Contrary to early expectations, Thompson
is being earmarked for the first-team squad, despite his tender years, which
sees Wes Foderingham, Danny Wilson, Rob Kiernan and Thompson as the
ex-Brentford boss’s recruits thus far.
In terms of youth acquisitions
former Birmingham City Academy
starlet Tom Lang and Stoke graduate Jordan Gibson have also joined Murray Park,
with fellow youth like Andy Murdoch, Ryan Sinnamon and Ryan Hardie making the
step up to the senior team, leaving vacancies in the Academy.
So, the spine, as things stand,
looks something like this:
In goal, Foderingham. In defence,
Kiernan, Wilson, Wallace and McGregor. In midfield Nicky Law, Andy Murdoch and
Jordan Thompson. And up front Miller, Clark and Hardie.
That is the ‘spine’ – the core
group of players who are probably those around which Warburton will build the
rest of his team.
Just how promising is that
collection of players? Well, there is no denying it does not really inspire a
massive amount as yet – Kiernan, Wilson and Thompson are very interesting
additions to the team, but this is very much a ‘work in progress’.
Warburton may have a glut of
trialists at Murray
Park, and be linked with
a host of players down south, but at the moment it is hard to see what kind of
team he will run with.
We know the man favours his
flowing, attacking football, but with his insistence on rotation and using the
squad fully, this could be a very dynamic team with few favourites.
Compared with the ‘untouchables’
of the past like Law, McCulloch, Bell
and Foster, this comes as a welcome change. And with ball players like Thompson
in the team, the switch from atrocious, clunky football to fast-paced, flowing
fare will come as something of a relief.
There is not a Bee in the land
who has a bad word to say about their ex-manager Warburton, and if the new boss
manages to effect the same philosophies on Rangers, it could be a very promising
season indeed for the supporters.
The team is starting to take some
shape, now for the fruits of the labour to be borne.