We got a glut of questions on social media yesterday. Here is a selection of the best with answers from Jonny McFarlane and Joshua Barrie!
Given Morelos is going and his performance was criticised, Sakala hasn’t been good enough and Colak is injured - who starts up top against Celtic?
Josh: Beale's continually referenced both boxes in the last month for good reason. Rangers haven't been outdone tactically in the past two Old Firm matches or outplayed between the two penalty areas. They've lacked clinical players in both of those areas. I wouldn't totally bet against Morelos having one last outing with Beale keen to downplay any drama at today's press conference. Whether he starts or not is a different question. As detailed in this piece, the attacking make-up of Beale's side has evolved in the past few months and last Sunday, he again opted to play with split strikers. This somewhat negates the reliance on a focal point, even if playing Matondo and Sakala wouldn't be the first choice of many. Expect the former to be given a chance from the start tomorrow.
This will be the last Old Firm for many players whose time has come to a sorry end at Rangers. Do you think there will be a last defiant stand or will Beale show his metal and only take his players for the next season onto the Ibrox pitch?
Jonny: The manager won't want to be seen as a guy who can't win Old Firm games. While it's a dead rubber at Ibrox on Saturday, another defeat will likely see some start to question his capability for a role where success will be judged on the ability to win these games. While the rest of us can be emotional and urge him to clear out the perceived deadwood, he's got to put the best XI on the pitch to stop Celtic. You pull the likes of Alfredo Morelos out of that pack and it's slim pickings for who plays up front. He's in an awkward situation there but there's nobody else who is remotely reliable to play up top. One thing for Beale, he's had to be creative and look to tactically manage the games so far, and while wins have been in short supply there's no doubt that improvements have been made. A win here would certainly help lift the mood ahead of the big rebuild.
Do you believe we need to stop playing 2 sitting midfielders and play the likes of Cantwell higher up as a no.10?
Josh: No. Beale's deepest midfielder, John Lundstram, often drops in to form a back three and outnumber the opposition in the first phase - a key aspect for controlling possession. His second, Nico Raskin, has license to get forward and is by no means a defensive midfielder with no attacking impetus. In this writer's opinion the whole two defensive midfielders debate is somewhat of a myth. Take last weekend against Aberdeen, the issue in the first half was, according to Beale, not enough bodies behind the ball to prevent transitions. The best possession-based team in the world at the moment, Man City, are playing with four centre-backs and a holding midfielder. The best teams are not simply an amalgamation of attackers, they're a product of the best-balanced 11s. Cantwell will likely play as a No.10 tomorrow, but regardless Rangers' issue isn't really structural.
READ MORE: Rangers keep conceding the same goal against Celtic, here's how to stop it
What’s your thoughts on Morelos and Kent being allowed run down their contracts and Ross Wilson leaving before they do?
Jonny: It's not ideal to say the least but both players have been huge in recent success. Would Rangers have got to the Europa League final or won 55 without these two? It would have been much more challenging. The offers for the players, £14m from Leeds for Kent and £16.5m from Lille for Morelos look good in hindsight but we are looking at these deals in what is very much a post-Covid world. Before the pandemic, the finances of clubs were different and Rangers felt their star men were worth more, comparing the Morelos offer to the £20m fee Lyon paid Celtic for Moussa Dembele. The club were tempted at that time but Steven Gerrard was very keen to hold firm and the board aligned behind the manager. I'm certain that if Rangers had entertained fair offers for either of these players in the summer, a transfer would have taken place. None were forthcoming.
Should Robby McCrorie be Rangers goalkeeper next season?
Josh: It's no secret that Rangers are in the market for a goalkeeper. McCrorie has earned his chance and as Beale confirmed today, "He wants to stake a claim, he's been injured this season and this is a good opportunity". At 25 he's no longer young in footballing terms and games have to follow. Would competing for the No.1 jersey next season be enough to keep the academy product around? Last time out against Aberdeen his big stop at 0-0 and overall performance impressed and, there's no way around this, Rangers haven't been able to rely on a difference maker in the goals this season.
Why are youngsters are not progressing into the first team? Can Bailey Rice make that jump?
Jonny: Bailey Rice has a very interesting skill set for one so young. Composed and technically adept, he carries that trait that marks out a special footballer - he always looks like he's got time. That said, he's got a mountain to climb yet. If he can keep his head straight and avoid the temptations that have stalked other youngsters he will have half a chance. As for the rest of the academy kids, the word is that next year's under-18 team is a special group. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating but there will be no doubt Rangers will be looking for more bang for their buck given the millions of pounds spent every year on operating to such a high standard. While academy head Craig Mulholland will depart at the end of the season he will hand over the reins to his replacement in far better shape than he found it. The structures and frameworks that make a youth development programme tick are all in place. Perhaps a new man will be able to freshen things up and finally take it to the next level.
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