Rangers banter 2

19 Jun 2026 14:32:31
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers Pre-Season Matters This Year

19 Jun 2026 14:37:43
Good to see you posting again, Ehl.

19 Jun 2026 14:39:45
Excellent. Very informative article. Thanks, Ehl.

19 Jun 2026 14:52:42
Cracking article Ehl!

Out of interest, which players that you've worked with have the highest VO2 max levels?

19 Jun 2026 14:53:57
Good article Ehl, very informative. Hopefully get it right this season, as usual we need to hit the ground running.

19 Jun 2026 14:59:47
Ehl, great to see you on posting

What an article, Mate. Think that might be the best one I've read yet on here!

An expertly written article from a man who clearly knows his stuff.

One thing I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on is what pre-season looks like if a significant number of the players we're targeting don't arrive until later in the transfer window?

Given the number of departures already, and players being allowed to move on, how much of an impact does that have on the physical profiling, tactical work, conditioning programmes and squad cohesion you've outlined here?

If new signings are arriving after key parts of pre-season have been completed, are they effectively playing catch up in terms of fitness levels, tactical understanding and relationships within the team?

With the early European qualifiers looming, it feels like timing of recruitment could be almost as important as the recruitment itself.



So what is the impact to our recruitment?

Will now see players coming in, sooner than later?

19 Jun 2026 15:12:13
Brilliant Ehl.

19 Jun 2026 15:17:00
Excellent piece Ehl, there was me thinking it was all about sticking the round thing in the net!

Seriously though, I knew there was a fair bit to being a modern footballer, but you have broken it down so well with that piece. I certainly have a better understanding now, so thanks for taking the time to write these pieces.

19 Jun 2026 15:17:50
Ehl, Gid tae hear from you again.

19 Jun 2026 15:26:31
Very interesting to see what is now involved in pre-season. Thanks for information.

19 Jun 2026 15:41:10
Stig, I think our first competitive game this season is the 31st of July.

I'd expect that all the pre-season work between now and the 3rd of July will all be focussed on building each individual players' fitness levels up to a point where most of the group will come together to start the more tactical team focussed sessions. Some players may require additional work before joining the group.

This will give the core of the squad 4 weeks to work together ahead of the first game.

For the players returning from the WC, I'd expect them to be given a 1-2 week individualised pre-season before fully integrating with the main group.

Same goes for any new signings who are signed after pre-season has started - however this can be complicated as we will sign players from Scandinavia who are currently mid season, we will also sign players mid window who have started a pre-season with their previous clubs and we will also sign players mid window who haven't had any pre-season.



So it becomes a juggling act to make sure every player gets the right time to embed the required conditioning before starting the competitive games.

Chemriti is a really good example. He signed late in the window and joined us after an injury-ravaged season, and with very little pre-season under his belt. Yet we opted to throw him in straightaway. As a result he really struggled for the first chunk of the season.

19 Jun 2026 15:48:24
Thanks for the excellent article, and glad you're posting, as we need this kind of informative insight. I 100% agree with everything u have written, which is exactly why I was disappointed to read about delaying the return to training. Top man.

19 Jun 2026 16:11:05
Very good article, Ehl, can u confirm that any player returning from WC requires to have a full 14 days off before they can return to training as stipulated by FIFA?

Do u feel players returning r in peak fitness and only require fine tuning?

19 Jun 2026 16:15:45
EHL, what positions are the players from Scandinavia you are referring to? 🇦🇺🇬🇧😂

19 Jun 2026 16:15:47
Ehl, excellent article and follow up. This is one of the main reasons I come on: to understand better the machinations of a football club.

To me, it seems from what you say that the pre-season programmes to get each player or group can be adapted for whatever period of time they have after signing or returning from WC etc.

So, as long as it is done well, they should be okay and caught up for 31 July.

19 Jun 2026 16:20:31
John, I thought last season we lacked fitness. Would be delighted if this was highlighted and resolved.

