Rangers Discussion Posts 2

02 Jun 2026 10:47:35
Comment from someone really close to our scouting department today

"Would be great to see us field a full 11 of Scottish players"

Got me thinking of a potential starting 11

Thoughts? What's the chances?

Kelly

McCrorie or Patterson/Souttar/Graham/Penrice

Barron/Ferguson/Watt

Stewart/Shankland/Curtis

02 Jun 2026 12:17:55
Think we're a long way from that ever happening, mate, but that would make a strong bench with only a couple of starters.

02 Jun 2026 12:50:47
Thoughts would be no chance, but if that were to happen, that team would be competing for 2nd/3rd in league as the other mob rack up more titles.

02 Jun 2026 14:31:34
I'd love to see a team of homegrown talent take the field, but I doubt it. You need to remember Rangers are not keen to buy Scottish talent (apart from Shankland, a year too late). They think we are overpriced and that the supporters would rather sign English players.

02 Jun 2026 14:39:16
Or most aren't good enough.
That team gives me the fear.

02 Jun 2026 14:42:17
Is a team full of Scottish players enough to win a league and do well in Europe?

I'm not so sure. Most of these aren't near the Scotland squad.

I'm all for having a Scottish core but not a full team.

02 Jun 2026 14:48:06
To be fair, the team would have done no worse than last season's effort.

02 Jun 2026 15:04:28
Kind of agree with the late great Bill Shankly :- "If you've got three Scots in your side, you've got a chance of winning something. Any more and you've got trouble."

02 Jun 2026 15:41:12
I think the balance of the team/squad will soon be more around EHL's figure in his excellent post. Soon, I hope a balance of our academy, homegrown talent from the league and international players from other leagues will fill the gap.

02 Jun 2026 16:25:05
People are obviously not interested in trying to win the league.

02 Jun 2026 16:26:32
Interesting question, when was the last time a team in Scotland had only home grown players and won anything?

02 Jun 2026 18:14:34
Geesa, I imagine it would have been one of the Aberdeen teams of mid-80s as I can't remember any overseas player in there. After that it has been us and Celtic, and we always had non-Scottish players.



If it wasn't Aberdeen it would have been Dundee Utd. As for us, latest it could have been was 77/78 which was last time we won it before Souness. Overseas players not prevalent and can't think of any in that team.

02 Jun 2026 19:33:29
St Mirren winning the cup v Dundee United was the last time. 1987, I think it was.

02 Jun 2026 19:36:13
Both teams were made up of all Scottish players and both managers were also Scottish.

02 Jun 2026 19:44:01
Campbell Money, Tommy Wilson, Derek Hamilton, Billy Abercromby, David Winnie, Neil Cooper, Frank McGarvey, Ian Ferguson, Kenny McDowall, Brian Hamilton, Paul Lambert

Billy Thomson, Dave Narey, John Holt, Maurice Malpas, Dave Bowman, Eamonn Bannon, Ian Redford, Jim McInally, John Clark, Iain Ferguson, Paul Sturrock.

03 Jun 2026 09:20:35
That United side had lost a European final days earlier, JFM.

03 Jun 2026 11:03:11
Would love to see a full Scottish team in a league cup tie, that would be a great thing imo

03 Jun 2026 16:41:09
We would maybe make top6.

01 Jun 2026 19:06:23
Thestigno1, where's that cotton house chinese restaurant again mate that you were raving about yesterday 🤔

01 Jun 2026 20:11:58
The Cotton House is on Glasgow Rd in Longcroft between Banknock, Bonnybridge and Denny, mate. Good food in there, mate. Been a few times when up the road.

01 Jun 2026 20:24:18
As I said yesterday, the tea house is better but Cotton House is still top. The Indian fusion restaurant across the street from Cotton House is also dynamite, but I always forget the name.

01 Jun 2026 20:43:07
It's called Mango Sam, for years it was The Masonic Arms. Rangers buses heading through to Ibrox from the east would stop there for a pint. It was heaving most second Saturdays. I went to a few Rangers dances in there a long time ago.

02 Jun 2026 10:45:15
I don't have a passport anymore so can't go to foreign climes like Denny. 😉

01 Jun 2026 08:24:12
Thoughts on signing Jamie Vardy obviously age is an issue however he can find the net likely not 90 minutes but could be an asset.

