for immediate. Pandur spoke recently how we were interested in him before we signed Butland, so was someone we liked and kept an eye on.
27 Sep 2026 15:13:43
Yes kaiser as Pandur stated we watched him for four years
Kaiser you're correct about signing 12 players every season, however I wrote in July that we were laying significant foundations in player recruitment , this was driven by Thelwell sir who most off us did not like, ably supported by Cavanagh who said he would fund the correct signings, this.
27 Sep 2026 15:20:32
Shorter term shankland devlin
Loans kosta bounani penrice Godfrey imo at least two will stay, all this leads to an excellent foundation
Rangers, Cavanagh and Gillespie believe we r closing in on a model off 3/4 major signings per season.
Yes some won't succeed, some will form part off playing trading model but we should see us move away from 12 plus signings a season.
Imo we r seeing early signs off what is proper progress, just start adding silver.
27 Sep 2026 15:35:04
Bit in middle went amiss lol.
Signings Rommens Naderi Chermiti fernandes
Followed by this summer Pandur penrice Neil minsu kelsey Dragojevic most 4/5 year deals which for many include a years option
Keeping Raskin for now.
27 Sep 2026 15:47:43
Del if you don't think sacking managers for coming 2nd isn't part of the problem then I don't know, imo we wouldn't of got off to that horrendous start last season under Clement and had more of a chance at the league.
Gio and Clement both won cups in there first months and had to scrape together funds to buy players, never had the funds we do now. They were proven winners elsewhere and yes, had their faults and were limited via squad but they weren't far frombexperiments, Askou would be a experiment and Gerrard was an experiment. So far under McInnes we've had 2 brilliant performances against Celtic and against Falkirk, the rest have been okay to poor and Europe was a shambles (Europe very much matters for money).
27 Sep 2026 15:49:23
Excellent news John regarding the foundation and the model of three to four major signings per season. I agree that the signs of progress are there regarding recruitment and that foundation. I am more confident of silverware this season than I have been in a long time.
27 Sep 2026 16:03:20
I understand that DJB but these managers tried to implement their own brand of football not compatible in our league, that was the experiment and there was an unwillingness to change and adapt. Proven winners else where means nothing and continually finishing 2nd in Scotland with limited progress will get you the sack. Europe came far too early for this squad.
27 Sep 2026 19:16:11
Gassama, shining? Nope, he has improved a gd bit as I've said the other night, his decision making and final ball are needing worked on before he can truly " shine" imho.
27 Sep 2026 19:34:56
Aren't Nedeljkovic , Godfrey and Penrice all with an option to buy , so we should be expecting all three of them to stay although as things stand you would only keep one.
28 Sep 2026 09:24:46
Wsl, nedeljkpvic option to buy is hitting a target re starts, he is already in line to miss that target
Where do I say I'd keep one, the post says very very clearly imo at least two will stay.