Following online speculation linking Rangers with interest in free agent, Gary Cahill, the reaction from a section of the fans has certainly been a negative one.
The 36-year old central defender has been mooted as a short-term fix for the team’s well documented issues at the back, whilst concerns remain on the reliability of the likes of Fil Helander and John Souttar over the coming weeks.
Cahill featured strongly for Bournemouth last season in the English Championship over the first half of the campaign but the last of his 22 appearances for the Cherries came in January. General fitness wouldn’t be an issue but match fitness and sharpness would be a different matter.
On the Follow Follow messageboard, the vast majority of fan responses were very critical to suggestions of this potential signing.
Need
Whilst there are injury and performance problems, there will always be links to players who are available as Cahill is having not signed for another club since leaving Bournemouth at the end of last season. He will surely find a club at some decent level soon and with over 500 senior appearances as well as winners medals in all major domestic competitions to add to his Champions League and Europa League honours, the veteran has plenty to offer in terms of experience.
All of that considered, it still doesn’t make sense for Rangers to make such a signing for different reasons.
Age, reliability, perception and other options in the squad are some of those, including the feel of ‘desperation’. Things aren’t too pretty in defence just now, but especially with the international window just around the corner, the crisis hasn’t quite landed.
Helander is close to full training, with Ben Davies in the squad and contention for selection. Leon King continues to impress when thrust into action although John Souttar remains unavailable for the foreseeable. Those players are in addition to Connor Goldson and James Sands so there is no need for a signing such as Gary Cahill, as much as performances must improve immediately.