US coach: Gers a great stepping stone for quietly brilliant James
RANGERS
BY ANDY NEWPORT
UNITED STATES boss Gregg Berhalter has hardly heard a peep out of James Sands since welcoming him into his American dressing room.
But he has no doubt the softly-spoken new Rangers recruit will make all the right noises now he has signed up for life in the Old Firm thunderdome.
Berhalter is a big fan of the New York City kid, who has become Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first Gers signing after agreeing an 18-month loan.
He even had the faith to thrust this rookie defender straight into his squad for last summer’s Gold Cup – trusting him to play the full 120 minutes of the extra-time win over Mexico which saw them crowned continental kings of North America and the Caribbean.
Not that Sands – an cup winner with NYC and a league All-Star – will shout about his achievements.
Berhalter said: “James is quiet, he leads with quiet intensity. He’s a guy who’s always focused on his role and is a fierce competitor.
“In the locker room, he’s quiet. But when he is on the field he changes his personality and becomes much more aggressive. He wants to win every game.
“I think this is a very good signing for Rangers.
“I know there was a lot of competition and James is a player that is going to be 100 per cent on and off the field. He’s going to help the team.”
Gers sporting director Ross Wilson has agreed a purchase option which will see Sands join van Bronchkhorst’s squad on a permanent basis so long as he impresses over the next year and a half.
But having made the leap across the Atlantic, Berhalter reckons he may soon have his eyes on set on another move.
He said: “I think Rangers is a great stepping stone for James.
“Rangers are a top club in Scotland, playing at the highest level of European football and really a great team to come into to experience what winning and competing for titles and the Champions League is really about.
“So, for James, he’s done well in MLS and now he’s moving to another level where he’s going to be challenged.
“James is a very versatile player who’s excellent at reading the game and gives the coach flexibility because he can play in a number of positions.
“We were able to use him as a centre-back and a central midfielder. That really helped the team.”
Rangers have been well served down the years by their US imports.
From Claudio Reyna’s classy contribution during the big-spending Dick Advocaat era to the no-less-valuable efforts put in by Maurice Edu, DaMarcus Beasley and Carlos Bocanegra amid more frugal times.
Sands will hope to make a bigger mark than the likes of Alejandro Bedoya, Gedion Zalalem and Matt Polster managed in their time at the club.
Berhalter said: “Rangers has a great history of Americans, with Claudio starting it off and really performing at a high level when Rangers were at the peak of their competition.
“It is a welcoming place for Americans. James is going to fit in there.”