John Lundstram's Rangers evolution key to Michael Beale's masterplan

Lundstram hasn’t replicated his performance levels from last season but became increasingly influential under Beale during the season's final weeks, with an important role in the side's build-up.

Beale’s proclivity for hybrid players, who can perform a variety of roles, allows him the flexibility to alter his tactics for different opponents and breeds flexibility in-game.

Lundstram has performed a number of roles under Beale, starting as a box-to-box midfielder and centre-back in the final few weeks of the campaign. 

Beale played a significant role on the training ground under Steven Gerrard when Rangers seldom switched from the preferred 4-3-3 formation. As manager, he's more adaptable, requiring a greater degree of fluidity and flexibility from his players.

While he still prefers a back four, Rangers frequently move to a back three in the build-up phase, with the full-backs moving high to help progress the ball up-field. 

“We’ve moved to a back three a hell of a lot in build-up since I came back in - probably in every game," Beale said recently.

“Sometimes we go to it fully and sometimes we rotate it. John (Lundstram) is flexible and did it very well for Gio. 

“It’s slightly different from how I want to do it but he’s very capable and he’s shown that he can do it well.” 

READ MORE: Michael Beale's new Rangers plan that informs summer transfer window

Lundstram is tasked with dropping into the right centre-back position when in possession but reverts to his midfield role when Rangers are defending. 

In the recent 3-1 win over Hibernian, hw was deployed in central midfield but routinely dropped into defence to build play, as shown in the image below. 

It’s clear that Beale likes to adopt this fluid approach but he’s also considered moving to a back three more permanently.

Speaking recently, he said: “We’ve toyed with going to a three at the back because of how John [Souttar] has played. He needs to show that he can stay fit and healthy. We will add into that area in the summer with Connor, John, Ben [Davies] and Leon [King]. 

“We will add to our athleticism and power in that area and that area was damaging to us earlier in the season with injuries - only Leon has been constantly fit.”

When the deal to bring Dujon Sterling to Ibrox was confirmed, Beale referenced the versatile defender’s power, adding weight to suggestions that he could be used as a right centre-back, enabling James Tavernier to push higher.

The 23-year-old is another example of a hybrid player, capable of being utilised in a number of defensive roles. 

The 2-2 draw with Hearts was the most noticeable example of Beale experimenting with a back five - moving permanently to that formation in the second half with Lundstram slotting in between Tavernier and John Souttar.

In the first half, Lundstram repeatedly dropped into the right centre-back zone as displayed and was also positioned as the middle centre-back on a couple of occasions. 

Rangers also dropped into the shape occasionally when defending, with Lundstram tracking Hearts’ striker Josh Ginnelly, as shown below.

Beale switched to a 3-5-2 formation at half-time, before reverting to a back four with Lundstram preferred at centre-back as Leon King made way for Scott Arfield. 

Despite playing in midfield for 45 minutes in a game Rangers dominated, Lundstram’s pass map shows the right centre-back area as the predominant zone of activity. 

Many supporters were surprised at Beale's decision to start Lundstram at centre-back against St Mirren over King in a back four, but the decision to replace the youngster against Hearts was an indicator of Beale’s preference. 

Lundstram is clearly valued and trusted by the manager, which is reinforced by how often Beale has played the Englishman since returning to the club. Only Tavernier played more league minutes after managerial change in November. 

There’s been speculation surrounding his future at Ibrox given that he only has a year left on his contract but it’s highly unlikely Lundstram departs this summer. 

It’s also important to highlight excellent, versatile performances on the run to the Europa League final.

Speaking after a standout display in the 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade, Giovanni van Bronckhorst said on the player: “I said before the game we had to be dynamic, John (Lundstram) had an important role today.

"We prepared him for the different systems we could play, I think he was the key in the second half because we wanted him to be very dynamic, be in midfield to keep the pressure on the ball but sometimes he had to drop into the back four to make it a back five. I think he did it really well in the second half.

"I know the positions he can play, the beginning when I came here I asked him to be a central defender because we didn't have many defenders left because they were all injured or out and he said 'You know I've never played there' and I said 'with your quality you can easily play there' and he's growing in his role in between the two central defenders or in central midfield."

Lundstram remains a useful and versatile option to provide solutions in the first line for his previous and current manager at Ibrox. That likely ensures he's an important cog of Beale's plans going forward.