19 Jun 2026 16:26:34
Ehl, thanks for your reply.

Think I caught a wee hint in that reply too. 🔍
😅

Your knowledge and insight is second to none, mate.
So pleased to see you posting. 💙

19 Jun 2026 16:26:49
Love this post, cheers Ehl.

19 Jun 2026 16:42:46
Superb post, as always, Ehl. 👌 Nice to have you back posting, my friend. 👍 🇬🇧

19 Jun 2026 16:42:50
I've decided to come back early from a month in Hameledayme. My first point is. Ehl said "We will sign players from Scandinavia" not we Might sign. Care to elaborate, Ehl?

19 Jun 2026 17:08:32
Genuine question, do people want Ferguson because of his name, who his dad and uncle are, or because he is a good player? I don't watch Serie A so can't say I've seen much of him since leaving Aberdeen. Other than the weekend's game against Haiti, anytime he has played for Scotland, I have never sat and thought he is the type of player we need.

19 Jun 2026 17:47:58
Kaiser, I get where you're coming from re delayed start to training, I understand from last season the following would not be there today.

Six loan players obviously.
Six at World Cup again, obvious.
Gassame, Antman Fernandes, Bajrami Chermiti 21s should all return mid week.
Tav left.
That leaves about ten first team.

19 Jun 2026 17:49:41
Ferguson will improve Rangers starting 11.

19 Jun 2026 17:59:07
"we will sign players from Scandinavia who are currently mid season"

Interesting comment from you there, EHL.

19 Jun 2026 18:07:26
100 percent John him and Raskin in the midfield would be just brilliant.

19 Jun 2026 20:01:02
John, they could maybe get a game of 5s going, lol.

19 Jun 2026 12:21:31
So looks like Raskin will be away this summer as he has requested a transfer so let's hope we get 25/30mil+ for him as he is showing as a real Gem when he came on at the WC, if he does go i hope we use that money to bring in Ferguson, Braga and Watt.

19 Jun 2026 12:59:13
I bet he hasn't requested a transfer because if he does that will cost him his cut of the fee. He will have indicated that he would like to leave and will not be signing a new deal. That comes as no surprise to anyone and is pretty much a non story at this point.

19 Jun 2026 12:54:16
Not that I disagree that he is likely to leave this summer, but can I ask where you are seeing that he has 'requested a transfer'. There was an interview with him just the other day where he stated he wasn't thinking about his club future just now and was only focusing on the World Cup and that he hadn't spoke with McInnes yet. 🤷

19 Jun 2026 13:13:16
Raskin demand a transfer, New, where are you getting this from?

19 Jun 2026 15:49:32
Not according to what he said over there. He's not thinking about anything other than the World Cup and leaving all that to agents etc.

19 Jun 2026 16:23:04
Not sure why Raskin would ask or demand a transfer. He is highly sought after.

If he asks for a transfer, he loses his 5% off the fee. Let the process take its course, imo.

19 Jun 2026 12:15:04
That's West Ham confirmed, least we will have one home game.

19 Jun 2026 13:20:52
Sunday game, John.

19 Jun 2026 13:40:19
Raskin can go and say thanks for the good half season he gave us. 👍

19 Jun 2026 16:10:36
If Raskin leaves and I fully expect him to, then I'll thank him for the 6 months he gave us of being a top player. Flattered to deceive more often than not. But, that's just my opinion.

19 Jun 2026 19:03:17
One good 6 month spell in 3 years, yet we think he's worth more than £15 million and is now an established international in a top European international side.

19 Jun 2026 11:45:19
Rangers V West Ham United confirmed fellow bears sunday 26th july with a 4pm kick off 👍derek mcinnes's bow 👍🇬🇧

19 Jun 2026 12:07:48
Yassssss. 🐻🤝⚒️🇬🇧

19 Jun 2026 13:13:09
Thought we could do better than a Championship club for his debut. 🤪
Only joking, Irons. 👍

19 Jun 2026 13:17:52
MPH, the club are okay, it is the fans that are the issue. 😂😂 Again, a joke, Iron. 🙈

19 Jun 2026 14:53:16
You 2 a double act? Must be the matinee session. 😂

19 Jun 2026 16:16:47
Iron, Morecambe and (not so) Wise. I will let you guess which one Mph is. 😂😂

19 Jun 2026 17:01:02
I won't cast judgement on fellow bluenoses! 🤝

19 Jun 2026 16:54:45
The fat one, Angus🤣

19 Jun 2026 07:56:14
Morning Bears

True that the return for player preseason today as been put back till next week with Del still away on a family holiday in America?

