With just over three weeks till Rangers face their first fixture under Steven Gerrard, there is now something like a shape forming in terms of the personnel.
Pre-season training officially begins on Friday as the existing squad, the new signings and the management team finally descend upon Auchenhowie in perhaps the most anticipated session at Rangers’ world-class facilities in living memory.
And at that point there will be exactly three weeks till English side Bury make their way north on July 6 to face Rangers in Gerrard’s debut as manager, and with five signings confirmed (ish) there’s a whole new look about the squad which will face the Shakers.
In goal Rangers have Allan McGregor, while the defence is taking clear shape now with James Tavernier, Declan John and Connor Goldson (imminent) the main players.
Meanwhile Ross McCrorie, Greg Docherty and Jordan Rossiter not to mention Graham Dorrans fill up midfield while Daniel Candeias, Josh Windass, Ovie Ejaria, Scott Arfield and Jamie Murphy adorn the advanced areas.
We do not yet have absolute confirmation Ryan Jack is fit and raring to go so we’ll hang fire on that one.
Meanwhile attack is thin – the futures of Alfredo Morelos and Eduardo Herrera are anything but clear and they’re the only two established strikers on Rangers’ books right now.
Three weeks is not a lot of time to get in some significant defenders, albeit Gerrard is aiming for Croatian international Nikola Katic, along with strikers, and we do expect the full squad to be used so anticipate the Jason Holts, Wes Foderinghams and Lee Hodsons of this world to still feature heavily in the clash with Ryan Lowe’s men.
Hopefully the proposed deal for Roma’s Umar Sadiq comes to pass.
We badly need to get in quality central defenders and centre forwards, and to be moving on those not making the subs bench. I'd like to see Alves and Morelos properly replaced too, but might be stuck with them for now.
GK – McGregor
DL – John
DC – Goldson
DC – Alves
DR – Tavernier
DMC – Rossiter
MC – Dorrans
AML – Arfield
AMC – Murphy
AMR – Candeias
CF – Morelos
SUB 1 – Alnwick
SUB 2 – Wallace
SUB 3 – McCrorie
SUB 4 – Docherty
SUB 5 – Windass
SUB 6 – Ojaria
SUB 7 –
YTH – Rob McCrorie
YTH – Wilson
YTH – Barjonas
YTH – Burt
YTH – Atakayi
SELL – Foderingham
SELL – Hodson
SELL – Cardoso
SELL – Halliday
SELL – Jack
SELL – Holt
SELL – Herrera
A good break down Steven and agree it's probably our strongest team thus far. Personally I still feel we are nowhere near Celtic in quality. I know its early days, but with all the dead wood still at Ibrox, I fear another problematic season ahead.
Our defence must be our priority. Alves was injured quite a bit last season, Goldson had heart surgery, there will be a lot of pressure on him like he never felt before. Brighton are not expected to win most of their games, Rangers are expected to win every game. Therefore, quality replacements are required!
A lot of our team folded at the pressure of playing in front of 50000 fans, absolutely bottled it, as well as let teams bully us.
We need solid, passionate, quality and tough minded players. I just don't see that yet, but time will tell. I will feel a bit easier when I start seeing the dead wood leaving Ibrox.
Big Umar alongside Morelos … mmm.
It's gone quiet on a bid for Louis Moult . Still think he'd run riot playing for us .
Was starting to think G might be great, of course I sold up for a holiday, then I thought, I will take in the second half of the year as things will go pear shaped, assumes Mr K has managed to stick around, somehow, then I thought, naw, a second break in Feb abroad sounds good and I wont need to put myself through further punishment, so far the signings might be ok or might not, bit like what we have been doing for the last 2 seasons, signing on hope, enjoy, I know I will, just not at Ibrox J
Not much of a Rangers supporter are we? With people like you connected to the club who needs celtic.
Well here is the real problem, we continue to be taken in with the King roadshow, he is crap, until he goes we will remain in the same basket, keep this reply DL for 6 months and see for yourself!! J
Need 6 or 7 quality players signed soon,if that does not happen then it'll be another shit season.
Strikers has to be priority now .Assuming Goldson is a stick on. The boy from Roma sounds appealing however i feel we may need a more experienced striker. Someone with relative experience in Scotland/U.K.
I truly wish the scotish media would get of the clubs back we may not have the riches of other clubs. I dont think stevie has being duped the club is just being realistic they will only buy what they can afford winning prizes gets investment we are looking better than last season give us a break from all this negative publicity by the scotish media and critics of the club .
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