Rangers remain on the cusp of a significant squad overhaul. With half a dozen players already through the door, a similar number now need to head the other way. More arrivals are expected, but what were once general priorities have now become glaring urgencies.
Alongside the Rangers Review, I had the opportunity to watch training first-hand last week, a rare glimpse behind the curtain. It was intense. It was aggressive. High energy, high demands. On the surface, there’s plenty to be encouraged by.
Players are being introduced to a level of intensity and a tactical style that marks a clear departure from what they’ve known in recent seasons. The idea is to use the ball proactively, to dominate possession, to attack with purpose, a model that’s worked elsewhere in Scotland. But this, unquestionably, is not the traditional Rangers blueprint.
And truthfully, I can’t help but feel the road ahead is going to be bumpy.
In terms of the new faces, the likes of Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Nasser Djiga and Thelo Aasgaard should provide a more defined spine. Lyall Cameron and Manny Fernandez add depth, but this squad remains short of what’s required to be successful in Glasgow.
The attacking areas, particularly out wide and through the middle, are underpowered. That’s a major concern with the European registration deadline fast approaching. While two changes can be made post-submission, Rangers are working against the clock.
Russell Martin’s system simply won’t function without pace and width. The pursuit of Sheffield Wednesday’s Djeidi Gassama could help address that, but even his arrival won’t be enough. More is needed. Oscar Cortes must also get up to speed, and that will take time, especially after his injury layoff. Fitness and confidence don't return overnight after such an extended period without football.
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Then there’s the striker situation. Can Cyriel Dessers lead the line again this season? His numbers are respectable, but many of his fanbase have little faith in the Nigerian to be the main man this campaign. If Martin persists with both Dessers up front and James Tavernier at full-back, two players whose contributions continue to divide opinion, the backlash will be swift should things go wrong early. It’s a gamble the manager must weigh carefully.
Add to that the likelihood of Jack Butland remaining No.1, and there’s a weight of responsibility resting on players who, fairly or not, are seen by many supporters as part of the recent failings.
The pressure inside Ibrox will not be forgiving.
I’ve said before this squad is a jigsaw that needs completing, and there are signs it’s starting to take shape. But without the right pieces, especially in the wide and forward areas, it won’t come together.
Pre-season games against Brugge and Barnsley matter little in terms of results. These are glorified fitness sessions, with players visibly heavy-legged from hard training. That’s exactly how it should be. There are glimpses of structure, of patterns of play, and for now, we must be patient.
Martin comes across well - he is approachable, intelligent, with a dry sense of humour and a clear passion for the game. It’s easy to see why he's popular with staff and players alike.
But being a good guy counts for nothing when the real business begins.
When Panathinaikos arrive in just over a week, no one will care about likability. If that Rangers team walks out with Butland, Tavernier and Dessers in the starting XI and things go wrong, Martin will find himself on shaky ground with supporters from the off. That may not be fair, but it is the reality.
This squad is very much a work in progress. Patience is necessary, but at Rangers, it’s rarely afforded.
If you believed otherwise, the boos at half-time against Brugge were a reminder of how quickly sentiment can turn.
You don’t get time. You don’t get patience. You don’t get understanding. Not here, not now, not ever.
The real stuff is about to begin and I'd feel a whole lot better about it if it were another busy week of ins and outs before it does.
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