19 Jun 2026 08:27:51
Don't like this. So, because we change manager, players don't need as much preseason. I get Del is in America, but pretty sure things could be organised, and there's enough coaches to put on sessions.

19 Jun 2026 09:56:55
I think we are getting a bit upset about something which isn't overly important. Not sure 1 week makes a huge deal of difference. 1st Euro game is 6th August and we have our 1st game against United the week before to build competitive sharpness.
So, he still has seven full weeks to build player fitness, implement his tactical systems, and integrate new signings.

The extra week will give time for more players to return as well, so it is a little less bitty in who will be there.
Training camp isn't until 10 July when all will be back anyway. So yes, the optics might not look good, but I am not sure that it makes too much of a difference to the actual pre-season work.

19 Jun 2026 09:58:11
Would have thought so, Kaiser.

19 Jun 2026 10:54:06
It would be nice to see them come in anyway and do some fitness/conditioning work.

I'm sure there must be someone there that can put them through their paces.

I'd like to see how eager they are.

19 Jun 2026 10:55:47
Good sensible take on this, Angus.

19 Jun 2026 11:09:56
Surely McInnes doesn't need to be here to have someone get started on the cardio?

A week makes a difference. Look at preseason friendlies when the opposition is a week or two ahead. It does make a difference.

19 Jun 2026 11:42:44
I can't see where it says players are not back in, just that Del will start and meet the team next on Thursday. Might be wrong though.

19 Jun 2026 11:42:55
The players have had their holidays. They will now be doing their own work. Let's face it, who would actually be back today anyway? A handful of players.

19 Jun 2026 11:54:00
I agree, Marco. Of course it can make a difference. If they didn't think they needed to come back early, then why did they arrange to. And we were told how much poor conditioning from preseason affected last season.

19 Jun 2026 12:38:38
But conditioning is needed for what the manager's style is to play. McInnes managed to get Hearts to a level last season in 3 weeks. Did they look fitter than us, who had probably twice to three times as long? It is about what they do in the time, and playing to a level of intensity which builds condition.

Martin's team could have turned up 15 weeks before they did and their conditioning wouldn't have been any better because he wanted to play a certain way.

19 Jun 2026 13:02:54
Gone are the days when players came back a stone overweight and blowing out their a***. Wouldn't be overly worried. Players in World Cup probably get another week off as well once finished.

19 Jun 2026 13:19:58
Guys, we're still waiting on loads of players coming in on transfer - so maybe another week gives us time to get a few in the door.
No point having pre- season early with half a squad of players who no doubt going to be moved on.

19 Jun 2026 14:05:13
Today's players generally eat well and keep fit. They may not be back, but I don't expect them to be eating fish suppers, pizza and on the lash. See what they are missing. 😂 I'm away for a Guinness!

19 Jun 2026 14:40:25
Don't know why anyone would be getting their knickers in a twist over it, but it gives them an excuse to have a go if we drop points early on.

19 Jun 2026 15:39:44
Rohl has us returning early, so not that big of a deal. Most other SPL teams aren't returning til the 29th (week on Monday). So it's not as if we're returning later than the rest.

19 Jun 2026 15:54:50
See EHLs article above for why it matters. Rohl wanted us back early to get ahead of the rest, not to follow them. And to make up for the mistakes of last season. I'm no sports science guy or coach, though, so I'll leave it up to those that know what they're talking about.

