Gersnet Article Summer 2024: Rip it up and start again?

[yuddie 1,693]

2 hours ago, JohnMc said:

To be fair Balagun was signed as cover, he's done his job. I'd argue Sterling was also signed as cover and has played more than might have been expected. Butland and Dessers have both contributed and whatever misgivings I have about big Cyriel he's turned up, stayed fit and never hid, so fair play to him. Sima left at the end of December for AFCON and has been injured since, barring a short cameo. So his % isn't a surprise.

I think Danilo joined us injured, eventually played, looked ok, then got injured, came back and got injured again. His % is no surprise either. Time will tell if he's a good signing or not. 
Lammers didn't work out, leaving in January was best all round, club did well to move him on quickly. He's done ok in Holland it seems, so hopefully someone wants to buy him. 

Really only Cifuentes and Dowell have been poor signings. Cifuentes was a bewildering signing at the time. We'll be lucky to give him away. Dowell is a decent player on the 38 minutes a season he's fit. He's averaged 19 appearances a season in his career, why anyone thought signing him for a club who play upwards of 50 competitive matches a season was a good idea is anyone's guess. 

Aye that's why I laugh when people are baffled by how many injuries we get.

 

It's almost like signing crocks when you've got a medical department run by Ronald McDonald and then subsequently putting them through poor preparation during pre season will lead to a shitstorm in unavailability.

[der Berliner 3,803]

1 hour ago, yuddie said:

Aye that's why I laugh when people are baffled by how many injuries we get.

 

It's almost like signing crocks when you've got a medical department run by Ronald McDonald and then subsequently putting them through poor preparation during pre season will lead to a shitstorm in unavailability.

A wee bit of conjecture involved here, isn't it? Most folk that suffered this season were handsomely wrecked by opposition players or appalling pitches, weren't they? Aside from that, these guys are professionals and know how their body reacts to this or that training schedule etc. and will tell their docs and coaches?

[Gonzo79 15,299]

34 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Most folk that suffered this season were handsomely wrecked by opposition players or appalling pitches, weren't they?

Clement has suggested there's more to it than that and given our endless injury problems, it's hard not to suspect there is.

[Devil's advocaat 1,617]

I'd imagine Clements comments relate to the lack of physical conditioning, which then means players struggle to meet the requirements demanded in a busy season, and break down. He hinted at this in comments about wanting players to be able to cope with 2 or 3 games in a week.

 

IME you can't really change this mid season, that'll just result in fatigue and injuries too. I think the result is that our squad are in for a busy pre season.

[Sutton_blows_goats 5,462]

1 hour ago, Devil's advocaat said:

think the result is that our squad are in for a busy pre season.

Im skeptical that a hard pre season is the panacea to our injury woes. The players talking publicly about how they had a very tough pre season under Gio but then we saw half the squad go down injured for most of the season. 
 

The problem seems to be with specific players, Matondo, Davies, roofe, Yilmaz, Jack etc once they pick up injuries they just never stop.

 

Morelos never really looked to recover from that thigh injury he got in his second to last year. There has got to be some issues with the recovery process.

Edited May 17 by Sutton_blows_goats

[JohnMc 2,801]

We played 56 games, not including friendlies, last season. We played 65 matches the season before. This season we'll play 59 competitive matches. 

Last season Copenhagen won the Danish league, the Danish cup and played in qualifiers and group stages of the Champion's League, yet only played 47 competitive games. Club Brugge played 51, PSV played 52. 

 

We can argue about playing too much football, but if we reach the latter stages of both domestic cups and qualify for European 'league' football, which we should do every season now, then that's not going to change. 

 

So what's vital is not only that we are able to keep our players fit, so perhaps don't sign ones with clear track records of fitness problems, but also that we need real depth in our squad. I've no doubt we've asked players to play this season who weren't fully fit. Would it come as a surprise to anyone of we found out that Tav, Goldson and Lundstram had all played when carrying injuries? 

 

For us to be successful next season we need a squad that can rotate and rest players without weakening the team. We don't have that currently. 

