With Rangers players now very much back at Auchenhowie to begin preseason, Ibrox Noise offers a bunch of our (hot) takes on what we’ve seen since the new manager came in and the players returned from their summer holidays.
Ibrox Noise takes you things we noticed amid Rangers return for preseason:
1: The core.
The is refreshing. Seeing the return of so many Rangers players who just didn’t get any kind of chance under Danny Rohl or indeed Russell Martin. Lyall Cameron, Connor Barron, Ross McCausland and all the others who aren’t at the world cup have arrived.
The big deal is the sheer feel of a squad of players who are Scottish, or Rangers. Guys who get this club or the league. And are going to get that reset under Derek McInnes. And that’s without mentioning the returning Ross McCrorie or the soon-to-arrive Lawrence Shankland.
2: Ryan Naderi.
Ibrox Noise isn’t a huge fan of this lad, his performances under Rohl were what we expected from a Third Division player. But he does have a big heart, and he’s a huge workhorse. Rangers were at pains to give him a bit of focus, and McInnes himself engaged a lot with him. Whether we’re going to see a whole new player time will tell.
3: Engagement.
There was definitely a Rangers Family vibe about preseason. Instead of an aloof manager who doesn’t know the first thing about our club, we have a hands-on manager who understands everything. McInnes already looks at home, and the players know they have someone who gets what it is this club needs to do.
4: Ross McCrorie.
Hasn’t take the former Rangers man long to get back into the swing of things. McCrorie is like he’s never been away, and now not only does he have the club of his dreams, he’s got a Rangers-minded manager he used to shine for. Perfect.
5: The Rangersy-ness of it all.
We’ve been highlighting this in recent content. Just the sheer number of Rangers men who are now in the building. From the manager himself, to at least two board members, and now in the squad too, Rangers feel a little bit like our club again. No more mercenary muck in the club, just Rangers guys who want to success. At every level.
6: McInnes himself.
This guy gets it. He has lived and breathed it. He’s the one we all wanted. And while there were a few small signs of first-day nerves, he’s the right man at the right time. It’s a big, big job Derek McInnes has, but it feels right that he’s the man doing it. Engaging with fans, engaging with the players, it’s the Proper Rangers Way.
There were many more things about Rangers return for preseason, but we wouldn’t want to drown you.