Rousseau

GK- Bell ,Foderingham

 

DEF- Zaliukas, Mcgregor, Wallace, Wilson, Keirnan

 

MID- Law, Crawford, Murdoch, Templeton, Aird, Shiels, Walsh, Gallagher

 

ST- Miller, Clark

 

Youths likely to step up- Gasparotto, Mckay, Hardie, Stoney

 

Expected signings- Wabara, Eustace

 

Needed-(not inc back up positions just first team starters needed) Right back(Wabara) Right mid Def mid(Eustace) Strikerx2 (miller doubtful he has another season in him)

 

Players that past performances deem unlikely to hold down first 11 spots(if not all of them!) - Aird, Clark, Miller, Templeton ,Crawford

 

With 20 days to go until we start our competitive campaign anyone else concerned with our recruitment so far?

 

For me the squad even with the inclusion of the likely signings of Eustace and Wabara is not remotely near good enough to either play in front of 45.000-50,000 or win the league with any sort of comfort. The next signings will need to be of a calibre that can carry the rest.

 

How many loan players do you think we will utilise if we sign say 7/8?

What were you expecting? I'm not overwhelmed but I'm not disappointed either. It's a pragmatic approach which is needed at this stage. There's still a long time to go. I remember we were in a much worse situation when we were preparing for out first season in the Third Division.

Moreover, it's a team game, so it really doesn't matter that we haven't signed any top-class individuals as long as the ones we have signed work and play well as a team.

Is he really that crap? According to Wikipedia he's played over 85 games despite being only 20 years of age. That's quite impressive. Granted it says little about his ability/quality. If I remember correctly he's an attacking midfielder, which Warburton likes. If he's got good raw attributes, then I'd take a punt; he's only 20.

I think Warburton prefers a pacey striker who can run in behind, so a big strong presence is not necessary. I don't mind a big strong presence as long as they can play one-twos and other more intricate things, which I also think Warburton likes -- the midfielders are always running at the defenders so one would think a link-up striker would be beneficial.

It's not the most exciting but I can see Miller filling that role. Clark could also, if he could only learn to control the bloody ball instead of letting it bonce off him 10 yards! I wish someone would hit hard passes close to him and let him practice controlling it.

I knew Templeton was 'jinky' when he ran, but I never noticed how he runs almost leaning back. In the photos McKay is leaning into the run, whereas Temps is leaning away. I suppose it helps him deceive a defender into thinking he's not about to accelerate away?

There's a player in there, but I think he needs to simplify his game -- Hug the touchline, stand up the defender, jink outside to cross along the six-yard line or cut it back, or jink inside for a shot. I think he over complicates things.

I'm pleased with this signing: promising young player, and crucially, he looks imposing!

Foderingham looks like a good addition; young, highly thought of. He seems to have a temper, as I read about him kicking a water bottle after Di Canio subbed him. Not a bad thing from a 'keeper I think.

Even with Eustace, which is still not done, our midfield and whole forward line (ST, RW, AM, LW) is still lacking. Are we being linked with any attacking/forward players? I can only think of Halliday and May...?

The Book Review alluded to in the OP was a good read; out of date in many respects, but quite balanced. Other journalists clearly see his anti-Rangers agenda, and indeed his whole life shouts anti-Rangers; it's quite unbelievable, it's like a parody: "There is little too that is ordinary about the book’s author, Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, a Glaswegian of Irish descent who has chosen to live in Donegal for the best part of the last 20 years and who, along the way, elected to use the Irish Gaelic version of his surname." His whole life has been guided by a certain point-of-view that almost makes his animosity towards Rangers inevitable.

To be fair, I don't care. There are many that hold that opposite views, and they're equally contemptible and sad. Ultimately, he is a blogger. His words pass the eyes of too few people for him to be of any consequence. Let him jump on his soapbox all he wants: No one is listening. In fact, by challenging him we are giving him a bigger platform. I appreciate his words are offensive and insulting, but do they have any influence?

http://www.scottishreviewofbooks.org/index.php/back-issues/volume-8-2012/volume-eight-issue-four/522-what-s-the-score-kevin-mckenna

I want this bloody Cup. It's meaningless, more of a diddy Cup than the League Cup, but I want it...

I agree Wallace has been poor, and he isn't at the level we would want, but I think he deserves to stay, if just for his dedication and application. I think he's doing his coaching badges, or something suchlike, so I think he's got a good brain; perhaps W&W can get more out of him. To be fair, I'm thinking similarly with all of the players: poor last year, but I'm confident a better coach can get more out of them; they're surely better than they've shown?

I hope Warburton realises how poor a lot of these players are. The likes of Bell, Zaliukas, Crawford, Law, Shiels, Templeton, Clark, Miller etc are nowhere near good enough.

I agree, but I think they're better than what they've shown. Perhaps a new manager can transform them. Too optimistic?

