The fact that Michael Ball is on a list of the top 10 most expensive buys in Rangers history says it all. In actual fact, the defender is the second most pricey player the Light Blues have ever forked over cash for. Costing £6.5 million in August, 2001, the Englishman joined from English Premier League side Everton. That last factoid in itself seems implausible now. Rangers aren't really in any position to buy players from the top flight in England anymore, the rules have changed. There was a time when the Gers had the pick of the bunch from South of the border, but those days have been gone for a long time. However, in many respects the legions of fans who routinely pack Ibrox Stadium will be glad if their club never wastes money like this again. £6.5 million was just too much for Michael Ball. Yes, he was a solid defender, but that was about it. There was nothing extraordinary about him, and that's what would have been needed to necessitate such a transfer. By a long way, Ball was the biggest waste of money spent by Dick Advocaat during his time at the helm.