Rangers recruitment so far this summer has seen a deliberate and conscious plan looking at players who can contribute in the short term as well as having the potential to make the club a profit in the future.
The five new arrivals are all young, energetic and with a high level of technical ability, exactly the sort of profile that Philippe Clement needs in his squad.
Rangers fans aren’t entirely happy though with so many players who flopped last year still in and around the squad with Nils Koppen laying out a 14-point policy to prevent the issues created last season from happening again.
Rangers transfer policy explain as Nils Koppen presents plan
The Fan Advisory Board has been called into question recently due to the silence surrounding the ongoing problems at Ibrox.
The minutes have now been released from the last meeting with members of Rangers hierarchy which shows that the development to the Copland Road stand was, apparently, on schedule, only for the club to release the first statement signifying the issue just a few days later.
That is an entirely different story though and a pressing concern for members of the board was a more strategic approach to player trading.
Koppen gave the board its full respect by presenting his plan including the following key points:
– Strong and efficient process with manager involved.
– Data and video as a big part of the recruitment process.
– Balanced squad (age, positions, nationalities, personalities, values).
– A dynamic squad to be successful domestically and in Europe.
– We prioritise high technical quality and athleticism.
– Players need to be robust, reliable and focused.
– Determined key markets where we can be successful, more active in untapped markets.
– Eye for Scottish market and talents.
– Retain our best Academy talents.
– Use our “platform” more to give opportunities to young players and develop them.
– Buy at the right price, sell at the right moment.
– Recruit players with the ability to take the next step to the Big 5 leagues.
– Stronger contract management.
– The club demands winners.
Koppen now needs to put Rangers plan into action
On paper, this is exactly what Rangers need, unfortunately it is never quite as simple as this.
The first problem is creating space for new additions.
Robby McCrorie has left for Kilmarnock and interest in Cyriel Dessers is also increasing, however, nothing has been confirmed for either player.
Sam Lammers has been training with the B team which suggests that he too might be close to an exit.
When you compare this plan compared to what happened last summer, it’s easy to see how Rangers went wrong.
Too many injury prone players, too many contracts expiring, not enough local players, the pathway blocked to the first team by fringe players on big wages.
This summer is a start, but it’s going to take more than one window to fix the problems of the past.