01 Jun 2026 11:01:04
It's a definite no from me.

01 Jun 2026 11:01:33
He will do someone a turn that is a cert, if fit he will score goals

01 Jun 2026 14:50:42
Yes, & why not resign Jermaine Defoe to put them on a plate for him.
After last night's charity game, I'm surprised he isn't top of our list. 😉 😉

01 Jun 2026 16:01:02
I'm all for bringing in a bit of experience, but don't think he's the answer, so I hope this doesn't happen. 10 years ago would have been an absolute yes, but not now.

01 Jun 2026 17:33:56
He'd need to show Luke Graham his bus pass. 😉 😇

01 Jun 2026 23:01:37
2 seasons ago it would have been a yes. He would actually turn 40 at us if ye signed. 😂

02 Jun 2026 05:33:26
You're on fire tonight, Folk. 😂

02 Jun 2026 11:01:21
Yeah that would be a no.

31 May 2026 11:32:03
Is there any solid sounding out of Raskin been heard about? At this stage I'd happily swap him for Lewis Ferguson.

31 May 2026 12:34:02
Don't think Raskin will be sold until after the World Cup, same with Ferguson, or country knocked out, Ekger.

31 May 2026 13:55:11
Interest from abroad, Spurs, Everton as well.

31 May 2026 15:25:25
I'd hope £20m minimum after
World Cup.

I really
wouldn't be surprised at a straight swap for Lewis.

31 May 2026 16:08:10
Talking about World Cup squads, having seen yesterday's friendly scores. I could not believe that Czerny did not make the provisional 54 man squad for the Czech Republic.

31 May 2026 16:19:52
Stevie, u seriously saying Ferguson worth 20 million?

31 May 2026 16:57:54
If Raskin is £20 million.
And Ferguson is €15 million.
Are we therefore getting a lesser, older player in exchange which will technically make us weaker than last season. 🤔

31 May 2026 17:06:36
MpH, not really when one is a fan and the other only turns up for Belgium.

31 May 2026 18:11:03
Raskin is a better overall player than Ferguson. However, I think Ferguson makes Rangers a better team than what Raskin does.

31 May 2026 18:30:04
John, he won best mf award in Serie A last summer. Or was it one before, mate?

At that point he was valued at EUR25m.

I'd say now he's maybe worth EUR15 or £15m.

I do however think once fit and on form he is a EUR25m player, mate, yes.



I don't think the Italians would do cash plus swap. I think it would be a straight swap to suit them. He is captain after all, and that award is a massive thing in Italy.

I do though know what you're saying, mate, I do get your point.

31 May 2026 18:30:23
Wishy, make that make sense, mate?

31 May 2026 19:36:32
If 25 million euros is his value, he won't be at Rangers, Stevie.

31 May 2026 21:17:10
Asking price will be down since his injury layoff, and now playing in rotation instead of every week in the season before. Depending on outgoing sales, it could be possible.

31 May 2026 23:34:47
Raskin is worth more imo and hopefully the both of them are playing for us.

01 Jun 2026 10:19:41
If Raskin is a better player than Ferguson, I wouldn't want Ferguson. Raskin is vastly overrated, imo. He had 4 good months under Ferguson, when the pressure was off. He's very inconsistent, and a nightmare to play with if you're another midfielder, cause he's everywhere and leaves his midfield partner isolated as he runs about doing what he wants.

Not disciplined enough, imo. I'd be astounded if he got a move south to a top 12 club in the PL. He'll get found right out down here.

01 Jun 2026 11:10:46
Raskin won't swap to Italy. He's already said he wants EPL.

01 Jun 2026 11:40:37
John, come on, you're fishing, you're the same one who said Raskin should be sold around 10 -15million (can't remember exact figure), but was way lower than everyone thought.

01 Jun 2026 12:19:55
Anyone who has watched Raskin this season and offers us £20m must need some new specs. Would bite their hand off for that.

01 Jun 2026 16:51:00
Forever, 100% not fishing, I stand by 12 million for Raskin, he is never worth straight swap for Ferguson.

Forever, I stand by 12 million is what's in his contract when we signed him.

02 Jun 2026 15:32:47
100% John, I've always thought Raskin was a £10-15 million player tops. He'll get terrorised in the PL. I'd be surprised if any of the top 10-12 teams took a punt on him.

