Honest interview from the manager

[KingKirk 25,698]

Steven Gerrard revealed his Rangers revamp is being hindered by Mexican
 misfits Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera.

The Ibrox gaffer, who saw Ovie Ejaria return to Liverpool, is reeling that around £50,000 a week is tied up on the duds – when he’s trying to land the likes of Everton kid Kieran Dowell.

The England Under-21 starlet is on his radar, along with other potential January targets.

But Gerrard knows how difficult it will be to get midfielder Pena – who arrived back in Glasgow this week – and striker Herrera off the premises.

It’s highly unlikely either of the pair, who were signed for around £4million but are on loan in their homeland, will kick another ball for Rangers.

And in an honest assessment of his squad, Gerrard also revealed: 
● The difficulties in trying to rebuild Rangers in one transfer window with just £5million to spend

●How some of his summer signings aren’t giving him enough

●Why he had to send Roma flop Umar Sadiq back to Italy

●He could offer Greg Docherty an Ibrox lifeline in January

●Why red-hot reserve striker Andy Dallas ISN’T ready for his Gers first-team

Gerrard said: “Between now and January 5 we’ll make a decision on Pena. Does he have any future here? I think that would be a very long shot.

“It’s a huge frustration for me when large sums of money are going out of the club and we’re not getting any contribution for it.

“Some of the players not with me are earning big money
compared to the rest of the group. That’s money I could be doing with to recycle, make the team stronger and make it compete better.

“Hopefully we can wheel and deal, move people on, bring others in and put us in a better position.

“I inherited these issues. I was aware of them when I came in but it’s very difficult to find
people new clubs if they’re earning extreme amounts of money that other clubs aren’t prepared to pay.

“And those players aren’t
playing at a good level or giving a good account of themselves for people to come and want them.”

One player Gerrard wants in January is 21-year-old Dowell, who will be allowed to leave Everton on loan.

He watched him at the Toulon Tournament last summer and has kept tabs on his situation.

Gerrard said: “I definitely admire Kieran and I’ve watched a lot of him.

“He’s an Everton player so I can’t say anything else on him at the moment – but he’s certainly one I admire.”

Gerrard will attempt to tinker with his squad in January as Gers try to compete with celtic for the Premiership title.

But he said: “The reality is that we had to make wholesale changes in the summer on a small budget.

“We had to try and find loans and frees and in important areas we had to try and spend some money.

“The facts are that, net, we
probably spent around £4.5 -£5.5m.

“I’m not sure you can do magical and wonderful things in one
 window with that.

“If you look at the ones we added, the majority of them have given us an awful lot. They’re doing really well and I’m delighted with what they’ve brought.

“But without naming names, there’s two or three who can give more and step up more.”

Gerrard has already started the process by off-loading Sadiq back to Roma after a disastrous loan.

Unsettled midfielder Ejaria has headed back south after the Ibrox club and Liverpool agreed to end his loan period and with Docherty performing well at Shrewsbury, he has the option to recall him.

He said: “There was no point in us standing in Sadiq’s way because it was clear how far away from first-team football he was.

“It’s in the best interests of
Rangers, Roma and the kid that he tries to find the best next step for his career.

“Hopefully that might free up some funds in January as it’s clear that we need to give Alfredo
 Morelos and Kyle Lafferty some support up front.

“Docherty is a tough one. He’s still young, he’s enjoying his
 football and getting games.

I could drag him back here just to suit me. But I have to think about the kid’s future and what will make him grow and be
 available for us on a regular basis.

“We’ll speak to him and get his thoughts on it. ”

Rangers fans are keen to see Gerrard promote Dallas, who has hit 51 goals in 50 games.

But Gerrard said: “Andy’s
 scoring heavily and deserves a lot of praise.

“We’ve looked at Andy on many occasions in training and in games – his all-round game, not just
 volume of goals and although he’s close, we’re not sure he’s ready to be thrown into a first team
 environment just yet.”

 

Some interesting thoughts from the gaffer. Also surprised we spent so little this summer

[roboscot 1,176]

With all the organised crime bosses involved at investor level, surely one of them has a mate in Mexico that could arrange a couple of unfortunate "accidents".

[Vanoli 4,625]

It’s total bullshit that we’ve only spent £5m, and it’s massively concerning that the manager is starting to spout this pish.

[Siam69 27,024]

Pedro, what a fucking wanker, as is whomever employed him and sanctioned his signings and wages. 

 

[Supersonic 4,654]

He says those numbers are just net spend.

We made like £2.5m from Windass and about £800k from Declan John, so those two alone means the actual spend was about £8-9m.

 

As for some of the rest of the stuff he says, he comes off really frustrated and sounds like he's not going to be getting what he needs/wants in January.

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

An honest assessment from SG.   Our legal department, who I assume review every player's contract, need a really critical assessment (or a boot in the baws) if we cannot tear up Pena's contract 'with cause' after his behavior in Mexico.  

[BlueSuedeSambas 53,946]

Just highlights what a lot of people have been saying about how we are still a work in progress and it’s going to take time to get to where we need/want to be.

The money Pena & Herrera are taking home is sickening. What they cost us in wages for one year is potentially a £1,000,000 transfer fee with a three year deal at £10,000 a week for a player who might actually offer us something. We have to try and get them off the wage bill ASAP.

