Popular Post BridgeIsBlue 66,498 Posted January 16, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 16, 2019 In his role as Director of Football, he has the power and the reach to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of improvement and success. Like everyone at Ibrox, that is how he will ultimately be judged. The work to improve the facilities at Ibrox and the Hummel Training Centre will enhance the experience and the environment for Steven Gerrard and his players. But it is the deals that Allen authorises in the transfer market that will really grab the attention of supporters. Every move will spark debate and deliver praise or criticism. There is plenty of the former being directed towards Allen, Gerrard and the Light Blues board at present after the moves for Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis were finalised just days into the winter window. Both will surely make an immediate impact at Ibrox but the wheels had been turning for some time before they eventually put pen-to-paper on their deals from Bournemouth and Southampton respectively. Gerrard’s latest recruits joined up with the Gerssquad at their winter training camp in Tenerife and the sight of the pair in blue was one to behold for the man that played his part in making the moves happen. “Planning is everything and if you can get ahead of the game, even better,” Allen said. “That is always the intention, to have a plan in mind for where we are going and what we need to get there. “Jermain and Steven are no exceptions to that, they were very much on the radar and we had an opportune moment to go for it so we did. Fortunately for us it all came together. “Those players have been on the radar for quite some time. as soon as any window closes, we start planning for the next one. “It is quite an elongated exercise in terms of what we are looking for, where we need to build, where are the strengths. “It is then a case of putting together what kind of players can fill that mould and then sitting down and going through it and saying ‘this one, this one, this one’. Then, at the right time, we press the buttons.” The deals for Defoe and Davis have grabbed the headlines so far this month but they weren’t the first two that Rangers completed during January. The Gers moved swiftly to conclude pre-contract agreements with Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara as they penned four-year contracts to confirm their departures from Kilmarnock and Dundeerespectively. Both players have been impressive performers in the Premiership and Allen is confident they can now take the next step and improve once again at Ibrox. “I think that is vitally important and I have said on a number of occasions that you look at various characteristics when you are trying to sign players,” he said. “One of the big ones is whether they can handle Ibrox. “It is a cauldron, an unbelievable set of supporters, the like of which I have never seen before personally. So you need to make sure they are tried and tested and they understand the league. “In these two players, we know that because we have watched them over a period of time and we know they can play in the Premiership, and probably higher. “There are a lot of things, it is not one single thing. You don’t think ‘well, he can do that so he must therefore tick that box’. “There are a number of things you look at over a period of time. you track them, you watch them play, you do a bit of research yourself in terms of background on and off the pitch. “Lots of different things go into it that give you a menu to work against. Nobody ticks every box but if you tick a significant number of them there is a high chance that you might be successful. On Jordan and Glen, we have had eyes on them for some time.” After overhauling the Ibrox squad and bringing 15 players in during the summer, it was always going to be a quieter window second time around for Gerrard. Every deal is done with the here and now in mind as Rangers look to clinch the Premiership title and Scottish Cup this term. But there is also a bigger picture to the recruitment process as value, on the park and on the balance sheet, is added to the Light Blues squad. Allen said: “It is part and parcel of the game, you want to invest with the hope that the investment pays off. It is no different to any business. “From where our players are now, I would like to think we are accumulating some value in those players and they are being proven to be players that can play at a high level. “We are very happy with everyone’s performance and you will have picked up from the camp that it is a very tight group of players that like working with each other, being with each other and working with the staff and the management.” With the core of a squad now in place, it will be a case of evolution not revolution for Rangers going forward as Gerrard constantly strives for improvement. Gerrard and Allen may have their own vision for the future, but it requires the positive backing of the Ibrox board for those plans to be put in place. Allen said: “It is not new ground that I am covering here. Every time I have gone [to the board] and said what about, it has been received favourably. “I can only reiterate that. We have all got to operate within parameters. That is no different to every organisation. “We all feel that as long as there is proper planning and due diligence, which there is, then it becomes easier to get things done because there is a very clear strategy.” https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/Rangers/news/17356381.mark-allen-has-plans-in-place-for-a-brighter-future-at-Rangers/?ref=twtrec