Blues to make a "controversial signing" - Nile Ranger

[Jam_Man]

Reading that all seems like we are covering ourselves so no harm in trying.

 

[Depor_Shrimper]

A goal or two to start the season and we'll all be forgetting his somewhat tainted past; that my friends is how morally corrupt the beautiful game has become.

 

[LennySUFC]

If the lad has sorted himself out then that's an awesome signing, he was very highly rated at Newcastle. However I feel like every fan of a previous team has also said the same!

 

[Tommy2holes]

Ricky otto is one of my favourite ever blues players. He was a former jailbird. He now gives advice to youngsters treading the same path.

People can change.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

A month long deal, is effectively a paid trial. Let's us see if he has the ability & attitude, if he's sorted himself out then everyone deserves a 2nd (or 5th?) chance.

Things seem to be picking up pace at the Hall, with Oxley expected to sign today, 2 trialists in and now Ranger.

 

[united we stand]

Never thought I would be comparing a player with Moshni and saying that Moshni seemed like the sesible one :smile:

hopefully living close to home will help rather than hinder

 

[Napster]

Good luck to the lad if it's him....
More contiversial than David Roche, gangster and armed robber? I doubt it...

To be fair, Roche was a badun after joining Southend. (joined 94, stabbed someone in 95)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/08/theknowledge.sport

The court heard that Lumsden himself had been a victim of an unprovoked machete attack years earlier when he was stabbed in the leg by former Newcastle United player David Roche.

The midfielder was jailed for four years for knifing Lumsden in Newcastle's Circus Circus bar in 1995.

Roche and his friend Brian Tait were each wielding sawn-off shotguns and machete-type knives when they and friend John Wheatley attacked Lumsden after being barred from Madison's nightclub. Tait, then of Albert Close, Heaton, was jailed for four years, nine months, and Wheatley, then of Carville Rise, Byker, for four years, three months.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Hasnt played a competitive game for nearly 2 years, what sort of shape will he be in?

 

[kentblues]

Ricky Otto isn't actually a great comparison. Seen a couple of bits on here recently about him leaving Orient because of his yardie activities, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He committed his crime(s) long before he joined us, and got rehabilitated in prison. The reason he joined you was because we were skint and you offered a six-figure fee.

Ranger has yet to show one iota that he is a changed man. Hope for his sake that he really has turned his life around.

So its not what they have done or the severity of the crime but whether they are rehabilitated? I have no problem with that. There are a couple of good interviews with him on here. He hasn't touched a drink for two years, hasn't been in trouble with the police over the last couple of years, is back living with his family. There are limits to who I would except but these are circumstances combined with his age where I would take a punt. Many on here would take a punt on hungry lower league players to me this is if anything more likely to be a success. Plus I am sure the contract will give us all sorts of options.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Hasnt played a competitive game for nearly 2 years, what sort of shape will he be in?

You can keep fit. It's just match fitness which won't be great.

 

[kentblues]

Hasnt played a competitive game for nearly 2 years, what sort of shape will he be in?

Was training with Rotherham second half of last season. Impressed Neil Warnock- but clearly needs a proper pre-season. Which he will get. He looks in good shape and doesn't drink (anymore) so that will help- may well be in better shape on first day of training then one or two others.

 

[kentblues]

Ranger has never been a liability on the pitch (his problems have always been off it).

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

I have seen two of my good friends pass away. Whilst overcoming this it has made me realise life is really short and I have really been taking things for granted. I would like to use this opportunity to thank Southampton, Newcastle, Swindon and Blackpool for giving me the chance to experience the dream of being a professional footballer. To add to this I would like to apologise to everyone at these clubs including management, players, staff and fans. I should have given more and been a better role model. I would also like to add I am sorry to my current team-mates at Blackpool for being missing for a long period of time and not attending pre-season and putting in the hard work during this time. Truth be told I'm just a young boy who has been living the dream and playing a game which I do love and miss deeply, and hope that one day I will be able to get back on a pitch and play because life is really too short.
— Ranger issued an apology to the club in September 2015.

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[kentblues]

We will have an option to make it permanent I imagine- if he comes and looks on the money and a reformed character there will be a sudden increase in the number of clubs wanting to take a punt..

 

[mrsblue]

Football club signs yet another dud who either hardly played or rarely scores !

Monthly deal would be OK to try him out but wouldn't shock me if eventually he has a 2 year deal with fleeting glimpses of his talent.

I see Dan Holman has been banging them in for fun,about right though for our scouting network.

 

[turkishm]

We seem to have covered ourselves on this one with a month by month, but the Southend nightlife and all that, just seems like an accident waiting to happen.

 

[kentblues]

It is except we have signed him, there is a contract and no doubt an option for us to trigger, I suspect, a 1 year deal with the option for another at the end of it. All in our favour.

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

Hasnt played a competitive game for nearly 2 years, what sort of shape will he be in?

The same sort of shape that we are in as a club.... Fked, I think this is really a sign of how far our name has dropped as a club, it's quite clear we have not been able to sign any of our top targets and now at the 11th hour are having to fill the squad with liabilities and trialists yet again......

 

[SUBBlue]

My heart says give him a chance, we haven't see him play yet & he may have changed to become a real asset to us.

My head says PB should use a very long barge pole where players like this are concerned... and bloody hell we must be desperate.

At least its only a month.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Interesting signing for you guys, if he settles down he could be a very good player, good luck to the lad.