Michael Beale is talking to players about joining Rangers.
It sounds as if he has already made his mind up on who could be heading out the door. He has been clear that he doesn’t want more loan arrivals in January – and I understand why. Michael has to try and build something for the future at Rangers and you can’t do that with loan signings. Right now at Ibrox, there are two loanees – James Sands and Malik Tillman. The question is: Should Michael and Rangers take up the option to buy them in the summer?
Fans will have their own opinions on this but I think there’s a chance neither will be at the club next season. Let’s take Sands first, who is on loan from New York City. He’s a utility player, a back-up at right-back, centre-back and for holding midfielder. The American has filled in all of those positions for Rangers due to injuries. But when you play that amount of games, it has to be in your specialised position.
I think Sands is a steady player but he’ll never be a regular starter for Rangers and I’m sorry but I wouldn’t be paying the £4million fee being mentioned for him. I don’t think anyone at Rangers would be willing to fork out that amount of money either. A £4m player has to be a starter for Rangers and Sands isn’t that. Tillman is slightly different. But I have to say, the jury is still out on him as well for me.
Rangers need to see more from the young American. Nobody is ever going to doubt this boy’s ability because you can see he’s got quality. But I watched him in certain games at the start of the season – against Celtic at Parkhead and in Europe – when he wasn’t prepared to do the dirty stuff.
He wasn’t running back or putting a shift in. His body language and reactions weren’t great. When you’re getting scudded 4-0 in an Old Firm game and not running back then people are going to jump on you. There’s constant scrutiny at Rangers and if you don’t put the effort in, you won’t survive.
Tillman actually found himself out of the team because of that. Since the new manager has come in, he’s one of the players who has got a boost and there’s no doubt he is Michael’s type of player. But to spend £4m or £5m on him? He still has to show more.
There isn’t a lot of money to spend so Michael has to do it wisely. For £4m, you’re bought to win trophies at Rangers. What a talent Tillman is. He’s got great size and showed with a goal against Motherwell that he’s a ball carrier and a dribbler. But will those flashes translate to Rangers winning titles and trophies? That’s where I’ve yet to be convinced.
I think of Vladimir Weiss who joined us at Rangers on loan from Manchester City when Walter Smith was manager. He had loads of ability but the other side of the game wasn’t for him. It can’t be like that. Your team-mates won’t accept it. Especially if things aren’t going well, you can’t have a luxury player.
Rangers already have talented players such as Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence. But they work, run and knock their pan in for the cause. It’s Michael’s job to get the best out of Tillman and he’ll relish that.
He has produced some good moments at tough times and impacted games positively. But there’s two sides to football. If Tillman can do both and Rangers close the gap on Celtic or win a cup or two, maybe that £4m will be a good investment.
If he doesn’t, the manager might look to spend his money elsewhere.
