Football Season Guide

Rangers’ previous season was chaotic as they ploughed through 3 managers in the space of 12 months, endured their worst run in more than 100 years and finished a distant 3rd in the table, having at one stage flirted with winning the title. Little went right for the Gers last term, so much of what they have done over the summer has been done with the intention of fixing their problems. All that starts in the dugout, where they have appointed seasoned campaigner Derek McInnes. He is a speciality in man management and pragmatic, successful football. His teams at Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Hearts might not have been the most exciting, but they all punched above their weight. McInnes has already signed two of the key figures from Hearts’ title push last season in the form of Lawrence Shankland, who should provide goals in attack playing just behind a natural No.9, and Cammy Devlin, a tigerish presence in midfield. Perhaps the key area that Rangers needed to address, though, was their defence. Significant changes were always likely here as Derek Cornelius and Nasser Djiga were both only at the club on loan. With Emmanuel Fernandez retained and Ben Godfrey added, they seem to have upgraded in this area. The full-back areas, though, lack depth while there are doubts as to whether Ross McCrorie is of the required standard on the right. There’s ample depth in midfield following the arrival of Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic, yet this points to key man Nicolas Raskin leaving amidst interest from the Premier League. While there is strength in depth in the heart of the side, there is also a lack of balance as there is a shortage of creative players and also those who might chip in with goals. Thelo Aasgaard is perhaps the exception but Rangers struggled to get the best from him last season. Depth is also no concern in attack, but efficiency is a problem. Rangers are stacked with inconsistent players that they have struggled to rely on. Shankland’s arrival is hoped to change this, while Findlay Curtis is one to watch after a strong spell at Kilmarnock on loan last season.