Rangers’ assistant manager David Weir has formally clarified the defensive situation at Ibrox, confirming that the current squad may be considered sufficient for next season if no further deals are finalised.
With American international Oguchi Onyewu trialling with Mark Warburton’s men during their US camp at Charleston Battery, and word going very quiet on the prospects of Jamaican stopper Adrian Mariappa, Weir took the chance to clear up exactly what Rangers are looking for.
He said:
“Oguchi (Onyewu) has done well. We all know he is an experienced player. It’s about us having a look at him, while he has a look at us. It’s a difficult situation but he has handled it really well and he has socialised really well. I think there is a chance he will win a contract. We wouldn’t have invited him here if we didn’t think he had a chance of getting a deal. We’ve got until the end of the week to make our minds up. We’ll give him our thoughts and he will give us his thoughts and we will see where we are at. But the decision has to be right for all parties. Oguchi still wants to play but he wants a challenge that excites him. He has options in the USA and he wants to have options in Europe too.”
In short, the 34 year old former Milan centre half has impressed, and if everyone is happy with the terms and conditions, he could well be Mark Warburton’s ninth summer signing.
However, Weir urged caution over this being a foregone conclusion and sought to talk up the existing squad as a solution itself;
“But if we don’t sign him, it doesn’t mean we need to find another centre-back because we have Clint Hill and also Matt Crooks can play there.”
Should Rangers not sign the former Newcastle defender, it would appear management may actually be content with Kiernan, Wilson, Hill and Crooks as the defensive options. Ideally though, Warburton does want a fourth dedicated CB, and the eggs are probably now in the Onyewu basket.
We all know the player profile……..free transfer, over 30 and £8k per week.
If we sign any more over 30 ' s we will have to renew the squad again next season.
What's the latest on the safety certificates?
Weir can't honestly believe that what we currently have in centre-back cover will be good enough to win the league. The calamitous duo that is Kiernan and Wilson cannot be considered, leaving us with 38yr old Hill and Crooks who I believe is still recovering from ankle surgery. The prospect of adding 34yr old Onyewu to the squad isn't going to convince our support that we will be genuine title challengers!
I think if we get Dom Ball again on loan then we are covered in defence…just a penalty box striker required then
They were good enough against Celtic. Both are young and still learning, I wish people would give them a chance. Too many fans are condemning them after one season, a season where we were promoted and had a pretty good defensive record by the way. I'm happy to have them both.
Looks like celtic will have a much hungrier team this year with more youth and quality, a lot of the deadwood gone. If their deadwood striker can tear us apart as he did in the final I am a little worried.
One off games we can beat anyone but a sustained higher level league challenge is a different proposition. Dave needs to invest in 2 quality players not over 30's freebies.
Kiernan will learn, Wilson is just plain to slow and should never have been brought back. Oguchi would give experience on the cheap for the year and give more options
Celtic have more CH probs than we do, so I dont think we are in bad shape if they are the measure. I think Waldo also has the quality to play CH also. My concern is CF should we lose Wags or Miller for any length of time….
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