January report card – how do Rangers’ signings rate?

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January report card – how do Rangers’ signings rate?


With Rangers deep into March, and having had well over six weeks for the new players to make some kind of impression, Ibrox Noise runs the rule over all of January’s new recruits.

Let’s see how many you Bears and Bearettes agree with.

The first new signing was Sean Goss. Unheard of in truth, this QPR midfield playmaker’s signature was viewed underwhelmingly and in some places unnecessarily. After all, at the time we had Ryan Jack (his injury’s seriousness was as yet unknown), Ross McCrorie, Jason Holt, Jordan Rossiter et al – fans were a little puzzled as why we appeared to be bringing in another similar player. His performances soon showed why, as the loan player increasingly dazzled and eventually looked indispensible as fans, this site included, pled for a way to sign him in the summer permanently. We accept the past few displays have not lived up to the earlier portion but overall he has done extremely well. 8/10

Next up was Brighton’s Jamie Murphy. Out of favour at his parent club, the former Motherwell winger was a well-known Rangers fan, which is obviously a plus, and keen on the move north. In short, the 28-year old has been excellent – his work in defence has been as valuable as his rampaging runs on the left, and he has formed a decent partnership on that side with Declan John. Like Goss, he has suffered a little in the past few fixtures but overall he’s been stellar. 9/10

Jason Cummings was next to come in, the former Hibs striker coming north after a fruitless spell with Forest. A truly exciting signing, the Scotland cap had done incredible damage to Rangers in the past for the Easter Road outfit, and was top scorer with them. His time back in Scotland has been mixed – the 22-year old just hasn’t had enough time in the first team to really show his talents, but when given chances he’s taken them. A brilliant first touch, hard grafting, and a clinical finish, Cummings has suffered from Alfredo Morelos’ recent form, and found himself benched more often than not. We will score based on what he’s done on the pitch. 9/10

Following Cummings was another import from Norwich, Russell Martin. The 32-year old Scotland international was surplus at Carrow Road, and after a few initial steady displays, we began to see why. Weak in the air, poor leadership skills, and a lack of any positional sense not to mention some dreadful distribution which has cost goals – Martin’s best days are behind him. Defence remains a huge problem, and Martin is, in present form, a symptom of that. 4/10

Last but not least is Greg Docherty. Some supporters wanted Jason Holt to retain his place even with Docherty in the squad. Once the Hamilton signature got his foot in the door he was not letting the chance slip. Rangers’ best player since January overall, Docherty plays every match like it’s his last, and displays tenacity, grit, quality, technical prowess and pace like they’re going out of fashion. His tears at the end of the match yesterday shows what playing for Rangers means to him, and if anyone has worn the jersey with pride, honour and distinction over the past two months, it’s him. 10/10.

NB: Declan John doesn’t count as he was a summer signing, and Glenn Middleton is yet to put on the senior shirt.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. Good assessments and I would be more than happy to have Cummings Murphy and Goss permenently …Docherty good signing…can get even better once he settles to his own role instead of trying to be everywhere..but he will be an asset . Now we need a proper experienced Manager and 4 or 5 new signings ..2x CH RB 2 Strikers

  2. Agree with comments and ratings with perhaps only Cummings to prove himself (not his fault). All in all that represents a successful January window so well done to Murty and Allan. What we now need is another 3 or 4 similar transfer windows to totally transform this club. I keep repeating we can't do it in one year. It's a gradual and steady progression that will get us back to the top.

  3. Disagree with Goss assessment. He was terrible against shellic and kilmarnock. He appears to be deteriorating as opposed to be getting better in every game.
    Poor Cummings just simply isn't getting the supply!
    Docherty is one for our future.
    Mark Allan has a big job to do this summer. We need to get rid of a lot of dead wood! But, how many seasons have we been saying this?! Hopefully Mark Allan will get it right, where previous and current boards haven't!

