Warburton Looks for Quality

[chilledbear 16]

Rangers boss Mark Warburton: I know fans expect big name signings but I won't rush my Ibrox rebuilding job

08:41, 19 JULY 2015

BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

WARBURTON understands that Gers fans are expecting him to make marquee signings, but insists he won't be rushed into making panic buys.

 

Mark Warburton expects to bring in several new faces to Ibrox

MARK WARBURTON knows there is a clamour for new signings at Rangers.

 

Just six days before his first proper match as Ibrox gaffer against Hibs at Easter Road in the Petrofac Cup, he is aware of expectant fans’ demands for fresh talent.

 

But the Englishman hasn’t got to where he is in football – or life – by bowing to peer pressure.

 

Yes, Warburton is eager to add to his squad. And, of course, he’s keen to give supporters quality on the pitch.

 

But if the Ibrox faithful are expecting household names arriving with hefty price tags, they’re set to be disappointed.

 

It’s just not Warburton’s style. And it’s certainly not what made him a success at Brentford in the English Championship.

 

As he surveys his current Murray Park player pool, the Gers boss isn’t yet satisfied.

 

But he won’t bring in bodies for the sake of it just to appease disgruntled fans.

 

He’s far more specific than that. He wants his next acquisition to have ‘swagger’ – a belief in their own ability that will ensure they light up Ibrox.

 

And a quick check on the Brentford side he put together last term will tell you that if Warburton can do it cheaply – with potential future profit – that’s exactly what he’ll do.

 

He said: “I think the fans are looking for players who will come to Ibrox, wear the shirt with pride and produce the style of play and results they want to see.

 

“You could get someone from South America for £5million or you can get the guy from around the corner for five bob.

 

“If the guy round the corner does the job the fans will be happy I’m sure. So our job in terms of recruitment is to find the right players who can do that job.

 

“It is a big job to walk out in front of 45,000 people. That expectation to deliver the goods is a tough ask. That’s why our recruitment and research has to be right.

 

“I need players with a bit of swagger.

 

“He needs to have a confidence to come in here and believe in his ability.

 

“Someone who doesn’t worry about making a mistake. Someone who will enjoy playing here and relish the challenge. That’s the type I’m looking for.

 

“Is the recruitment here different to Brentford?

 

“Not really, because the lads we brought in there still had to go to places like Ewood Park, the City Ground and Carrow Road. Those are big clubs and Brentford went to these grounds as an underdog. So our young

players had to deal with playing in front of 25,000.

 

“You either crumble under the challenge or you relish it. Thankfully they relished it.

 

“Everyone asks if we’ve got good enough players here to do what we did at Brentford.

 

“But we signed those boys when no-one knew who they were. Our left back Jake Bidwell was 18 but he’s now 21 with more than 160 league games under his belt.

 

“Adam Forshaw was signed at 19 and was later signed by Wigan Athletic for £4m.

 

“They were young boys, unheard of. Moses Odubajo, James Tarkowski, Jota from Spain. No-one had heard of them. They’re names now but they weren’t a year ago.

 

“That’s down to them, how they applied themselves and the quality of performance they delivered.

 

“But we’ve got some really good players here as well and I can see a similar development with them.

 

“The boys here arehungry and they want to push forward.

 

“When they stop pushing forward, we’ll have a problem and I’ll resolve that.

 

“They’re pro footballers and in any job, you try to impress.

 

“In my previous jobs, when a new manager came in, I worked hard to impress him or her.

 

“The reaction from senior boys here really has been magnificent.

 

“Lee Wallace, Kenny Miller, Darren McGregor and Cammy Bell have been fantastic. And the young ones are a pleasure to work with.

 

“If we can add three or four quality individuals, we’ll be in good shape.”

 

Warburton’s side will go to Easter Road on Saturday still trying to come to terms with what their new manager demands.

 

But he’s determined to take his time and get it right, as he embarks on a three-year plan which he hopes will see the club back in the Champions League.

 

It will all start with a Petrofac Cup tie in Leith and Warburton knows he couldn’t ask for a tougher baptism than against Alan Stubbs’ men.