31 May 2026 07:59:45
Our Blueprint: The Dutch and Belgian Club Model

I've spoken before about Koppens strategy, how Thelwell and Martin tore this up and how the club are now reverting back to this model. So I thought I'd try to summarise it as it may explain the current transfer strategy.

Dutch and Belgian clubs consistently sustain financial health, and remain competitive on the European stage by using a highly calculated squad-building blueprint perfected by clubs like Ajax, PSV, Club Brugge, and Anderlecht.

Instead of chasing short-term marquee signings, this model relies on a strict matrix to construct a balanced squad. It blends youth development with seasoned experience across three core player profiles.

Academy Graduates, 30-40%
League Veterans, 30-40%
International Recruits, 20-30%

1. The Academy Graduates (The Financial Engine)

The Target: Cultivating homegrown talent from the ages of 8 to 21.

The Purpose: These players represent low capital expenditure and maximum resale profit and they understand the club's tactical philosophy instinctively.

The Strategy: Keeping 30% to 40% of the first-team squad reserved for academy graduates ensures a constant pathway to the first team, preserving the club's identity and allowing the club to attract the best youth talent from across the globe.

2. The Domestic League Veterans (The Tactical Anchor)

The Target: Signing players aged 23–30 with 100+ appearances in the Eredivisie or Belgian Pro League.

The Purpose: To navigate the physical and psychological demands of the domestic league. They mentor the youth and absorb the pressure during rough patches.

The Strategy: These players provide immediate stability. They rarely possess high resale value, but their return on investment (ROI) is measured in points, leadership, and dressing room culture.

3. The International Wildcards (The Market Differentiator)

The Target: Under-valued talent scouted from secondary markets (e. g. South America, Africa Scandinavia, or Eastern Europe).

The Purpose: Adding athletic profiles, tactical unpredictability, or physical traits missing from the domestic market.

The Strategy: Clubs target players who are dominant in their home countries but remain uncapped or under the radar. The goal is to polish them for 2–3 seasons and sell them to a top-five European league for a massive premium. Typically the first season for these players is written off as the integration year.

Balancing Youth vs. Experience: The "Rule of Thirds" or positional ageing.

A squad entirely made up of 19-year-olds collapses under pressure. A squad of 32-year-olds drains a club's financial future.

The Dutch and Belgian model solves this with a strict Age Curve Rule:

Peak Age (24–29): The spine of the team (Goalkeeper, Center-back, Defensive Midfielder, Striker). They command the pitch and handle the tactical weight.

Development Age (17–23): The explosive positions (Wingers, Attacking Midfielders, Full-backs). These positions allow young players to express their creativity, showcase their value, and drive up market demand.

Summary

The Dutch and Belgian model proves that sustainable success is not about spending the most money or buying the most players, it is about structural discipline. By balancing internal development with strategic external recruitment, these clubs create a self-sustaining ecosystem that survives the inevitable loss of their best players every summer.

Crucially these clubs also understand that to be sustainable you sometimes have to suffer periodic reset periods. Something that I think we've struggled to accept, resulting in the sacking of GVB and PC, which has been to the detriment of our longterm success.

31 May 2026 08:44:41
Ehl, an excellent article.

31 May 2026 09:03:49
Great insight again Ehl, hopefully the club are finally moving in the right direction. Koppen was doing a lot of great things within our club. Maybe he should've got the big promotion and got Thelwell's position.

31 May 2026 09:51:37
Loved the article, Ehl. Do you think there is sufficient talent of the right quality in Scotland to fill the second domestic league veterans quota? Holland and Belgium even seem to have a ready supply of those moving to the top clubs, but we never have had that here.



I also agree, the main thing we will struggle with is the period it takes to settle all this in, with perhaps success not being there.

31 May 2026 10:17:09
Great post, Ehl. Very interesting to see thinking behind what Koppen wanted to do.
Is there the same reluctance in Holland and Belgium to sell to big clubs as here, especially to us?

31 May 2026 10:18:22
Thanks Guys.

Angus, absolutely, providing we have the right infrastructure in place to support them.

Souttar & Jack are two really good examples.

Jack was brilliant SPL level player who thrived, as he was part of a balanced midfield squad that meant he could play to his strengths, which complimented those around him.



Souttar is a brilliant SPL level player who struggles as he's part of an inexperienced and unbalanced defense, and he rarely gets to focus on playing to his strengths, in fact, the inexperience around him often exposes his weaknesses.