  4. I am afraid I disagree with some of the comments and scores your article contains. My opinion is based including the two recent home defeats at Ibrox.
    Sean Goss: looked comfortable and composed to start with, elegant and sublime passing and a deft left foot, then along came Celtic and Kilmarnock. In both matches we see how inept he was, both these games we needed midfielders who have the ability to play a bit but also be able to dig in, win tackles and create chances. If he is to become a permanent fixture, we would need to supplement the midfield with another player to do the work he doesn’t. For me he barely makes a 6/10.
    Jamie Murphy: again up to our last two fixtures I was excited about him, loved his trickery and style of play but against Kilmarnock was totally anonymous and I felt he didn’t perform too well against Celtic. In his defenceI could say he might be carrying the injured toe and not quite recovered. I would however like and hope he does become a Rangers player permanently. So for him a very commendable 7/10.
    Jason Cummings: I like the lad, he looks a threat and as yet he hasn’t been in the side enough to give him a proper chance. On Saturday, as were most of the side against Kilmarnock, totally ineffectual and again is his defence he wasn’t given any support from teammates to do anything. He is a player I would also like us to sign, but for me your asssessment in your rating is too high and for me is just a 7/10.
    Russell Martin: I agree with the article 100% this time, past his best, might do as a back up right back, but a need-to-have at the moment till the end of the season. We desperately need centre half’s and Martin isn’t one for the future. 4/10.
    Greg Docherty: I agree with the article, the consensus of opinion after the debacle against Kilmarnock with fellow Rangers fans, was he was the only player who got pass marks. He is nowhere near being the finished article by any means, but his talent is obvious, he is quick thinking, comfortable on the ball has an abundance of confidence with maybe some work to do on final pass, distribution and shooting, however this young lad might be the core quality we need to progress to where we want to be. One interesting point in the 2nd half was with Holt and Docherty in the same side worked, had other players upped their game on the day we might have got a result out of the match. 10/10.

  5. Good and relatively fair assessment on our january signings,ibrox noise!I've told mates at home and mates in the copland rear,where my season ticket is,for well over a year now,how good a young midfielder greg docherty is and how much i wanted us to sign him!He's without doubt a future rangers captain,in my eyes!I only see doc getting better and better through the years!It also goes to show how highly his former manager martin canning at hamilton rates him,when he said he reckons greg docherty could become even a better midfielder,than both james mcarthur and james mccarthy!Thats a very high compliment to pay docherty!It also sticks out a mile when docherty is playing,that it means the world to him to be playing and wearing the rangers jersey!He's a cracking young midfielder and will be terrific for us over the years!He's very good just now but its frightening to think how good he'll end up being,by continually improving!

  6. Good and relatively fair assessment on our january signings,ibrox noise!I've told mates at home and mates in the copland rear,where my season ticket is,for well over a year now,how good a young midfielder greg docherty is and how much i wanted us to sign him!He's without doubt a future rangers captain,in my eyes!I only see doc getting better and better through the years!It also goes to show how highly his former manager martin canning at hamilton rates him,when he said he reckons greg docherty could become even a better midfielder,than both james mcarthur and james mccarthy!Thats a very high compliment to pay docherty!It also sticks out a mile when docherty is playing,that it means the world to him to be playing and wearing the rangers jersey!He's a cracking young midfielder and will be terrific for us over the years!He's very good just now but its frightening to think how good he'll end up being,by continually improving!

  7. Regarding Doherty, wouldn't it be fantastic to have 10 other guys in tears after losing a game. It clearly means something to the young man to pull that blue jersey over his head. It's just a shame there are too many who don't feel the same. I hope we are seeing the early shoots of a new John Greig type character.

  8. QPR sent Goss on loan because he is a "luxury" player and they wanted to see if he can toughen up and add the dirty side of being a midfielder to his game.

    Fantastic left foot, can pick a pass and usually takes a great set piece. Fine in matches where we see most of the ball but like playing with a man down in games we have to do chasing.

    We don't have the quality of midfielder to carry Goss so he will go back to QPR and will probably be loaned again somewhere else next year.

  9. Pretty Spot On! 👏

    Love Doch, Murphy and JC!
    …They All Bleed Blue💙

    Martin has been Pish Since Coming North and I Like Gossy but his performances the last couple of games have been poor 👎

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