Recently, we asked you to submit your questions across our social media channels - here's a selection answered below...
How many do you think Rangers will bring in this window excluding Fabio Silva?
As soon as it was confirmed that Danilo would be out of action for several months, plans had to change at Ibrox. It had been evident for some time that Philippe Clement would need another striker during the January window but the loss of the Brazilian doubled that requirement. With Fabio Silva in the door, the first box has been ticked. The bigger picture is something of a moving target. If Ridvan Yilmaz was to move on, for example, then that would require Clement to strengthen the left-back area. If another midfielder was to suffer a longer-term injury, the Belgian would perhaps move to add depth to the central area. Definite numbers cannot be put on the plans. This was never going to be a window for wholesale changes and supporters should not expect half-a-dozen new faces to be recruited over the next three weeks. Another couple would not be out of the question, but opinions may alter as the window evolves. Rangers will be as proactive as they can to identify and sign those particular talents but events could dictate that they are reactive as well and that could alter the business heading into the final days.
Chris Jack
Would you play Dujon Sterling in his natural position at right-back or keep him in midfield moving forward? (YouTube)
Dujon Sterling’s emergence in midfield is reminiscent of Calvin Bassey’s at centre-back purely because the 23-year-old has excelled in a role that previously few would’ve placed him. Interestingly when the Rangers Review spoke with Adrian Viveash this summer, a long-term youth coach and mentor at Chelsea who also took him on a loan deal to Coventry, the possibility of Sterling playing in the middle was raised: “He glides across the ground and he can transfer the ball if you want to play a passing system. He can also play left back, right back and even centre-midfield. He has a lot of strings to his bow and he will provide great versatility.” Sterling’s defensive qualities, witnessed in particular away in Seville against Real Betis, should come as no surprise. He has spoken of being a ‘defence-first full-back’ and one-on-one duels are where he excels with quick footwork, the ability to defend on either side and the power to match. It’s this ability to transfer the ball and glide across the pitch that’s really caught the eye since Sterling moved to the middle. A recent viral clip from Rangers’ win over Kilmarnock does not give off connotations of a footballer playing out of position.
🥶 @DujonSterling1 pic.twitter.com/WjWz5pcwDY
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 3, 2024
“When he (Clement) chucked me in there against Dundee, that was the first time I'd ever played there. I'd never even trained there once in the senior game," Sterling said in a recent interview. "But when I was at Chelsea when I was younger, I was taught to play in every position. I've been trying to think back to then and bring that into my game now. Adi Viveash and Joe Edwards were the main two influences.”
In this writer’s view, a role in the middle has allowed Sterling to show off transferable skills. Having played higher up the pitch earlier in his career and with real athletic ability, the centre gives Sterling the platform to dominate duels and take Rangers forwards. On the other hand, under Clement the Ibrox side have not been building through the midfield, which is something the return of Nico Raskin and more time on the training pitch ought to change. Sterling’s strength is unlikely to be opening up a low block or receiving with his back to goal - that’s not the central role he's fulfilled to date. It feels unlikely that long-term his best position is as a No.6 in slow domestic matches where the requirement is creating openings from the base of midfield. However, games like the recent Old Firm suggest more football than not could arrive in the centre. What has emerged from this experiment is that quite clearly, Rangers have a player on their hands. Where he plays is up for debate but moving forward, it seems as though whether Sterling plays is not.
Joshua Barrie
Who do you think will benefit the most from this winter break training camp? (Twitter)
The most obvious answer here is Fabio Silva. The Portuguese youngster chose a move to Ibrox over other alternatives and a big part of the attraction was working with Clement. The manager’s Zoom call after Nils Koppen presented the possibility of acquiring Silva on loan was a key reason that the Wolves forward opted for a move north. The 21-year-old saw minutes against Kilmarnock before play stopped for the winter break and Clement confirmed post-match that a strong start in training catalysed such an early appearance. The winter break provides time to build relationships on the pitch and sharpness off of it. More generally, is it fair to say that Clement will benefit most from the winter training camp? It’s easy to forget that the Belgian has been handed little to no time with the full squad to implement ideas on the training park since arriving in October, with plenty of analysis and individual work bearing the load. It’s not only tactical ideas that will be worked upon during Rangers’ time in Spain. As explained in detail during our interview with Clement’s long-term assistant Johan van Rumst it’s Clement’s management which sets him apart. “As a people manager Philippe is amazing,” Van Rumst told the Rangers Review. “Every coach has their way of playing football but crucially, Philippe can project that onto his players, brainwash them if you like!” This break from competitive football should enable Clement to further embed some of his footballing ideas which have had to be put on hold up until now with the schedule so unforgiving, but space time to better learn the individuals in his squad could prove just as important. As Van Rumst suggests every coach has ideas, it’s those who can communicate them that stand out and excel.
Joshua Barrie
If we were to only bring in two more this window what would be the absolute priority positions?
It seems strange to say given the money that was spent on the forward line over the summer but Rangers need to strengthen in the final third once again. If they can add guile and goals over the coming weeks, they will be right in the hunt for more domestic silverware this season. The capture of Silva was a statement of intent early in the window. Another striker must now follow. Rangers cannot rely on Cyriel Dessers and Kemar Roofe and if Clement can find a forward to score ten goals in the second half of the season it would be a significant step for his side. The wide areas also need attention. This is a squad that was assembled in Michael Beale’s image and Rangers are short of quality on the flanks. Abdallah Sima and Ross McCausland are the first choices on the left and right but the back-up isn’t there and Rabbi Matondo and Scott Wright don’t contribute in the same manner. Someone to operate ahead of James Tavernier would be the priority for me. If Clement can find an attacker who is equally adept on both sides, that would certainly benefit the team and the squad.
Chris Jack
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