Full Report: Rangers’ final squad for the season

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Full Report: Rangers’ final squad for the season

With Warburton confirming that unless ‘an opportunity’ arises and a player becomes available, Rangers’ incoming business is likely concluded for this window. With around 10 signings secured and a completely new-look Rangers side decimating everyone they face, let us profile the full squad and see just how ready the Ibrox men are for a full season of hard graft in the Championship.

Goalkeepers:

Wes Foderingham:

Appears to have installed himself as number one, and it will take some shifting from the imminently returning Cammy Bell to displace the former Swindon stopper from Rangers’ goal.

Cammy Bell:

Two weeks from fitness, Bell may have to accept he is now the deputy, and when he returns he will far from simply waltz back into the jersey.

Liam Kelly:

Has been deputy in Bell’s absence, but likely to miss out entirely and return to the U20s on the ex-Killie stopper’s return.

Defence:

James Tavernier, RB:

Been a total revelation; fans are running out of superlatives for the ‘Blue Cafu’.

Fraser Aird, RB:

Yes, he has now been installed as an auxiliary RB, and replaced Tavernier on the 71st minute yesterday. A decent option to have as backup.

Lee Wallace, LB:

It took three years for him to rightfully earn the captaincy, but Waldo is now the Club’s talisman and producing the form worthy of it. A truly excellent LB and as good up front as he is in defence.

Danny Wilson, CB:

Rangers’ first-choice defender, Wilson has been solid on his return to Ibrox with only one major error standing out. And the occasionally loose distribution.

Rob Kiernan, CB:

Wilson’s first-choice partner, Kiernan is a good brute-force defender but like Wilson occasionally gets caught, as he did yesterday. But overall good enough.

Dominic Ball, CB:

Put in a decent shift yesterday at LB in Wallace’s place, and was effective enough v Airdrieonians midweek. A very decent defensive deputy indeed.

Midfield:

Gedion Zelalem, CM:

Gifted touch and movement, with an eye for a pass, Gedion is a prized product of the Arsenal academy and he is showing why. Set to be a first-choice for some time and Nicky Law may have to accept more time on the bench from here on in.

Jason Holt, AM:

Barely put a foot wrong, a £65,000 brilliantly spent – he has quietly been a truly stellar signing, and scores and creates. Why Hearts let him go is unknown.

Andy Halliday, DM:

Has adapted to his new position brilliantly. Would play in goal if he needed to. His love for the Club shines through and he makes up every blade of grass in grafting hard for the team.

Nicky Law, AM:

Previously he worked alongside Holt and Halliday, now Law has found his place gone with Zelalem stealing it. Truth is he has actually been ok this season, far better than previous, but that is not good enough when you have someone as special as Zelalem in your squad.

Jordan Thompson, CM:

Not yet broken through and finds himself either on the bench or in the U20s, but his quality is clear given his education at Man Utd. A fine option to be able to call upon.

Dean Shiels, CM:

Now permanently a CM, he is equally permanently on the bench. Will start cup matches now and then and will fill in for absences in the league. A pretty reliable player to do that and may be accepting his role.

Robbie Crawford, DM:

Will find his chances even on the bench limited. May be one of those primed for a loan out.

Andy Murdoch, DM:

Just is not in favour with Warburton, and speculated to be loaned out. But a pretty able backup DM to have.

Attack:

Barrie McKay, winger:

Been frankly outstanding this season, showing up every previous manager who loaned him out. A true mainstay now of the first team and richly deserving of it.

David Templeton, winger:

Still not truly performing and sources suggest Oduwa was signed to replace him this season. His injury merely accelerated the need for that. Destined to fail to live up to that infamous ‘potential’.

Nathan Oduwa, winger:

Shown absolute class (and disrespect) to Scottish football, and we love him for it. Provides wonderful rotational depth in attack and a fine signing Warburton made there.

Martyn Waghorn, winger/striker:

Not very clinical, struggles to score, but works tirelessly hard and supports everyone around him. Always available, always ready for the ball. And as we saw yesterday, takes a mean penalty.

Kenny Miller, striker:

A brilliant attitude – work work work. Not as good a player as he used to be (that is what happens when you age) but no less passionate and continues to provide off-ball running and graft. A nuisance to defenders. Also has a few goals left in him.

Nicky Clark, striker:

A bit of a disappointment overall, but useful for depth in cups and the like, Clark just is not of the level Rangers need, and will never be a permanent first-team starter, but an excellent sub to have.

22 players, with Warburton preaching the need for a lean squad that looks pretty much like the work is done. Yes, there is no 20-goal a season man up front, but with 30 in 8 matches, do Rangers need one?

The squad seems as ready as it ever will, and while Rangers will require to bring in further improvements on (hopeful) promotion next season, the majority of this squad looks good to make that step up.

The match v St Johnstone could be quite illustrative there.

What do you, our readers think?
Happy with the squad? Add your thoughts in the comments section as always.

