YOU only get one chance to make a good first impression. Rangers have to make the most of it this summer.
The side that strides out in a fortnight when the Gers make their return to the Europa League will be far different from the team that brought the curtain down on a forgettable campaign in Perth last month.
The rebuilding job was always going to be significant for Pedro Caixinha. Having drawn up his blueprint, he has now put the first blocks in place.
In Bruno Alves and Ryan Jack, he has recruited players that the Light Blue legions know all about. Yet the rest of his signings are unknown quantities to most.
Few fans are familiar with Fabio Cardoso, Dalcio or Daniel Candeias and many would never have previously seen Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera or Alfredo Morelos in action.
But former Rangers boss Alex McLeish knows it is Caixinha’s opinions and expertise that matter most right now as he is trusted with the Ibrox chequebook.
“You have to have players that you know and trust,” he told SportTimes.
“There was no point in Pedro signing players from the lower leagues in England that he might not know as much about.
“You need players you can trust and that is crucial for a coach or a manager when you are moulding a team. You need to be sure of their character as well as their quality.
“The fans might not know them, apart from Alves and Jack, but Pedro does and he has to be given the chance to build a side.
“He has done his homework and is working with people that he trusts and he is being backed to rebuild the team.
“There is talk about stopping ten-in-a-row but they have to try and stop seven-in-a-row first so these signings need to be of the right quality to take them clear of the pack.”
After spending the closing months of the campaign assessing the squad he inherited at Ibrox, Caixinha has used the opening weeks of the summer to kick-start a much-needed overhaul.
The capture of Alves was a statement of intent from Rangers and the influx of new faces have reinvigorated a support that became disillusioned as their side underperformed and underachieved in the Premiership last term.
Caixinha has returned to Portugal to bring Cardoso, Dalcio and Candeias on board and used his knowledge of the Mexican market to lure Pena and Herrera to Glasgow.
All of his signings have a point to prove at Ibrox. Caixinha knows what he can expect, though.
“That is the key for Pedro now and Rangers need to get their recruitment right,” McLeish said.
“We don’t know much about some of the players but Pedro does and obviously feels they can do a job for Rangers.
“In my own managerial career, and hopefully there is more to come, I was up to speed with players on the continent because you can’t just know the household names.
“In that regard, the one that is recognisable is Bruno Alves. He is a top class player and hopefully he will be a good leader for Rangers.
“In terms of the other guys, we have to wait and see the quality of them. It is exciting for Rangers and we will see what they can do on the pitch.”
There will be a foreign feel to Rangers next term as Caixinha puts his own stamp on the squad that Mark Warburton assembled and left behind.
Having brought a host of signings on board, the clear-out will soon begin as Rangers look to move on the unwanted members of the first team pool.
Those that remain will be determined to make up for their mistakes last term and McLeish knows the home-grown stars will have their own part to play.
He said: “There are a couple of Scottish signings have been talked about and I think Graham Dorrans is a smashing player.
“He would be a great addition to Rangers if they can get him. He is a high level footballer.
“Ryan Jack has already come in and he is the kind of player that can help other players play. He is a good signing.
“There are a couple of Scots in the team alongside the ones that Pedro knows. Rangers have backed him really well.”
The progress has been swift for Rangers so far this summer but there is still plenty of work to be done before they are the finished article.
The first couple of Europa League games are a chance for Caixinha to put his side through their paces ahead of the new Premiership campaign.
Only time will tell if his signings are hits or misses. Time is of the essence, though.
McLeish said: “It is not going to be easy and we have seen in the past that players can struggle when they come in from abroad to play for Rangers.
“Players have come in having had success and not really done it here. You do need that mentality to come in and handle playing for a club the size of Rangers.
“You have to deal with the supporters when things go against you and they are not happy. “You need the mentality and wherewithal to say ‘I am going to make the supporters love me’. We will see if these guys can do that.”
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