Davie Mr Magic Cooper, CoopsLaud, Bigdave30 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amokachi 2,926 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Another decent piece from MA. Seems very level headed & professional and most importantly avoids unnecessary claims or promises that could come back to bite him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKirk 25,461 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 He's came along way since trying to force a list of duds on that bottle merchant. Well done Mr Allen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle 53,253 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 57 minutes ago, KingKirk said: He's came along way since trying to force a list of duds on that bottle merchant. If that was even true TEFTONG, Negri's lovechild and rangersross 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave30 8,671 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 “After overhauling the Ibrox squad and bringing 15 players in during the summer” It’s quite easy to forget the magnitude of our constant overhauls, it’s great to see us trying to build on what I hope is a solid foundation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMB 14,167 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Allen brought McGregor and Arfield here. Does this piece suggest he brought Defoe and Davis as well? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanoli 4,623 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Sparkle said: If that was even true It wasn’t. The Dude and Sparkle 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeIsBlue 66,498 Posted January 16, 2019 Author Share Posted January 16, 2019 3 hours ago, KingKirk said: He's came along way since trying to force a list of duds on that bottle merchant. Well done Mr Allen Didn't happen. KingKirk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhW 4,669 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 25 minutes ago, TMB said: Allen brought McGregor and Arfield here. Does this piece suggest he brought Defoe and Davis as well? Yeah, doubt Gerrard had ever heard of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeparateEntityMyArse 53,255 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Guy is worth millions to us. He and Gerrard are crucial to our future. Dickie1963 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMB 14,167 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 47 minutes ago, OhW said: Yeah, doubt Gerrard had ever heard of them. Well, the deals for McGregor and Arfield were in place before Allen even considered Gerrard for manager. When Katic was announced Allen said it was prof that the scouting system was working. Now he’s taking credit for Defoe and Davis. People won’t give Pedro credit for the Morelos signing becuas someone else identified him. If we’re being consistent we can’t give Gerrard credit for players he himself didn’t scout, identify, and bring to the club. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhW 4,669 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 43 minutes ago, TMB said: Well, the deals for McGregor and Arfield were in place before Allen even considered Gerrard for manager. When Katic was announced Allen said it was prof that the scouting system was working. Now he’s taking credit for Defoe and Davis. People won’t give Pedro credit for the Morelos signing becuas someone else identified him. If we’re being consistent we can’t give Gerrard credit for players he himself didn’t scout, identify, and bring to the club. I don't see the point in putting any kind of negative spin on it; especially if its just to defend the bullfighting wanker. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoopsLaud 4,184 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Lucky to have him here and operating at such a high level. Consumate professional. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Ranger 21 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Lets be honest here, Allen and Gerrard are doing a stellar job recruitment wise. We will reap the benefits of this when 55 comes and it will be so sweet to see the mhanky mob crumble under the pressure we will put on them in the coming months. I expect to see Goldson, Katic and Barasic in our starting 11 for years to come until EPL clubs come knocking.. which they no doubt will if they continue to develop. The jury is out on Grezda, if we have paid as much for him as reported then I will keep my fingers crossed he comes good but if we're trying to take Kent on a permanent deal then it may result in perhaps Middleton going out on loan which may not be a bad thing. The boy needs game time under a good man management coach. We have plenty of dig in the middle now, Jack, Arfield, Rossiter (when fit) and McCrorie. Davis will bring that missing bit of guile and sly passes to cut open defenses and when Dorrans finally returns this will give the gaffer a major headache when it comes to selections. I still think we need another CB, who is ours, and not on loan. And now with the additions of Jones and Kamara we are looking in a much better position than the start of the season. Even saying that, we have "four quality forwards" to work with. Morelos, Defoe, Lafferty and Hardie (who is one I had always hoped would make the grade. The futures bright, the futures Red, White and Blue. 55 is coming home and when it does it'll be the culmination of all of our heartache and disappointment over the last 7 years. Dickie1963 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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