Cohesion remains lacking

The major issue in last season’s team was the failure of key forwards to hit title-winning numbers. Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent are no longer in place to shoulder the blame. Despite a major overhaul in personnel, there was little true collective menace tonight from the newly signed forwards. It’s far too early to cast judgement on any of these boys but you can say with certainty there has been little stardust sprinkled across Govan in the games so far. Everything needs to be put into the context of a brand new attack being bedded in and there is plenty of time to gel but Beale will want to see a lot more impact from the men who are there to kill games.

Jonny McFarlane 

Pressing success

Abdullah Sima’s sharpness to win the ball high up the pitch was the catalyst for Rangers’ equaliser, finding Lammers at the edge of the box. The Dutchman’s delicious flick found Cantwell who was felled by the charging Paschalakis in goal. Tavernier did what he does with penalties and scored, driving the ball high into the net. It’s the third goal in three preseason matches to come directly from aggressive pressing, a sign that Beale’s reshaped side will go for the throat in areas where mistakes are match-defining. While there wasn’t too much to get excited about in the game, this is one element of the team’s play that’s been consistent so far ahead of the big kick-off.

Jonny McFarlane 

Barisic induces groans

While few Rangers players lived up to their reputations on the night, this was another sloppy performance from the Croat who is enduring a very shaky and uncomfortable pre-season. He made three mistakes in the opening 12 minutes, a nightmare start that had the crowd on edge every time the ball went to the left flank. There has been significant speculation that a deal with Nottingham Forest or another side could be imminent and it might be best for all parties that a deal is agreed on this sort of form. He lasted 60 minutes before Ridvan Yilmaz arrived, and immediately upgraded the quality of play. When the young Turk starts the season as the undisputed left-back, Barisic can have no complaints. Every player has a shelf life and you wonder if the 30-year-old has reached that point.

Jonny McFarlane 

READ MORE: Rangers Review live at Edmiston House with Barry Ferguson

Lammers looks a quick learner 

The Dutch attacker has stood out in pre-season fixtures to date and tonight was no different. Handed license as the free player, able to link the top end of the pitch, in a dull first half Lammers was still relatively bright. Being quite literally two-footed, his faint-and-roll trick is quickly becoming a trademark. The former Atalanta man’s also looked able off the ball, knicking the ball for a goal of his own last week against Newcastle. He’s been signed to play a central role in Beale’s Rangers, in a free No.10 role that feels perfectly designed for him, considering his allowance of goals and tendency to move towards the ball rather than away from it. A strong pre-season should aid a strong start and with such important fixtures arriving so early, that will prove vital.

Joshua Barrie

What about that first half?

Against Newcastle and Hamburg, Rangers have adopted similar approaches out of possession before the interval, putting on a more ‘European style’ defensive display which is all about sliding with the ball, protecting the centre and keeping play in the opposition’s half as much as possible. Ok, admittedly this isn’t the most exciting pre-season form of entertainment, but it’s a style that will be required at points to reach the Champions League promised land. Rangers aren’t going to spend the majority of their domestic football sitting off in a mid-block. That said, conceding a goal just on the stroke of half-time certainly didn’t help the mood at a damp Ibrox and a distinct lack of chances at the other end was noted. There's no denying this was a poor showing and those in attendance would've expected more to build anticipation ahead of the new season. After the interval, the move to a more aggressive 4-3-1-2 would quickly make amends with a goal inside two minutes, before another disappointing half ensued. 

Joshua Barrie

Frustration of just pre-season?

The positivity towards Beale's summer rebuild has dominated the summer so far and as such, tonight's game was something of a dampener for those venturing to Ibrox. Olympiacos were quicker, sharper and more cohesive on the ball throughout. And when a leveller did arrive from the penalty spot for the hosts, they failed to kick on and capitalise. With Hoffenheim on Saturday before the real stuff gets going, showing a better face in Germany is important. Pre-season is practice but it can help be a tone-setter. 

Joshua Barrie