In the past month or so a glut of
‘big name’ players have been linked with Rangers. Among these are:
Former Ibrox defender Madjid Bougherra who publicly threw his
hat in the ring months ago proclaiming he would ‘play for free’ and more
recently testifying he would like to finish his career at Ibrox, if not now,
eventually.
Former striker Kris Boyd, enjoying a fine spell at his
own former club Kilmarnock where his latest
strike consigned Hibernian to the play-offs. He simply said he has not received
any contact from Rangers.
Former striker Kenny Miller who has been linked with
Rangers ever since he left the second time. He recently proclaimed ‘nothing has
been discussed yet’.
Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson, after being released
from Hearts this morning.
Former Sunderland
and Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon
who McCoist has confirmed interest in.
And a few others such as
Motherwell’s Shaun Hutchinson and Dundee United’s Gavin Gunning.
If Rangers fans are truthful with
themselves these names, by and large, are of interest to the club. They are an
upgrade from what currently exists at Ibrox, and would endow Rangers with
stronger artillery to cope with life in the Championship next season.
However, there remains a cruel
sense of ‘what might have been’ at youth level, and a real sense of ‘what if’
regarding where this Rangers team might be right now if McCoist had really
given youth a chance, mixed carefully with quality experienced players.
Imagine the following, with one
or two years of ‘gelling’ behind them:
Cammy Bell in goal
A back four of Kyle McAusland, Sebastien Faure, Luca
Gasparotto and Lee Wallace.
Midfield four of Barrie McKay, Lewis MacLeod, Ian Black,
and Callum Gallagher.
And a strike partnership of Nicky Clark and Jon Daly.
I accept Daly’s form tailed off
latterly this season, but his experience would have added so much to the rest
of the younger players. Black, maybe in the same boat as Daly in terms of form,
but a strong player and willing to do the dirty work.
And before readers scream ‘Aird’
to me, I personally do not rate him in the way I do the other young players I
have listed, but that is just a subjective opinion. Perhaps with better
coaching he would have bloomed far better than he has.
And obviously Wallace needs no
explanation as an experienced leader in defence.
I am not saying this side would
have beaten Atletico Madrid,
but that the plummet to Division 3 was a real chance to ‘rip it up and start
again’ and that chance was completely missed.
Youth is a ship that has sadly sailed,
a ship which had a real chance to down anchor and be a foundation on which
Rangers grew. But McCoist had other ideas.
This is where we are at, and
while the prospect of bringing in some decent new SPL-quality players is not
the worst, the nagging feeling of a missed opportunity to grow with youth will
always overshadow this Rangers team.