Think Davy Moyes will see that as a good pre season work out

and lots on interest playing us and them

Do you think he'd let us take a few of his players? I wouldn't mind taking a few of his players on loan...

Just a pity his football nowhere near the same standard

I actually think he's not bad: good movement, decent touch and can pass, but my issue is that he's still quite weak. If he could bulk up he'd be a decent player.

You beat me to it! I was thinking it was time to have a little fun speculating on a potential starting XI.

I think we all agree it'll be 4-2-3-1:

Our whole forward line needs strengthening. I don't expect those I've put in to be starters; decent squad players, but not starters. We also desperately need a striker, and a Number 10.

Where does Holt play? Halliday would be an OK acquisition.

Was that some sort of endurance test in the video? Last one standing type thing? I would've liked to have seen who won.

Fredricks and Winks would be decent signings, but I'm not convinced loan signing are the way to go; It's hardly building for the future, is it? I'd much rather we got permanent signings.

I always like Aird's enthusiasm; in any training picture he's always there working hard -- shame he's shite. Clark trying to lift the diddy weights! The Warburton pictures fill me with hope though.

Wallace relaxing in two pictures...

Take note Rangers PR, this how you spin, bullshit and lie. Rangers fans my arse. It came from the area with Motherwell supporters, after they scored, it was the same colour of flare they used at Ibrox,

I never read it right through so I missed it: "But it is thought a group of Rangers fans, who were sitting among the Motherwell support, were responsible for the flare." How can they possibly come to that conclusion? Should they not collect evidence before they pass judgement?

Calm down. I think it's fair to say Leeds have a significant place in history. However, to say that they were just below the top 4 sides in Britain is stretching it IMO. How does one measure history? I checked the number of trophies won (a decent measure, I think). The top English sides are:

1 Manchester United 62

2 Liverpool 60

3 Arsenal 42

4 Chelsea 28

5 Aston Villa 24

= Everton 24

= Tottenham Hotspur 24

8 Manchester City 17

9 Newcastle United 13

= Nottingham Forest 13

= Wolverhampton Wanderers 13

12 Blackburn Rovers 12

13 Leeds United A.F.C. 9

Then the Scottish sides:

1 Rangers 115

2 Celtic 98

3 Aberdeen 19

4 Heart of Midlothian 16

5 Queen's Park 10

6 Hibernian 9

Leeds are joint-13th in the English table, and that would be joint-19th (?) in a British table.

Perhaps I took your 'argument' a bit too far, but I thought it was an interesting point. How does one measure history? It's mostly subjective. And, of course, 'history' is unrelated to current form. Then, does one apply greater weighting to English sides because of their greater challenge, or greater weighting to the rank of trophies won? Tricky question. (I think I took it too far...)

Yes, 'secret' were they?

I'm in favour of giving the players another chance. Most, if not all, have not stepped up at all, but to be fair we've not really had a change in approach. The three Micks were of the same mold. A fresh approach, fresh eyes and ideas, might just spark the players into life. It's patently obvious that a managers philosophy has a huge affect on how a player performs. I say, lets wait and see.

I agree with the criticisms leveled at Bell -- he doesn't command his box etc. and that we probably need a better 'keeper -- but I cannot possibly comprehend how Robinson is better than Bell? Robinson played a few games, but was never that great; I remember him conceding silly goals. Bell, ignoring the stupid mistake against Motherwell, was always decent; not spectacular but decent. Like I said, I'd like a 'keeper to dominate the box like Courtois, but Bell always did OK to me. I remember we were praying for his return after the injury. Do we have so short a memory?

Stevie May

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/06/22/rangers-eye-sheffield-wednesday-striker-stevie-may/

He's just had double knee surgery and hardly featured last season. At almost 36 I can't think of many recent midfielders who have played on until they are 40, at what to us is a level considered a decent standard (SPL).

I understand your reservations. He hardly played last year because of the injury. I don't think Warburton (and Sheffield Wed and Leeds Utd for that matter) would even consider signing him if they thought the injury was going to inhibit his ability to play next year. He played 39 games last year at 34; I don't think another year is going to make a difference. It's undoubtedly a short-term acquisition. We have a lot of young players, and the new signings would appear to be young also, so I think we need that experience. I think he'd be useful next year and possibly the year after. It's a free transfer, so it's not as if we're taking a big gamble.

I'm really quite content with us going for Eustace. Everything I hear is good. Warburton rates him. If he can play for another few years it'd be worth it. Like he said, "you want young, hungry players in the team — however, they need guidance."

Disappointing -- if true -- that we're not going after the young Dane; just the kind of signing I'd like to see.

In terms of professionalism, surely it's only right that anyone not having their contract renewed should be told so. However, he must have known it was unlikely. It's hardly professional bitching about it afterwards though -- he's just trying to get his name in the papers.