Derek Johnstone: Rangers fans want permanent arrivals...

[ian1964 10,597]

...and Warburton has shown he can deliver them.

 

MARK WARBURTON revealed earlier this week that he has been involved in discussions with a number of leading Barclays Premier League clubs over various matters including the recruitment of players on loan for next term.

 

This, of course, can suit his purposes should he be able to get someone in who is capable of adding to the team and doing a specific job.

 

But my own view is that most Rangers supporters want guys who are going to be part of the club for two or three years rather than six months or a season.

 

There is no harm bringing in a couple of players on temporary agreements, but you have to ask what you are going to be left with when they return to their parent clubs.

 

Look at Hibernian. Even if they do manage to win promotion, they will be without the likes of Liam Henderson and Anthony Stokes.

 

We all know that there is not a lot of money to spend in Scotland, but you have to want to build your own club and that involves putting players on contracts and nurturing them over two or three years.

 

Otherwise, you are building a player up for his own club and not for Rangers.

 

Warburton, of course, has already mined the loan market. Fresh conversations with the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester City and Everton are just a continuation of that policy.

 

Nathan Oduwa spent the first half of the season at Ibrox after arriving from Spurs and looked a revelation for two or three months before fading. You would probably have to mark that one down as a bit of a failure.

 

Gedion Zelalem came from Arsenal and looked a world-beater in the early stages as well, but he went off the boil a bit and has been troubled by injury.

 

Dominic Ball, on the other hand, has grown into the job.

 

Rangers’ main problems this season have revolved around defensive issues, but I feel the side has looked a lot stronger when he has operated just in front of the back four.

 

The fact that results this term have been rather mixed with loan players shows that bringing younger lads from English clubs is not guaranteed to bring success.

 

The general idea, surely, is that you raise your own player and have other clubs throwing money at you to buy them further down the line.

 

That has worked well for Celtic and there is no reason why it should not work for Rangers either.

 

I have faith in Warburton in terms of spotting available talent at good value and I do expect him to bring in most of his summer signings on permanent contracts.

 

Jason Holt and Andy Halliday, for example, have done so well since arriving last summer that they were handed extended deals in January.

 

He has handled things well in the market. Players have come in on short-term contracts as well in the knowledge that they will be given longer-term ones should they prove their worth. It is a smart way to work.

 

Harry Forrester, for example, is one of the individuals in that situation right now.

 

He has done reasonably well so far and has the incentive of knowing that he can earn himself a better deal by keeping up his standard of performance.

 

When Warburton came in, I would imagine that 95 per cent of Rangers fans would never have heard of most of the guys he brought in.

 

The first thing you found yourself asking was why we were going to the lower reaches of the English game to bring players to the Glasgow Rangers.

 

He has moulded them into a team, though, and the basis of a good side is there. He needed the kind of player to make sure Rangers got out of the Championship. What he now needs is a collection of players capable of hitting the ground running and competing in the big league.

 

I am confident he knows what the club is all about now, though, and I agree with his assertion that five or six new faces are required.

 

I think he will deliver what is required to challenge and I would expect a degree of experience in there.

 

In higher-level competition, you often end up relying most on those who have been there, seen it and done it.

 

As Warburton looks towards who he needs for next season, I would be turning my attention to a big, strong midfielder who can dictate what is going on and provide a bit of dig.

 

Rangers, for me, are a very light side.

 

Take away the two centre-backs and there is not that much height in the team either. It will be faster and harder in the Premiership.

 

Different attributes will be needed in what looks like being a very competitive league.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14354275.Derek_Johnstone__Rangers_fans_want_permanent_arrivals_and_Warburton_has_shown_he_can_deliver_them/

[craig 5,199]

"Take away the two centre-backs and there is not that much height in the team either"

 

Has Derek never watched how Barca dismantle far bigger teams than themselves.

 

Other than the CB's I don't believe you NEED height. I would, however, agree, we could do worse than look for a player with a bit of dig in the midfield - but only if he also is a decent footballer that keeps the ball moving swiftly.

[RANGERRAB 3,410]

Not much height in the team DJ says apart from the CB's ?

 

Both FB's wallace & Tavernier must be around 6ft. And Halliday & O'Halloran are just under 6ft AFAIK. The GK is well over 6ft so other than up front( and I think that will change for next season) I wouldnt say Rangers are a small side at all. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

Maybe DJ has been over-indulging in the ibrox hospitality these days

Edited March 18, 2016 by RANGERRAB

[pete 2,499]

Not much height in the team DJ says apart from the CB's ?

 

Both FB's wallace & Tavernier must be around 6ft. And Halliday & O'Halloran are just under 6ft AFAIK. The GK is well over 6ft so other than up front( and I think that will change for next season) I wouldnt say Rangers are a small side at all. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

Maybe DJ has been over-indulging in the ibrox hospitality these days

 

When he is watching he looks through a glass vodka which makes the players look small and fat.

[colinstein 294]

who cares whether your car is bought outright or rented

not me

[craig 5,199]

who cares whether your car is bought outright or rented

not me

 

If you can get a loan player who improves your team for the season and is a 10 million quid player, and you only pay a fraction of his wages - would you really reject him because he isn't yours ?

[the gunslinger 3,366]

If you can get a loan player who improves your team for the season and is a 10 million quid player, and you only pay a fraction of his wages - would you really reject him because he isn't yours ?

That's fine if it's what you get. We've never had it before so.......

[buster. 4,974]

While I understand the economic imperative regards loans compared to signing players for X years, I'd like to think that we give priority to developing our own players where they are considered worthy of a chance.

 

Gametime is so important and while it's fine if your loan player is performing and adding to the collective as planned, it's often the case that a significant percentage of loan players are for whatever reason, underwhelming.

 

Taking the example of Liam Burt.

If this lad is good and has what it takes then why not fast-track him and see what happens. Send him on loan to get first team football up until January and if he is the real deal bring him back and start giving him more gamtime.

 

We'll only create value by giving the lads gametime and if the new sustainable model is to work then this alongside managing their contract situation is the way to go.

 

We have to remember that there is a far way to go to become sustainable and it will require a very different way of going about business than in past years.

[pete 2,499]

While I understand the economic imperative regards loans compared to signing players for X years, I'd like to think that we give priority to developing our own players where they are considered worthy of a chance.

 

Gametime is so important and while it's fine if your loan player is performing and adding to the collective as planned, it's often the case that a significant percentage of loan players are for whatever reason, underwhelming.

 

Taking the example of Liam Burt.

If this lad is good and has what it takes then why not fast-track him and see what happens. Send him on loan to get first team football up until January and if he is the real deal bring him back and start giving him more gamtime.

 

We'll only create value by giving the lads gametime and if the new sustainable model is to work then this alongside managing their contract situation is the way to go.

 

We have to remember that there is a far way to go to become sustainable and it will require a very different way of going about business than in past years.

 

Players going out on loan seems to be Warburton's system. Whether it develops players further is to be seen. It certainly worked with McKay. Maybe we may still have had players like Ross McCormack if the players then had went out on loan.

[Bluedell 5,423]

That's fine if it's what you get. We've never had it before so.......

 

You need to improve your knowledge of the club...