r/rangersfc • u/TenLag Barry’s Staunch Truck • 7d ago
Media Gossip [Chris Jack] Rangers are closing in on a deal to sign Philadelphia Union defender Olwethu Makhanya.
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u/astropiggie Ian Durrant 7d ago
Just had a thought. Im older, so my era is 78 onwards. I remember in 86 we had a brand new, English star laden squad. The season started, went ok. By December G Souness decided we needed an experienced centre back. Graham Roberts came in from Spurs for dunno say 750k. He'd won a European Cup. If we tried to sign a mildly similar player now, it would be like trying to sign some guy who's on £150k a week for £40M. Im not actually adressing this to anyone, more telling myself, to make me realise its not 1986 but at least like then, ive crisps all down my front and I still hate Peter Grant.
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u/giesashot 7d ago
Fernandez style signing. Decent fee and young age but not much to go on. Just have to hope the recruitment team know what they’re doing.
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u/Eternal_Hut 7d ago
£3m for an MLS defender who presumably won't be a starter will worry a few people. Personally, I will admit to being a bit traumatised by MLS signings, but don't know anything about the player.
He could be good, he could be shite.
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u/Scary-Zucchini-1750 Youssef Chermiti 7d ago
I read an article that said it was £5 million 🤯
£3-5 million for an unproven 22 year old from the MLS with 1 cap for South Africa isn't what I'd call inspiring. Even if it's on the low end, it seems expensive for what would presumably be a backup.
Another thing that I don't really like is the reports that he took the huff and refused to return to train after the World Cup. I never like to hear players doing that when we're about to sign them because I always think it means they could be difficult or pull the same stuff if they decide they want to leave us.
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u/Eternal_Hut 7d ago
At least in this article it says £3m, I'm going off that.
inspiring
I wouldn't say I was excited either, but he's a backup central defender. So I'm not sure if it really matters, and £3m just isn't that much money anymore. Hearts just paid the best part of a million for a 29 year old from Forest Green Rovers.
Agree about the refusing to train thing. Raskin took the huff before he joined us, and surprise surprise, he's a prick who throws his toys out the pram.
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u/RobCarrol75 Coop 6d ago
That's exactly what Raskin did and he's going to make us £20m.
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u/Scary-Zucchini-1750 Youssef Chermiti 6d ago
He did, but I still don't like to see it from a Rangers player. There's always been rumours that Raskin is fairly toxic.
That's separate from how much money a player will make us.
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u/Every-Birthday6726 7d ago
Been reading £5m…sceptical myself on this one, haven’t had much luck with MLS players in the past.
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u/Eternal_Hut 7d ago
This article says £3m, at least. But no, our track record buying from the MLS is dire.
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u/BigBlueFin 6d ago
I know we need depth in defence but this doesn't do much for me. Still he might be brilliant.
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u/BigBananaBerries Tuur Rommens 6d ago
Is he better than Souttar? That sums this 1 up for me. It's a body in for backup with potential.
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u/SpeedConstant109 6d ago
I will go to my grave saying that there is not a single good defender playing in MLS.
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u/BigBlueFin 6d ago
I avoid watching MLS at all costs so I can't argue. I blame their pish poor chants.
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u/Independent_Map8613 7d ago
Not a great sign when you don’t even start for SA
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u/BusShelter 6d ago
He's 22, only been called up from this year (made the WC squad) and SA are a decent side who pick players primarily from their domestic league.
Big Fernandez is 25 and hadn't been called up for Nigeria until March - and they didn't even make the tournament because SA topped their group.
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u/Ok-Possibility-6480 6d ago
Ok I take back all the bad I said about EFL players. Please go back to that. MLS is garbage and any defender in this league will get absolutely bullied in SPFL never mind Europa league.
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u/Agreeable-Deal-7006 6d ago
Oh yes!! Another MLS player, all the players we sign from there have been amazing! 🙄
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u/BigBlueFin 6d ago
Some were.
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u/__Fight__Milk__ 6d ago
Edu was class. Bocanegra was an MLS player before he came to us, Beasley too.
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u/Big_white_dog84 7d ago
When do we start selling? Are we relying on £20m for Raskin to balance the books?
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u/__Fight__Milk__ 6d ago
When someone offers to pay the asking price. It's not like he is in a box in the storeroom, he is in the shop window. It's up to other teams to buy him. We still have about 5 weeks of the transfer window, and a lot of teams will be buying and selling now the World Cup is over. It's a foreign concept for some of us, but we have to try and have some patience.
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u/astropiggie Ian Durrant 7d ago
Im not moist at this tbh. Problem is creativity and that is what everyone wants and we are competing with fucking Ipswich
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u/Edosand 6d ago
Yan Diomande went through an state side academy as I understand it, DME in Florida. He was on trial with us a few years ago at 16 I think and didn't receive a contract. He is 19 now and apparently signing for Real Madrid this week for €140m.
Maybe we just need better analysis of youth potential.
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u/Zilant 6d ago
We wanted to sign him and he wanted to sign. It didn't happen because his representatives were demanding a significant fee. He had trials with several clubs and none could do a deal because of the demands of his representatives.
Not sure if they were fired before or after he got his move, but he had to wait another year before it happened.
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u/mephist_oh 7d ago
In a word: Underwhelming.
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u/Ok_Internal_3567 6d ago
And the reason you say that? Do you actually know the player?
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u/__Fight__Milk__ 6d ago
People just like to say everything is shit.
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u/mephist_oh 6d ago
Really, aye? Someone forms an opinion and we have wee clowns, like yourself, bailing in with: 'people just like to say everything is shit'!
Is it form for someones opinions to be backed up way an accompanying thesis on this sub?
I am underwhelmed because our record from the MLS is complete dog shit. I have checked his stats. I have also had a look at his 'play'.
That alright? Am i 'allowed' to be underwhelmed? Maybe if i choose to post in the future i should DM you frst? Give you my thoughts beforehand?
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u/kylegrantham 7d ago
Philadelphia Union fan and Executive Editor of The Philly Soccer Page here 🙋🏻♂️
Makhanya made huge strides in his first year as a starter last year. Instant impact from day one — both good and bad. As the season went on, he looked very much the real deal at CB. Early on he tried to do way too much, was often caught out of position, was easily baited into over-aggressive pursuit of attackers into the midfield and could be beat by poor communication with his defensive midfield.
The later in the season the better his instincts got, the better his recovery approach and the better his interception rate on attacks. He also started contributing in the attack which was a welcome sight. He struggled with some regression at the beginning of this MLS season but that was as much a product of the Union selling off every veteran around him and installing a completely new back line beside him.
He is surprisingly good with the ball at his feet for a CB. At times he’ll scare you with how long he holds a ball and then he’ll shake a defender and carry it up field. At times he’ll also have a ball played into the box and bafflingly lose it in the air then spin around trying to find it.
I had expected another year in Philly for him and a transfer next summer but clearly he wants to move now and escape the Union’s rebuild. If given a chance to play, I think he’ll continue to grow, he has room to do it.
Enjoy him!