I always found it strange we never used the Cuellar signing as a model to sign players in the time s

[Wacaktb]

I always found it strange we never used the Cuellar signing as a model to sign players in the time since.
Carlos if memory serves me correct cost us in the region of 2.75 million and we sold him for close to 8 million a season later after he absolutely strolled it in Scottish football and the majority of the European games he played for us.
Bearing in mind we picked him up from osasuna who were a lower half la liga team at the time I always found it strange we never really followed that path in terms of signings, especially centre halves as there must almost definitely be players of a similar ilk currently plying their trade in la liga with the teams out with the big boys who don't really pay massive wages anyway that would likely love the chance to play in front of 50000 fans every other week with the obvious view to potentially move south of the border eventually.

 

[Dale Gordon's Tache]

I agree. But I think the fact we played against Osasuna and he caught our eye helped matters.

It was a bit of luck as well as a good investment.

 

[Hobjo]

I think Cuellar was a rarity in he was a damn good defender, playing for an unfashionable side in Spain that seemed to have slipped through the cracks a bit, probably not good enough with the ball for top Spanish sides. Also, relatively unusual for Spaniards, was up for moving to Scotland.

Plus he had experience of Ibrox and Smith saw him in the flesh twice. Mutual admiration.

All these factors don’t just line up like that every year.

Cuellar was lightning in a bottle.

 

[Dooodooodrooo]

Players like that don't grow on trees. Though, I do agree that it's an avenue we should be looking at.

 

[govantrueblue]

For every Cuellar you can easily end up with an Ortiz.
It’s so easy to pick on one particular player and highlight how we got it right, sadly in the last 10 years or so for every good one we got 5 bad ones in return.

 

[Growler]

Because it’s not that easy.

Cardoso is the same sort of buy.

 

[Blu_ultra]

Agree. Have to say though, walter could spot a defender and, probably more importantly, play to their strengths.

 

[The_Degan]

If only our stadium held 500,000

 

[sammysun]

Turned out rather well for us, pity there is no one in that position now.

 

[The Shadow]

I think we have to remember where we have been for 7-8 years of the last 10 since we signed Cuellar.

 

[helicopter-sunday]

Bougherra and Cuellar were both successful centre halves for us but the way they play or their attributes were very very different.

I often think strong mental attributes are required to play at a club like Rangers, particularly at Ibrox.

Some people crumble and their legs turn to jelly when they are yelled at, or they make a mistake. Others are born for that type of atmosphere.

Having good defenders playing alongside you helps also, of course.

 

[crmpicco]

It’s difficult to recreate that regularly.

Celtic have tried with Sviachenko and Boyata and neither has worked out

 

[Orangeandblue]

Same could be said of Michael Mols. But there just isn’t that sort of talent
in the Dutch leagues these days.

 

[Wilkinsvolley]

It just isn’t that easy or every club would just do it. There’s as much chance of just getting your money back or being left with an expensive mid table spl player.

 

[Kowloon72]

On another forum I mentioned this, and as someone rightly pointed out, go on Transfermarket and take a look at the value of players with a similar profile today.

Case in point. Girona finished 10th in La Liga. Their first choice CBs are valued at 6 and 4.5m.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-girona/startseite/verein/12321

Sociedad 11th, 15m and 4m.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/real-sociedad-san-sebastian/startseite/verein/681/saison_id/2017

Celta Vigo 12th. 7m and 2.7m.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celta-vigo/startseite/verein/940/saison_id/2017

Espanyol 13th. 7m and 4.5m

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/espanyol-barcelona/startseite/verein/714/saison_id/2017

Aaleves 14th (with a goal difference of negative 10). 5m and 1.6m.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/deportivo-alaves/startseite/verein/1108/saison_id/2017

Levante have cheap defenders, but a negative goal difference of 14, so are they any good?

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ud-levante/startseite/verein/3368/saison_id/2017

You could also argue we tried to do it with Cardoso. He played two full seasons in Portugal's Premier League and was widely tipped for a return back to Benfica. We signed him for 1m on a three year deal. On paper an outstanding signing...but doesn't always work out that way.

 

[Baz]

Models for signing players don’t really work.

You basically just need to get a good scouting network covering a wide geographical area and take a few risks whenever good talent becomes available. Even then, you still need a huge amount of luck that they settle in the team and country.