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18 COMMENTS

  1. I'm happy with the squad, happy with the playing and even happier we are talking about the men in shirts instead of the men in the suits. 🙂

  2. Obviously john estate will sign if fit,I thought another striker but it looks as if that is it,hopefully no injurys

  3. I think that Dominic Ball will be a really strong back up at centre-back. Not so sure about playing him in the left back role. Any idea who the reserve team left back is?
    I thought I read that the young guy Thompson, ex Man Utd kid, could play there. Could be mistaken though.

    With Lee getting injured it seems to be the only position where there is no 'obvious' replacement. At least to my knowledge. Maybe some of the bears could clarify that situation better than I can.

    I think that, come January, Warbs will put together the vast bulk of the squad that will start the new season back in the premiership. I expect that some of the current squad will find themselves on the way out. They'll be out of the picture mostly while the new squad gets 2 or 3 months of playing together this season. That will ensure that Warbs is ready to hit the ground running at next pre season knowing what extra additions he'll need in the summer.
    I'm not really getting ahead of ourselves too much. I know that there is still plenty to be done this season. I'm hopeful though that the league will be pretty much in the bag by January, allowing the preparation for the next season to begin then.
    I'm hopeful that the vast bulk of the current crop will be part of the squad that opens our campaign in the premiership next season. I'm confident but not complacent. I'm also buzzing. Who isn't.

    Oh yes! 'Them'.

    Good, isn't it?

    Onward and upward.

    C'mon the Gers!

    • Andy Halliday has played at left back he could fill that no probs, Barry Ferguson used him there for Blackpool a number of times

    • Cheers! Thanks for that. So if John Eustace does sign, and say he's on the bench, a wee reshuffle would do the trick.
      On that note. I wonder why they didn't try it on Sunday, with Ball playing in front of the defence. I'm told he plays there sometimes. He might not be as attack minded, though, as Andy.
      Not complaining just wondering, that's all. I know Warbs and Weir won't require any advice from the likes of me. lol
      Onward and upward.
      C'mon the Gers!

  4. Everything going well, would like to see more of Jordan Thompson in the first team, Only problem for me is the keeper think he could give away goals with his debatable footwork at times

  5. Everything going fine would like to see more of Jordan Thompson and still unsure of the keeper think he is suspect with his footwork at times seems one-footed .

  6. Eustace will be signing up don't forget!!

    Huge well done to Warbs and Weir for gelling a squad into a totally different style of play!

    I'm even more delighted they didn't listen to the money spending plea's of the minority of Gers fans.

    Gers fans have been outstanding in support of the club. Let's make Ibrox a sell out every game!!

  7. I`d have Dominic Ball and Rob Kiernan as our centre backs every week,Wilson is a good player but is too casual and is not tough enough for me

  8. As Ross says, Walsh and Hardie are in 1st team squad. Pretty decent analysis though.

    Of your 23 players, I would see Crawford and Murdoch going on loan. Next season I think Crawford, Templeton and Shiels will be playing elsewhere. Possibly Clark too and Miller retired. If the three loanees are gone, that leaves space for 7-8 new players. Ideally 2-3 from the youths, 2 or 3 max new loanees and a couple of good signings. I have every confidence the new management and the scouting network they will build, will enable us to find a couple of bargains given what they found without a year and a scouting network! And if the loanees do as well as they have started, there will be a lineup of Premiership clubs happy to trust the Magic Hat with their kids. He will have his pick, depending on what roles we need to fill.

    This team will continue to improve as it gells – next season (God willing in the Premier League) we will be stronger, ready. I can already smell their fear!!

  9. Scotswahae,keep your feet on the ground,aĺlan it takes is suspensions and injurys,rangers r not to clever at the back,a Lee griffin or a Adam rooney would have a field day,got to tighten up m8

  10. Whos lee griffin never heard or him? Stay off this page troll and worry about your own team and even maybe being able to spell!! CLOWN

  11. I'm torn between the need to "Just sit back & love every minute of this" or "Worry about the future"
    At the minute its great we are batterin wee teams & bangin in goals
    And TBH I cant wait too see how we will fair against the "so called Prem teams" & how we do against them,
    But i think it will be xmas time when we are settled & the players are developing well,so lets just keep let Warbs do what he is doing & see where it takes us

  12. See the so called Gers fans that keep writing on this page for trolls to go bk to there own page because they don't like what's being said fecking get a grip we are all Gers fans and all have different opinions that's what this site is all about…..if it's an obvious septic fan then fair enough but c,mon to fevk!!!!!!!!!WATP

  13. Certainly would include Tom Walsh as part of first team squad, and possibly Ryan Hardie before Robbie Crawford and at the moment Andy Murdoch .Had to laugh at comment by someone that the keeper seems one footed ,some of the outfield players are pretty one footed and seems to me that would be more of an issue. It is easy solve with the keeper …..pass back to his left side !!!!

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