 

He added: “There is no point lying. We are four weeks in and we still hope to add four or five players in the coming days.

 

“So we could have guys playing against Hibs who have only been in the door for two days. While we want to win the game and the competition, it’s about being patient.

 

“I don’t think anyone will be in better physical shape than us at the moment. But Hibs have players in situ with experience.

 

“It takes time to bed players in.

 

“Our job is to bed in quality players to how we want to play, as quickly as possible.

 

“There might be an outstanding striker but who is a pain off the pitch and destroys harmony in the dressing-room. So we won’t sign him.

 

“Similarly, if there is someone in our academy like that – and there won’t be – I won’t play him. We want players with the right attributes who add that value. I won’t be nonchalant or arrogant but I’ll just be honest. If you’re a liar you’ll need to have a good memory, so just tell the truth.

 

“If it comes back to bite me, fair enough – that’s just the way I see it.

 

“I’ve seen bits and pieces of Hibs and they are a very organised team.

 

“I know Alan from his Everton days and they’ll be fit and hungry, real tough opponents.

 

“Of course they are ahead of us in that their players have been together for a longer period. That will

be a benefit to them. So we have to recognise that and try to counter it.”

 

One player they’ll need to counter is Hibs playmaker Scott Allan.

 

And the Championship Player of the Year from last season is still on Warburton’s transfer radar.

 

And he DOES boast the kind of swagger he wants at Ibrox. But he refused to be drawn on a potential move for the midfielder.

 

He said: “Hibs are a good team and I’m sure Scott is a very good player. But it’s not about one player.

 

“If any team is built around one player, that team has a problem. I know he’s very talented but they have a number of them.

 

“We’ll need to be aware of their threat but, at the same time, it’s about us imposing ourselves on the game and doing what we do best.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-boss-mark-warburton-know-6095884#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Edited July 19, 2015 by chilledbear

[Ser Barristan Selmy 222]

What I'm really liking is we are focusing on players 23/24 and under with the average age so far being under 22. Supplemented with some more experienced players this is exactly what a lot of progressive managers do across Europe and I am delighted at the direction we are taking. The average age of our team next season will be dropped massively. Instead of having a team of ageing players with very little to offer, we should have a young, hungry team that will only develop.

[Dragosani 69]

Without trying to sir things up, I wonder what Ally Mccoist thinks? His idea was to trust old pros and shoehorn them in, thinking their experience would outshine the amateurs. I wonder if he's sitting at home going, "warburton, your wrong!, and there's going to be egg on your face"!

[Blinkyman 0]

Without trying to sir things up, I wonder what Ally Mccoist thinks? ................!

 

Have to stop you right there at ..... "thinks" !

 

Too much to ask from the blissfully ignorant & naive 'cheekie chappie' ..............

[Bearman 9]

Mark Warburton is making all the right noises as it stands, and good on him.

 

The task at hand is going to be very interesting...he's never worked in Scotland, but has experience in 'lower leagues' and Weir has experience at the top end of the game.

 

A seemingly brilliant combination for where we are right now. Exciting times ahead?

[pete 2,499]

“We’ll need to be aware of their threat but, at the same time, it’s about us imposing ourselves on the game and doing what we do best.”

 

This sentence is important for me. Ally would be setting up his team defensively worrying about what Hibs may do. Let Hibs worry about us. Close them down early and keep the ball. If you don't have the ball you can't score.

[Bearman 9]

This sentence is important for me. Ally would be setting up his team defensively worrying about what Hibs may do. Let Hibs worry about us. Close them down early and keep the ball. If you don't have the ball you can't score.

 

Stuart McCall sorted Hibs out like a walk in the park with Ally's men.

[pete 2,499]

Stuart McCall sorted Hibs out like a walk in the park with Ally's men.

 

Totally agree and that came because we never gave them time on the ball. I believe it has been proven that Ally just never had the players fit enough and mostly chose a defensive set up worrying more about our opponents strengths. Warburten was also not happy with the diet of the players which is why I would imagine our sport scientist has bitten the bullet.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

I agree this guy knows what he's doing, relax and enjoy. When's the last time we've heard that?