Edited May 17 by JohnMc

[der Berliner 3,803]

Rumour collection ... mostly C&P, as I have not much time right now:

 

Rangers are said to be the front runners in the hunt for Arnaud Bodard of Standard Liege, who has also been linked to Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Clement effectively ended reported £3.4m interest in the Bodart with his Butland comments but money talks in football so never say never.

 

If reports are to be believed we’ve started brightly in this regard, with Rangers in ‘advanced talks’ to sign £3m Jose Cordoba from Levski Sofia.

Whilst one Panamanian journalist has sought to cast some doubt over a move the sounds around a deal for the powerful, left-sided 22-year-old centre-half continue to be positive.

Other potential options include Dion Sanderson – who has just been relegated with Birmingham City – and Paddy McNair – a lifelong bluenose who has just been released by Middlesbrough.

Whilst the links to Sanderson have gone a little cold, Northern Irish international McNair can also play in midfield and the situation with John Lundstram may be of interest here.

It’s not just at the heart of the defence either.

With Borna Barisic set to leave the club, Brazilian option Jefte Vital continues to be linked but loan side APOEL won’t lose the Fluminense left-back without a fight.

West Ham right Ben Johnson has also been linked, but with a move to Crystal Palace touted amid high wage demands, a deal has never looked likely.

 

There have been transfer links aplenty already, with the club said to be on the ‘right track’ to striking a loan extension for injured RC Lens winger Oscar Cortes.

Another name who has been strongly linked with Rangers is A-League winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues.

Currently turning out for Macarthur in Australia, the Socceroos talent is reportedly a player in demand with the likes of Coventry City also mentioned.

Only 20-years-old, Rodrigues’ agent has tipped the player to move to Europe this summer and it’s one to watch for Rangers fans as their team target more emerging markets.

Then there is Orlando Pirates talent Relebohile Mofokeng who can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder.

Only 19 and just off the back of a trial with Premier League Wolves, Rangers are reportedly keeping tabs but so far there is nothing concrete regarding Ibrox interest.

 

Abdallah Sima – on loan from Brighton this season – probably tops the club’s summer wish list and with Brighton open to a sale, a deal could be done this summer.

But as is always the case any transfer will depend on finances with Brighton paying close to £6m and, quite possibly, expecting the same or even more in return.

Then there is Lawrence Shankland.

The PFA Scotland Player of the Year has scored 28 goals for Hearts and is surely bound for Euro 2024 with Scotland this summer.

Rangers are always mentioned alongside the bluenose forward and as Shankland enters the final year of his Hearts contract, the striker is open to a Tynecastle exit.

Whether that means Rangers will pounce remains to be seen with many believing a failure to sign the striker might’ve cost the Ibrox side a Champions League fortune.

Another name that has been mentioned is young Stoke City talent Sol Sidibe.

Reports this week have suggested that Rangers are one of a number of clubs tailing the 17-year-old, but face competition from the likes of AC Milan.

 

[ian1964 10,761]

 

[yuddie 1,693]

5 hours ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

Im skeptical that a hard pre season is the panacea to our injury woes. The players talking publicly about how they had a very tough pre season under Gio but then we saw half the squad go down injured for most of the season. 
 

The problem seems to be with specific players, Matondo, Davies, roofe, Yilmaz, Jack etc once they pick up injuries they just never stop.

 

Morelos never really looked to recover from that thigh injury he got in his second to last year. There has got to be some issues with the recovery process.

I agree with most of that mate but I think our injuries have really picked up post Gerrard.

 

I've heard interviews with Halliday and others who said his pre season was incredibly intense. Even Matty Cash for Villa said its the toughest pre season he ever had when he was in charge at Villa.

 

Not just in terms of their Cardio work, you saw how much Tav and Kent filled out under Gerrard - we need to get back to that. McCausland would probably put 3-5kg on in muscle if he came through under Gerrard.

[Rousseau 10,812]

1 hour ago, ian1964 said:

 

'Mon the Leeds!