Following on from Philippe Clement’s appointment as Rangers gaffer last season, the 50 year old former 38 capped Belgian professional defender, more than made his mark as Michael Beale’s replacement, but sadly we just simply ran out of steam at the tail end of the season and the Ibrox faithful did not see the side achieve the success that for a long time it looked like we would.
Of course, that was before our new gaffer had even had a pre season and a proper transfer window to work in as he was still largely assessing the squad and working out who would fit into his future plans given his own playing ethos. For those who like a small flutter on their football, the best online betting sites would have long given very favourable odds on who would depart, and then arrive, as Clement debated his rebuild – and those odds in smaller circumstances would be available still.
With those determinations and decisions made though, this was always going to be a big summer and the transfer window rumour mill has long been in fervour of what incomings and outgoings we would see. Obviously there have already been a number of high profile departures as players came to the natural end of their existing contracts, but we have also seen Clement add to the squad with a wide range of truly potential quality as we look to their continued future development.
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The expectation, of course, is that we are far from finished yet and that there will be further arrivals and departures in the weeks that remain before the transfer window slams shut.
Given all the earlier talk that key goalkeeper Jack Butland could have been a casualty this summer as we looked to cash in on him to help fund Clement’s rebuild, he has recently gone on the record as being happy with the signings that have been made as we look to last years disappointment, and in his mind given how well they have fitted in, he feels we can approach the 2024/25 campaign with greater renewed optimism.
Referencing all the changes this time last year under Beale, he feels that 12 months on we are already in a far better position than we were then. Granted, he accepted we did not get the opening day win that everyone was hoping for as we travelled to Heart of Midlothian, but the 3rd Qualifying Round Champions League draw against Dynamo Kyiv was a positive. This was then backed up with the 2-1 victory over Motherwell, so we are already playing ourselves into a bit of form – whilst players still settle in.
He also revealed that talks with the board had left him with no concerns about our future direction and future ambitions, and despite the previous interest shown in him by English clubs, he is fully on board with what Clement is seeking to implement and he is certainly not looking for a move – which should close the speculation down.
He hinted that the Ibrox faithful would need an element of patience, particularly given the very unfortunate stadium issues we are working through as the traditional home crowd is not fully behind the side, and understandably a change of stadium does subtly change things, but again we appear to be growing into the season, so if we can take the second leg European win and progression that will be a further boost to everyone.
Listening and reading his words, one thing that Clement and the board seem to have nailed here is the personal discussion element, as he freely admits they have allowed him to air his concerns and ‘pick their brains’ and it has more than set him at ease.
For a major player like Butland, a public admittance like that shows the club are in lockstep, and that can only be good for us all.
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