Sands on the Rangers bench for the Scottish Cup final versus Hearts. Game starts at 10am eastern on ESPN+. 🆕 Today's #RangersFC team to face Hearts at Hampden in the @ScottishCup final.🗒️ Full Team News: https://t.co/DWuAadkBdT pic.twitter.com/W26AUxOpaV— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 21, 2022
On the bench for the Scottish Cup final: 🆕 Today's #RangersFC team to face Hearts at Hampden in the @ScottishCup final.🗒️ Full Team News: https://t.co/DWuAadkBdT pic.twitter.com/W26AUxOpaV— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 21, 2022
Midway through extra time's first half and it's 2-0 to Rangers. Expect Sands to get some garbage minutes after the 115 minute-mark.
Rangers about to win in ET. Sands doesn't get off the bench (yet - I jumped the gun here by a minute). (note: they win 2-0. No Sands) Not a terrible year for him or Rangers but not great for either, either - esp Sands. Would have been better if he started more games and Rangers would always rather win the league and/or Europa than the Cup, but 2nd in league, EL semi and Cup final gets them a bit of $, helps Scotland's coefficient a bit and keep Gers attractive as a player destination. And while Sands had to hope to be a more regular starter, he was clearly someone Gio was comfortable with in low-pressure games, but he didn't get starts in the key matches. Sands ends up with 725 minutes in 5 months, (5 full games) 0 g/a. He was hurt by Lundstram's resurgence, who seemed to rise to the suggestion he might be replaced. While Sands started out looking like Gio thought he'd be a CM/DM he seemed to impress more at CD - but Gio looked comfortable using him in either role, (and even a fairly fluid CD to "stopper" role) even in the end.
Starts in friendly: 🆕 Today's #RangersFC team to face @BlackpoolFC.🗒️ Full Team News: https://t.co/kpMnEM1n8u📺 Watch Live on RangersTV: https://t.co/6HpFUwEf3B pic.twitter.com/VXSYE36qbB— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 16, 2022
Out somewhere around the 65th: SUB: Multiple changes for Rangers.➡️ ON: Lawrence, Matondo, King, Souttar, McCann, Devine, Katic⬅️ OFF: Tavernier, Sands, Barisic, Lundstram, Wright, Kent⁰, Goldson— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 16, 2022
I was not a big fan of the move after Rangers went on to sign a boatload of CDMs... but I am interested to see if Rangers will play him as the center CB in a 3 CB system like he did today (at least in the few minutes I saw). Sands played all the way to MLS Cup after a long season and had to go directly to a new team in midseason across the pond... so perhaps it wasn't that big of a deal that he didn't feature much. This season will be very telling.
Interesting. Last season, it was reported that Sands came in because Gio was not sold on Lunstram, but at the end of the season Sands played a little bit in CB. And today he's on with Lundstram and playing back in the CB slot. If Gio goes with that this year, might mean more minutes for Sands.
Came off the bench in a friendly: 🆕 Tonight's #RangersFC team to face @WestHam.🗒️ Full Team News: https://t.co/aiiFoRVnJx📺 Watch Live on RangersTV: https://t.co/ac1b2L4J1q pic.twitter.com/Yo8gFob2o6— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 19, 2022 SUB: Three changes for Rangers at the interval.➡️ ON: Lawrence, Sands, Matondo,⬅️ OFF: Wright, Souttar, Jack— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 19, 2022
On the bench for friendly: 🆕 Today's #RangersFC team to face @SpursOfficial.🗒️ Full team news: https://t.co/Hud45ywjGW📺 Watch the match LIVE on RangersTV: https://t.co/h4I1S1IiVd pic.twitter.com/YOWMSAiUeS— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 23, 2022 RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Lundstram, Goldson, Colak, Lawrence (Tillman, 69), Kent, Souttar (Sands, 69), Matondo (Wright, 69), Kamara, Barisic.
Impressed in preseason: https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/5-rangers-players-who-stood-24592113?2= He's looked calm and composed on the ball and he's been strong in the tackle too. Van Bronckhorst wants to play out from the back and you could see Sands being used for that job regularly. It was his pass that helped break the West Ham press for Rangers' stunning second goal at Ibrox last week and he also impressed any other time he was on the pitch.
He's only played at CB this pre-season so it must refer to that. Could he force his way into the USMNT Qatar discussion?
He had a dangerous late game header v. Spurs as well. I would not be shocked to seem him get decent minutes in the back this season, with a bit in midfield against tougher sides (UEFA)
If you’ve followed him, he’s quietly supremely confident in his abilities. I’m not sure CB is his best position, but one of his strengths (and probably weaknesses) is his versatility.
Absolutely. Versatility is so clutch on tournament rosters. If he has a good start to the season, he could totally be on the plane.
Awesome. Didn't realize that, but I've always rated him much higher as a center back, so I see that as good news.
📺WATCH: James Sands tells us why he'd love permanent Rangers transfer, his World Cup ambitions, Gio relationship and messages from two former Ibrox stars🇺🇸https://t.co/tkV0HhiuFD— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) July 27, 2022
Spoke at a press conference: https://sbisoccer.com/2022/07/james...rangers-season-leads-to-world-cup-involvement (no sub required) “I think both of us [including Tillman] have ambitions to be in the World Cup team so the only way we’re going to get there is by getting games here,” he added. “I think having someone next to you who shares similar goals is really helpful.”
More stuff. https://folobooks.com/james-sands-hopes-to-break-rangers-season-leading-to-world-cup-participation/
Seems young Sands had a press chat lately... a number of articles popped up this evening. Fairly similar fare. https://www.heraldscotland.com/spor...-sets-ibrox-targets-ahead-new-season/?ref=rss