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I've probably banged on about this for long enough, but in terms of squad building you'd probably want to follow a general rule of: Wages are illustrative as an example 6 key first-team players who start every game if fit at £25k per week (Butland, Tav, Cerny) 10 first-team players who rotate based on game style (e.g. beating the low block or playing against a team like Benfica) at £12k per week (Ridvan, Dujon, Soutter, Dio) 9 squad players/investment players at £6k per week (either players aged 21 and younger or experienced players like Balogun) Total playing wage approx.: 6 players x £25k = £150k 10 players x £12k = £120k 9 players x £6k = £54k Total weekly wage bill = £324k For a year: Total annual wage bill = £324k per week x 52 weeks = £16,848,000 - Not including bonuses Our playing staff wage bill 23/24 was an eye watering £34 Million (approx & bonuses included) Of course its never going to work out exactly like that, use it as a rule of thumb though. But I think its sensible to assume that if your big 6 wages are being locked up by guys like Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, well then don't sign anymore players in that wage bracket? That's your 25 players. For European registration, you need 4 club-trained players (King, McCausland, Kelly, Rice) and 4 home-grown players (Barron, Soutter, Cameron for next season, and one more - Nsiala might count if he gets his 2 years before he turns 21, unless its 3 years for nation trained). This will allow us to use the full allocation. I really don't think its that difficult if you have a structure and you follow it, and if the recruitment team can continue finding guys like Barron, Cameron, Igamane, Jefte and get the backing they need, it should be achievable to build a squad capable of challenging for the title.

But they will be thankful Craig Levein created the 4-6-0 formation now that Havertz joins Jesus in the treatment room.

Minutes of the meeting are available here https://assets.ctfassets.net/39646iezddpk/4amYKBuDzvKEFvhRKm6tns/7482d128de6c78a820b08e9dbd40472e/FAB_Meeting_5_February_2025.pdf

I had us relegated in November too I just don't see anything other than a home win on Sunday. A comfortable one at that

Rangers will win, no bother.

So, to summarise...we need better players , preferably ones that are less injury prone .

I am happy with the approach, although I would agree we haven't quite got it right in terms of our core targets, as I said above. In fairness, I believe there were more immediate objectives (reducing wage bill, reducing squad age, etc.) that have taken priority this season, as NK outlined - part of the reason why I had written it off. I'm hopeful we'll see improvement in this area in the summer.

Style is critical to the whole thing though. It’s much more important than simply signing a mix of young, experienced etc. My understanding of this kind of thing is that for each position we have types of player with certain attributes that we sign to fit a pre-defined system. A player with attributes x, y and z has a very high likelihood of succeeding in our chosen system and we recruit accordingly. For example, I think we should be targeting centre backs who are aggressive and dominate in aerial and ground duels primarily. Have we ever had a success at centre back who didn’t tick those boxes? Propper’s stats clearly showed he wasn’t those things. The wide forward positions should be either goalscorers or creators/dribblers or ideally both, and left footed for the right wing and right for the left. Cerny fits this but we have a very low chance of keeping him. Our major permanent signing in this position was a very weird profile. No real outstanding strengths. Mediocre across the board and almost rock bottom statistically defensively, aerially and physically. It’s just a bizarre style of player to spend so much on for the position. If you consider him a 10, the same point applies. I could go on to other positions but you get the idea.

Koppen has mentioned it a couple of times. I can't recall style, but there were three categories of players ('The recruitment strategy will continue to focus on a balance of core, investment, and impact players'), that would mix youth and experience. Jefte, Nsiala, Fernandes and Igamane are projects and investments. Cerny and Propper are impact players; quality or experience to give the team a boost. Propper may have been a personal contact but still fits the profiles outlined. Scots, like Barron, Souttar, Kelly, Cameron are more core players and investments. The plan is to sign at least one Scot a year, IIRC? Core players would be Diomande, Bajrami, Kasanwirjo, Kelly maybe? I've been happy with the general approach, but I have been critical of the lack of first-team players of quality.

This is the guy that had the league won last season in december...

That guy sounds like a jakeball and always asks those hyperbolic red top type questions. A pure 'da' of a guy.

The last "press" guy to ask a question said. "Phillipe, with the greatest of respect the fans will be dissapointed that you are still in situation here." He carried on to ask another crap question, but for these people to pretend they represent all the Rangers fans is beyond belief 🤨

Agreed. It sounded positive. The major question now is whether they will follow through with their commitments.

We had this bloke in the legion cub doing an exhibition of snooker and he was a complete gentleman so quiet and polite not the way the media painted him a lovely man and great snooker player one who made the game a success on television .

At one time Brighton wouldn’t have got a look in against a top side like Chelsea but that’s all changed Brighton 7/4 Draw 12/5 Chelsea 5/4 not so long ago you’d have got something like 11/2 for Brighton changed days

You’re taking it to far with bonuses 😅 you only get a bonus when you win something and we won’t be paying any this year or probably the next few years

Was just doing the Hearts prediction thread and remembered I didnt reply to this one. I came into it too late and would be well off the pace so thought I'd just do my score predictions but no need for Rousseau to add me in. However I'll be promoted into it next season and be going for a European spot. That 4-0 Hagi was worth double points.

The gunners can’t afford any slip ups

Ange certainly might, like Clement he has got the Europa to save himself. But Man Utd cant possibly change again, Amorin has to be given the players he wants, although I wouldnt be surprised if he walked away realising he joined the wrong club - and then rocked back up at the other side of Manchester.

For anyone who believes in miracles you can get 50/1 for Rangers to win the league .

Nothing new in it that we didn't know.

I'm a little more encouraged by that, after all the doom-mongering.

Thought this deserved its own thread.

And when a manager does play one of the youths and the result goes against us, there's calls for his resignation. We're an impatient support that doesn't seem to allow managers to play youths and risk bad results. Managers are risking their jobs by doing it.