31 May 2026 10:37:29
Excellent, Ehl.

Very impressed with Club Brugge when they played us, couldn't believe the ages of some of the young players, and as you said, per the Belgian model, complemented by seasoned pros.

31 May 2026 11:24:29
Brilliant EHL, very good insight.
Could you go further and explain how this differs from what Thelwell & Martin wanted to do? Did they not want to follow the 'English' model?
Cheers.

31 May 2026 11:29:04
Excellent article, Ehl, you can see how this already works at clubs like Brugge, PSV, etc. Certainly something we should be aiming to replicate if only the fans had the patience to give it a chance.

31 May 2026 11:48:56
Ehl, I think you're an excellent poster, but John Souttar is not excellent, and he's been a terrible signing for Rangers that should be moved on immediately. I remember he played in an OF game a few years back with Ben Davies in which both performed like junior players. 3 seasons later, and he's still losing the same goals as back then.

He should've shown that guy down the outside of him yesterday, but allowed him to cut inside onto his strong foot. Goals he's been conceding at Ibrox his whole time here. Dundee United scored the exact same type of goal against him in the 4-2 game.

31 May 2026 12:38:59
Excellent post, Ehl.

31 May 2026 13:04:06
Cheers, Ehl, appreciate the reply. I always see Jack and Souttar as being exceptions, granted, but if we go down that route, will be interesting to see who we target from other clubs. There is a lot of very good young lads, but wasn't sure who the more experienced element would be. Just my lack of knowledge of other teams' players probably.

31 May 2026 13:28:44
Superb, informative post Ehl - very well done sir!

31 May 2026 13:38:41
Brilliant post, Ehl. Lets us understand the game beyond the 90 minutes.

31 May 2026 14:40:14
Very insightful and thoughtful post, Ehl.

31 May 2026 14:44:29
I was looking a bit closer into Stig Inge Bjornebye. Prior to his arrival he had been acting as a Sporting Director at Aarhus in Denmark for 4 years between 2021 and 2025. As a player, I think Souness took him to Anfield as one of his first signings after he left Rangers. I would imagine the blueprint in operation in Holland and Belgium would be very similar to that operating in Denmark also. It would make perfect sense for Stig to look at the work that Clement and Koppen were aiming at, that seemed to be totally discarded under Thelwell.

Another point I would like to raise is that Aarhus just won their first domestic title in 40 years back in Denmark, and that can be in no small part down to the work that Stig Inge Bjornebye put in there. I think we are in much better hands now, and I wonder if Souness intervened by calling in an old friend. I do remember a headline that had Souness claiming it would be hard to trust Thelwell heading into the winter window, given what had gone before. Within days, the gruesome twosome were gone. I just think when Souness speaks, people take note.

31 May 2026 14:45:35
Cheers Ehl. And I agree this is a structure we should be all over. Look at the last time the club were the dominant force in Scottish football. We signed young Scottish talent such as Naismith, Thomson, Broadfoot and gave regular game time to the likes of McGregor, Adam Burke and Hutton, whilst having more senior Scottish players i.e.

Ferguson, McCulloch, Dailly, Weir, etc. That's not a bad Scottish core there.

31 May 2026 14:49:06
Can't say anything that's not been said above, apart from stupendous. 👀😉👍👍

31 May 2026 22:07:38
Enough, sick of this balanced, logical explanations that makes everything make sense.
No point coming on here now.
Ehl has ruined this forum. 🤔😜

31 May 2026 23:31:37
You're the man John has been a decent signing. He has just not been the same since his injury.

01 Jun 2026 00:43:52
Superb post Ehl. The common sense of it all is quite striking, especially when you look at the development of young players to be sold on. The Pattersons, Basseys, Aribos, Curtis, etc, are real explosive, powerful players that other clubs feel they can develop further when bought for a big price to us but modest in their terms.



There are more than enough players out there to take on, but ultimately it will fail if these guys don't have the experience and professionalism surrounding them. Hopefully we develop this model and ask for patience for it to bear fruit.

01 Jun 2026 05:56:54
Fantastic as always

30 May 2026 16:26:24
Nice to see few new faces in team today so chuffed for Curtis getting his 1st goal and Shanks wading in with a double nice way to end the friendlies before the serious hard work begins.

30 May 2026 20:32:12
Still 1 more friendly game.

30 May 2026 16:15:03
Rice anytime Dembele anytime, 30/1.