Ibrox Noise had to laugh this morning when another so‑called Rangers site made a quip that made us absolutely giggle. We are not ones to attack other Rangers groups. We would never do such a thing. However, the one in question is not a Rangers group. We had to giggle at the comment they made. They alleged that Rangers are stockpiling players on pre‑transfer agreements, a claim regularly recycled across Rangers transfer news.
A curious claim
We were curious as to what on earth they were talking about. We learned they were quoting from somebody else. Of course they were. More amusingly, they called that somebody else a respected journalist. The somebody else in question was Hugh Keevins, whose opinions are frequently amplified by outlets like Sky Sports.
The respect problem
If there is one thing most Rangers fans can agree on, it is this. Even Celtic fans would likely agree. Respect isn’t something we associate with Keevins. Good Lord, we nearly spat out our coffee reading that one. If ever there was revisionism on the basis of trying to create an article, that would be it.
Opinion over credibility
If one pundit, and he is certainly not a ‘journalist’, would be lambasted more than most, it is Keevins. He is not exactly hated. However, he is definitely not taken seriously. He is a bit like Graham Spiers. Most fans deride and degrade everything that he says, something frequently discussed on Ibrox Noise. There is a distinct lack of credibility behind the majority of it. It is mostly opinion and shock jock content. Both of these two are guilty of that. It gets in the viewers and it gets in the listeners. It gets the clicks. However, based in reality, it probably is not, unlike reporting found on sites such as Rangers FC News.
January reality
To call such an individual a respected journalist really is pushing it rather long. Nevertheless, everybody is entitled to their opinion, we suppose. If somebody was to claim that Hugh Keevins is a respected journalist, who are we to point out how completely ridiculous a statement that is? But nevertheless, if Rangers were to acquire some further players in the January window, we would certainly not object to that. But pre‑transfer agreements probably are not what we want to see.
Signings now
We would like them in as soon as possible. January is notorious for pre‑contracts. So many players Rangers have signed over the years in January have been based on pre‑contracts, as covered in recent Ibrox transfer roundups. John Souttar was, of course, a very famous example back in 2022. But we would rather have them in right now, which is exactly what the club has been doing, hence that Hollywood moment recently highlighted on Ibrox Noise. But no, respected journalist, probably not.