Derek McInnes has already made an abrupt and blunt statement to Rangers’ owners. McInnes’ demand that new signings need to land quickly was pretty clear. And McInnes pulls no punches with it.
McInnes echoes Gerrard’s warning
It echoed Steven Gerrard’s sentiments after Rangers lost to Malmö in 2021 following 55. During that Champions League qualifying campaign, Rangers were well off the pace. It was abundantly clear that new talent was needed.
Unfortunately, that summer, not a penny had been spent on four or five signings. Those additions made very little difference to Rangers’ fortunes. Gerrard, the manager back then, was pretty clear with the board. He needed to spend more money during the summer.
You cannot compete at that level, the Champions League, with what Rangers had. Gerrard was gone to Aston Villa fairly soon afterwards.
Previous managers needed better
McInnes has already made a very similar kind of statement. Giovanni himself also did so during the Champions League campaign in 2022. They need better.
Put simply, Derek McInnes needs to sign players who can actually dominate and compete for Rangers. He needs Rangers standard players.
This summer, we have signed one or two who look like they could be pretty solid. Everyone, of course, was excited about Lawrence Shankland. There are also some hopes for Dragojević.
The heavy hitters have not arrived
However, the big alpha heavy hitters that Rangers fans had hoped for simply have not arrived. No Tawanda Maswanhise from Motherwell. Nor Jens Hjertø-Dahl from Tromsø. No Lewis Ferguson from Bologna.
All the big, talented players Rangers wanted and the Rangers fans needed to see have not come in. Once again, the market being shopped in appears to be mid range EFL slop.
We cannot necessarily say that we are excited by half of the players who have come in. Olwethu Makhanya is not exactly someone who looks anything great on paper either.
McInnes needs support
McInnes needs more and he is being pretty clear about it. He does not have the tools at his disposal to produce a Rangers side worthy of the name.
Right now, he is willing and committed to the club. However, he needs to be supported and he needs to get better. McInnes pulls no punches with that.
A lot of that falls on recruitment and we will discuss that in a separate piece. However, for now, McInnes is bang on.