Ibrox Noise are still looking at the Olwethu Makhanya situation, which technically and indirectly affected Luke Graham. Rangers were low on reserves, quality and depth at the back. Therefore, there was a distinct requirement to bring in new blood.
Luke Graham was the obvious choice
Dundee’s Luke Graham was a shining light in the Scottish Premiership last season. He was a prime candidate to come to Rangers.
As a lefty, he would have fitted in perfectly given the lack of depth on that side of defence. He would only have cost around £2M.
Instead, Rangers never even submitted a bid for him. They went for a literal rando in Philadelphia Union’s Makhanya.
Looking at Makhanya’s track record is diabolical. His statistics and attributes are poor. We do not know what forensic data analysis Rangers used to scout this guy.
His defensive qualities are suspect, at best. Furthermore, his disciplinary record is absolutely atrocious.
With 14 yellow cards and four red cards, he does not seem to have a grip on his disciplinary issues. He may spend more time facing an early bath than actually playing football.
Rangers face another January absence
Then, of course, there is another problem. Rangers have signed another African player. Even if he remarkably proves impressive, Rangers will lose him in January for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Put simply, this is yet another diabolical choice of signing. Rangers ignored the obvious, decent and reliable Scottish Premiership player who knows the league.
Instead, Rangers went for yet another North American rando. Rangers’ track record in that market is absolutely abominable.
Historically, Claudio Reyna and Maurice Edu shone for us. However, the more recent record includes ‘luminaries’ such as James Sands, José Cifuentes and Matt Polster.
We are definitely not talking about quality players who enhanced our club.
Another gamble from MLS
Yet here we are, signing another player from a North American league, namely MLS. Rangers hope that he will become a shining light. Not only that, but he also costs more than Graham would have.
Graham will do well for Stoke. He could have done well for Rangers. However, for some unknown reason, our club did not bother with that target.
Instead, Rangers went for a random South African plying his trade with Philadelphia Union. His track record is poor and his defensive quality is questionable.
We do not understand what the club saw in this guy that persuaded them to choose him over Graham.
These are the nonsensical transfer dealings that Rangers fans have had to tolerate for years. Rangers always pursue obscure random players instead of the obvious Scottish Premiership choice or another clear option.
Rangers ignore the obvious targets
Naturally, Rangers fans do want to see a few overseas (based) players arrive. We could name Lewis Ferguson, Jens Hjertø-Dahl and one or two others.
However, none of them ever come. Rangers are never willing to do what it takes, if needed, to get that kind of player.
Of course, there are logistical challenges and financial constraints involving those particular two names. However, the example is clear. Rangers very frequently fail to pursue the obvious choice.
The only obvious recent choices Rangers brought in were both boys from Hearts. Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin were the two obvious choices to bring from there.
Derek McInnes, of course, was another obvious choice to bring in as manager. This was why Ibrox Noise believed we were seeing a turnaround in recruitment.
At last, Rangers appeared to be bringing in the common sense options. However, that seems to have gone and completely jetted out the window.
Once again, we are bringing in random players from everywhere instead of getting the obvious quality targets we should. Luke Graham is the absolute symbol of this.
Nobody has seen any offers or interest in Tawanda Maswanhise of Motherwell either. We could certainly do with him.