My first thought, particularly given that 3 of them still play for us and another 3 play at a decent level, is that they aren’t the worst players individually.
Collectively though it was a fucking horror show.
Caixinha had balls I’ll give him that.
I’d worry about him even being in charge of a Rangers team on FIFA though.
He carries the can for it.
To be honest the team on paper isn’t that bad.
Fod is still our second choice keeper.
Tav is obviously Tav
Cardoso played fairly well when we first got him and has done ok since we sold him.
Many folk considered Bates to be our best defender that season.
Wallace is a veteran campaigner that some thought still had a role last year (although, to be fair, they were wrong).
Jack is Jack (though only just signed and finding his feet).
Kranjkar was capable of brilliance but was fading fast.
Holt was a weak link but still a capable player at a low level. And Progres are a low level.
Dalcio was very poor.
Miller was still scoring crucial goals last season, albeit his legs were going.
Waghorn has recently been sold for multiple millions.
We all know what Rossiter could be capable of, although he’s never shown it much.
Candeias and Alfie are obviously quality but had only just signed.
The problem wasn’t necessarily the players. It was the mixture of them. Almost every single one carried an asterix (whether it was ‘only just signed’ or ‘getting a bit beyond their best’ or ‘slightly below ideal Rangers standard). Playing a few of them would have been fine but they were the backbone of the team.
The team formation also is a bit weird. What shape were we meant to be playing? It certainly doesn’t seem to suit the players out there.
The other thing was how that pre-season was managed. We were still rebuilding. A lot of the new arrivals hadn’t had time to bed in. But that’s unforgivable. Pedro wasn’t a new appointment. He’d been in charge for months. He should have identified our weaknesses and had fit players coming in the day the window opened with friendlies and closed doors games set up to bed them in and let them be competent when the European league started. Like Gerrard did last season and this one. That was just awful management.