SEVEN RANGERS MATCHES IN THREE DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS DURING AUGUST THAT CAN DEFINE THE SEASON-FAST EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT IS THE KEY.

At the time of writing Rangers have played one of their seven August fixtures which abridge three different competitions (as per graphic above).

The SPL Transfer Window closes on Thursday September 3rd, but this does not put on hold the games coming thick and fast as the recruitment team attempt to offload players as well as bringing in new players (the Falkirk away SPL game the previous day should also be taken into account).

So what is at stake for Rangers across the three competitions?:

EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFYING:

The first leg of the Europa League 3rd Round Qualifier away at Jagiellonia was lost 1-2 in an uninspired performance in Poland on the evening of Thursday 6th August, despite this set back Rangers are still in the tie and would be expected to put in a more consistent and composed performance in the return leg at Ibrox on Thursday 13th August.

Winning this round would lead to the Europa League Play Off Round in which Rangers would play either Larne from Northern Ireland or Iberia Tbilisi from Georgia.

The trap door of falling into the Europa Conference League or no European Football at all is illustrated as per the graphic below:

Although European Football is not deemed as the number one priority for Rangers this season, there is still some degree of kudos in playing in the Europa League (although the Champions League would be preferable!), and competing in the Europa Conference League would damage this as well as having unwelcome financial implications as illustrated in the graphic below:

SPL-WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP:

Without doubt this is the priority having last won the trophy in the 2020-21 season under Steven Gerrard's management, it is also the mechanism in which to garner entry into the Champions League and it's enormous financial rewards and kudos of attracting a higher quality of player.

The six points available against Hibs at home and Aberdeen away are vital having drawn the opener against Dundee United away on Friday 31st July, Rangers would not want to find themselves five or six points adrift at the end of the month. As alluded to above the away game at Falkirk falls before the close of the SPL Transfer Window on Thursday September 3rd,

PREMIER SPORTS LEAGUE CUP:

Although the competition is ridiculed in some circles, this presents a great opportunity to break the trophy drought that extends back to the 2023-24 season when Rangers won the trophy defeating Aberdeen one nil under the management of Philippe Clement in the 2023-24 season.

Rangers play holders St Mirren at home on Sunday 16th August, the competition may not be a priority for some, however a Rangers loss would be unthinkable and make for a toxic atmosphere both at Ibrox and beyond.

FAST EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT IS KEY:

The recruitment team under Dan Purdy are under intense pressure to bring in players to maximise the opportunity of success in August, and therefore challenge for all three competitions referred to above. Key areas of centre back, left back, right and left wings need to be addressed urgently as these areas are woefully short of the personnel required to bring in good performances and therefore success. They will be working knowing that the games are coming along thick and fast during August leading to the shutting of the SPL Transfer Window.

As illustrated in the graphic below the squad is bloated and outs are also important to bring in funds to reinvest in transfer targets.

It is disturbing that despite five defenders leaving immediately at the end of last season (four loan exits and James Tavernier non contract renewal), that this area is so thin with regards to personnel, the same applies to the wing positions with Mikey Moore leaving and Andreas Skov Olsen's option to buy not being triggered due to some underwhelming performances. I am sure that Jim Gillespie will be monitoring this department very closely over the next month.

Whilst Purdy's team can be exonerated from historic signings such as Nsiala, Cifuentes and Danilo, the four signings last January (Rommens, Naderi, Chuckwuani and Olsen) are most certainly on their watch. They simply MUST get the signings right to give Derek McInnes the right tools, and the players the right support, to maximise the possibility of Rangers challenging for silverware in season 2026-27.

Marcus

HATW 1872