FIFA 17: Rangers Career Mode Guide

Massive credit must go to Scottish side Rangers. After a financial meltdown back in 2012, they were relegated from the Scottish top flight all the way down to the fourth tier. But three promotions in the space of four years got them back to the Scottish Premiership, and they are still progressing with the club lying in third place in the table. The challenge now is to play European football again and close the gap on five-time defending champions Celtic. With not much money floating around the Rangers board, this will not be a quick process, but a Scottish Cup final appearance last year has filled the club with belief. The potential of the club has never wavered despite those financial struggles, making them a superb first club to manage in FIFA 17’s Career Mode.

How you should line up

4-3-3 is Rangers coach Mark Warburton’s preferred formation, and you shouldn’t be straying too far from it on FIFA 17. Wes Foderingham is in-between the sticks, with the respectable James Tavernier, Philippe Senderos, Clint Hill and Lee Wallace at the back.

In midfield, you should opt for Jordan Rossiter, Niko Kranjcar and Jon Toral, with Joe Garner flanked by Martyn Waghorn and Barrie McKay in attack.

On the bench, you will want Matt Gilks, Rob Kiernan, Lee Hodson, Andy Halliday, Josh Windass, Michael O’Halloran and Kenny Miller.

The Transfer Market

Starting Transfer Budget: £9 million

Starting Wage Budget: £54,000

Who should go

With strong youth set up and many players impressing in the Scottish Championship last season, almost the entire Rangers roster can remain at the club. The only man who can be shown the door is fullback Ryan Sinnamon, who can be sold for £25,000.

What the team needs

£9 million is not a great deal of cash, but it is only £1 million behind champions Celtic, stressing how little money there is in the Scottish game at the moment. That should still be enough to bring in one first team player with room to spare. Jordan Rossiter has great potential in defensive midfield, but with a starting rating of 67, he is not ready to play week-in-week-out. You should look to replace him with someone with plenty of experience, and Frenchman Mathieu Bodmer certainly fits the bill. The 33-year-old defensive midfielder, centre back, or attacking midfielder has an overall rating of 78 and can be bought for less than £3 million. Bodmer has 85-rated short passing, 83 ball control and 83 reactions, with his wages only £720 per week.

Alternatives:

–       Dmitri Tarasov – Lokomotiv Moscow, Age 29, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £6.5 million, Wage: £36,000

–       Geoff Cameron – Stoke, Age 31, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £6.5 million, Wage: £14,000

–       Ivan Radovanovic – Chievo, Age 27, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £8 million, Wage: £14,000

–       Eugen Polanski – Hoffenheim, Age 30, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £7 million, Wage: £18,000

–       Glenn Whelan – Stoke, Age 32, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £4 million, Wage: £18,000

–       Guillaume Gillet – Nates, Age 32, OVR 77, POT 77, Cost: £6 million, Wage £7,000

Loans

With a few young players with decent potentials at Rangers, there are a few candidates to send out on loan. There’s still a fairly sizeable gap between them and the first choice side, so you can afford to send Liam Burt, Serge Atakayi, twins Robbie & Ross McCrorie and Myles Beerman out on two-year loan deals.

Contracts

Five men have contracts running out at the end of the season, but you will have a decision to make over the older players. Kenny Miller (36) and Clint Hill (37) could easily choose to retire at the end of the season, but keep a close eye on their overall level as if it starts to drop dramatically there is no point keeping them on for another season. You will want to keep ex-Arsenal man Philippe Senderos at the club, and it’s the same with youngster Myles Beerman. As for Ryan Sinnamon, if you can’t find a buyer for him in the transfer market, you may as well allow him to leave on a free at the end of the season.

Managerial Objectives

After recovering from their financial troubles, the Rangers managerial objectives are results focussed, which is what every player wants on FIFA 17 Career Mode. Your domestic success has a critical priority, and you will be asked to achieve a high finish in the league and reach the quarters or semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

For brand exposure, which has a high priority, you will need to take in over £5 million from shirt sales over the season. This can be achieved by regularly winning, scoring plenty of goals and bringing in big name signings.

For youth development, you may need to sign one or two teenagers who have higher potentials than the average player in your squad of the same position, and bring a player through the youth academy as well as giving them game time. So be sure to hold some of your transfer budget back or wait until January to bring in first team signings.

As for your financial goal, you will need to increase the clubs worth by 50% over two seasons. To achieve this, not only do you need to perform well on the pitch, but make sure you deliver a healthy profit at the end of each season.

The next step back to the top

Despite defeating Old Firm rivals Celtic in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last season, the blue side of Glasgow still knows there is plenty of work to do to catch The Bhoys, especially with Brendan Rodgers improving Celtic this season. Challenging for the title is not out of the question however, especially with Celtic having to deal with Champions League action, but there isn’t quite enough quality or depth in the Rangers side to perhaps go all the way in your first season. A cup success seems far more likely, and if you sign well you can lift the Scottish Cup. With a full-strength side, Celtic are perhaps the only club that can topple you and you may need some good luck with another team knocking them out of the competition to make you one of the favourites.

European football should be your primary objective though, with a third placed finish gaining entry to the ‘Euro League’. This will open the club up to more finances and new signings as you plot towards overthrowing Celtic. It isn’t going to happen overnight, but if you are patient for a couple of seasons, you can get your managerial career on FIFA 17 off to a perfect start.