[Siam69 27,024]

2 minutes ago, Vanoli said:

It’s total bullshit that we’ve only spent £5m, and it’s massively concerning that the manager is starting to spout this pish.

Counting what we got in for player sales as well, I'm not sure it is bullshit. 

[KingKirk 25,698]

5 minutes ago, Vanoli said:

It’s total bullshit that we’ve only spent £5m, and it’s massively concerning that the manager is starting to spout this pish.

So the manager is lying He'd no better than most tbf

[TopCat 4,511]

Interesting article....thanks for posting OP.

[KingKirk 25,698]

3 minutes ago, DBBTB said:

Just highlights what a lot of people have been saying about how we are still a work in progress and it’s going to take time to get to where we need/want to be.

The money Pena & Herrera are taking home is sickening. What they cost us in wages for one year is potentially a £1,000,000 transfer fee with a three year deal at £10,000 a week deal for a player who might actually offer us something. We have to try and get them off the wage bill ASAP.

The board should cover the pay offs. This shouldn't come out of budgets given to the gaffer 

[theblueoysterbar 19,696]

Just now, siddiqi_drinker said:

An honest assessment from SG.   Our legal department, who I assume review every player's contract, need a really critical assessment (or a boot in the baws) if we cannot tear up Pena's contract 'with cause' after his behavior in Mexico.  

In any other job that would be grounds for dismissal.

I don't get why footballers get to live in this world where normal rules don't seem to apply.

[Siam69 27,024]

4 minutes ago, Supersonic said:

He says those numbers are just net spend.

We made like £2.5m from Windass and about £800k from Declan John, so those two alone means the actual spend was about £8-9m.

 

As for some of the rest of the stuff he says, he comes off really frustrated and sounds like he's not going to be getting what he needs/wants in January.

Also Joe Garner and big horse. 

[Vanoli 4,625]

3 minutes ago, Siam69 said:

Counting what we got in for player sales as well, I'm not sure it is bullshit. 

Just noticed it’s net spend. Nonetheless, no chance it’s a coincidence that he’s started layering this in the last week, the first real negative spell where questions of him are being asked. It’s still a concern in my eyes. 

[BlueSuedeSambas 53,946]

1 minute ago, Siam69 said:

Also Joe Garner and big horse. 

Waghorn and Garner were sold a year before Gerrard came in. 

[KingKirk 25,698]

Think morelos will be sold in the summer to help give the manager real funds to strengthen Hes worked miracles to get us where he has for 5million.   

[ForeverAndEver 71,677]

4 minutes ago, KingKirk said:

Think morelos will be sold in the summer to help give the manager real funds to strengthen Hes worked miracles to get us where he has for 5million.   

That would be daft

[35 Yard Dangerman 3,478]

Wouldn't read too much in to him seeming frustrated. He is just being honest and is pissed off that these ludicrous deals are hampering him.

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

25 minutes ago, roboscot said:

With all the organised crime bosses involved at investor level, surely one of them has a mate in Mexico that could arrange a couple of unfortunate "accidents".

 

26 minutes ago, Vanoli said:

It’s total bullshit that we’ve only spent £5m, and it’s massively concerning that the manager is starting to spout this pish.

It’s not really concerning though unless the amount we signed players for are shown in our accounts to be different to what he’s saying, and I’d say most managers apply pressure on their boards that way to get more funds. Hopefully he gets them and spends them wisely that’s of more concern to me. 

[theblueoysterbar 19,696]

Just now, 35 Yard Dangerman said:

Wouldn't read too much in to him seeming frustrated. He is just being honest and is pissed off that these ludicrous deals are hampering him.

Spot on, if he wasn't frustrated I'd have a problem with him.

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

28 minutes ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

An honest assessment from SG.   Our legal department, who I assume review every player's contract, need a really critical assessment (or a boot in the baws) if we cannot tear up Pena's contract 'with cause' after his behavior in Mexico.  

Surely you must be right, as much as employers have a duty of care to employees, there must be a limit for a professional sportsman to be fit and ready for work without needing rehab for alcohol abuse ffs. Especially if it’s become apparent that it was an underlying problem, although what the fuck where our medical staff up to 

[KingKirk 25,698]

5 minutes ago, ForeverAndEver said:

That would be daft

Needs must clearly if it means the manager gets a kitty of 15-20million for 3/4 quality signings.

[eosmhdo 1,879]

Need to dig deep Dave if you want us to proceed according to the gaffer

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

25 minutes ago, theblueoysterbar said:

In any other job that would be grounds for dismissal.

I don't get why footballers get to live in this world where normal rules don't seem to apply.

When I first moved back to Scotland 8 years ago I ended up working with west Dumbartonshire council as a joiner briefly, there was 2 cunts on long term sick because they were on full time contracts and were off on alcohol related issues but had a duty of care to look after them. Crazy mate one was found mangled in the back of his van during work hours after downing a litre of vodka ffs. How that doesn’t warrant immediate dismissal is beyond me. 

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

29 minutes ago, Vanoli said:

Just noticed it’s net spend. Nonetheless, no chance it’s a coincidence that he’s started layering this in the last week, the first real negative spell where questions of him are being asked. It’s still a concern in my eyes. 

Manager wants more investment shocker !! Ffs it’s hardly a concern