19 Jun 2026 16:44:02
Kaiser, we read EHL's article differently. He specifically covers how players who are signed after pre-season starts will be brought up to speed by adapting the programme and working with them to get them to the same level.

So, surely, by being a week late back, as long as the programme covers that and gets them to the same end point, it won't be a problem.

19 Jun 2026 07:49:38
Hi troops just had to cut my world cup short for family emergency, it's something I knew could have happened, absolutely gutted. Sold my ticket to morocco game 2 days ago, handed it over through gritted teeth, boy was buzzing tbf.

Big shout out to the bostonians absolutely brilliant people, great sense of humour like us scots. First game wasn't pretty, couldn't care less though 3 points is all that mattered. Hope your all well 💙.

{Ed001's Note - sorry to hear that mate, I hope all works out for your family.}

19 Jun 2026 08:23:17
Sorry to hear that, BB 🥲 thoughts are with you and the family, mate.
Family & Health are more important. ❤️

19 Jun 2026 08:49:05
Aye bud, not so good. Hope all goes well for you and yours, mate. 👍 All the best. 💙

19 Jun 2026 09:01:17
Sorry to hear that, Boy Blue. ☹️ Hope all is well with you and the family, pal. 🙏 Take care. 🙏

19 Jun 2026 09:04:49
Safe journey home, BB, and hope things turn out for the best with your family. They are fortunate to have such a good, selfless soul as yourself to count on.

19 Jun 2026 09:14:31
Gutted for you, Boy Blue. Hope you're ok, and you get things sorted.

19 Jun 2026 09:29:32
Family first, BB, and I hope all turns out okay.
Hopefully Scotland give you a boost by qualifying out the group.

19 Jun 2026 09:37:07
Really gutted for you, pal, as I know how much you were looking forward to the WC.
Hope everything works out well for you. Take care, my pal. 💙

19 Jun 2026 09:52:19
Boy Blue, felt it for you, mate, you were so excited, hopefully everything is okay.

19 Jun 2026 10:25:30
Sorry to hear that, bb4, hope all turns out ok for you, pal.

19 Jun 2026 10:38:25
BB4, sorry to hear you had to cut short your time in America, but you've done the right thing, family comes first, mate. 🇦🇺🇬🇧

19 Jun 2026 10:43:30
Thanks so much, guys, appreciate every comment. Jardine home already, mate, got back to Glasgow early hours, thankful. Horrible flight with the bad news on my mind. A we draw tonight would mean the world to myself and my family member, who, together, we have travelled the world watching Scotland. Please do it, Scotland, you'll make an old man's dying wish. 🙏

19 Jun 2026 10:50:15
Really sorry to hear, mate. Keep the head up! At least you got to experience some of it, which many will never do. Hope you enjoyed it.

19 Jun 2026 12:07:39
Absolutely gutted for you, Bb. Take care, mate. ❤️ 🤍 💙

19 Jun 2026 12:12:07
Boy Blue, sorry to hear that. Take care mate. 👍🏻❤️🤍💙

19 Jun 2026 12:13:41
Really sorry for you, BB4. Hope we get result tonight for you and your family.

19 Jun 2026 12:21:17
Sorry to hear this, mate. Hope all is OK.

19 Jun 2026 12:26:38
Sorry to hear that Boy Blue, take care, buddy. 💙

19 Jun 2026 12:42:44
Hope all is well brother, family more important than any game.

19 Jun 2026 13:14:56
So sorry Boy Blue, my thoughts are with you and your family.

19 Jun 2026 13:49:43
Sorry to hear that Boy Blue, take care and all the best.

19 Jun 2026 14:00:49
Thinking of you, I know it's hard, but keep your chin up.
🙏

19 Jun 2026 14:30:30
You and your family are in all our thoughts, Boy Blue. 🙏 God bless you and yours, pal. 🙏

19 Jun 2026 14:41:21
Sorry to hear that, mate. Family more important than anything on this world.

19 Jun 2026 18:12:00
All the best wishes indeed bb4, mate.

19 Jun 2026 07:39:13
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need One Clear Squad Plan