In an era of strenuous analysis and detailed game plans, it has never been more important for a manager to possess the gift of a curveball. Introducing unpredictability to their attacking arsenal.

When Michael Beale was appointed Rangers manager late last year, “variation” became a buzzword and this summer’s recruitment has afforded a luxury of options that last season did not. In light of a damaging week, however, the pressure faced by Beale and his project has never been greater. Alongside results, it's performances attracting criticism.

Beale’s approach against Celtic has catalysed countless Twitter posts and morning briefing comments questioning the manager’s style of play and lamenting a lack of aggression. There’s no doubt that in isolation, Rangers’ performance failed to seize the initiative and rise to the noise, colour and fervour of this particular Old Firm occasion. You never sensed that the hosts were the team driving the game’s tempo or setting its tone. So, has the manager’s approach altered too frequently in order to allow relationships on the pitch to foster, confidence to build and identity to shine through? Has a desire to find a specific balance game-to-game impacted Rangers’ attacking balance overall?

Beale has picked nine different starting 11s in Rangers’ first nine matches of this season with the front three chosen in successive games against Servette and Livingston, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo, not seen together from the start since. The attack was the area of the pitch subject to the biggest facelift in this summer’s Ibrox rebuild but as of yet, it’s still to spring into life. Even if all attackers have scored, none have yet delivered consistently.

“When you lose six players that play in the front positions, you have to sign some. They can’t all play at the same time. The players can’t all play if they play in the same position, that’s obvious. We had to sign these players. They have all contributed so far. They could all show a little bit more,” Beale said on Sunday discussing his selection process.

“You look for a balance against what you are playing against and I thought that was the right balance today.”

Beale’s football is dependent on relationships flourishing in the final third to capitalise on the attacking freedom handed to individuals. As Danilo explained soon after arriving, “The coach gives the attackers the freedom to do what we want to do”. Rather than locking players into certain zones, it seems as though Beale wants to hand his creators and converters attacking license. Therefore, when relationships on the pitch haven’t been handed sufficient time to form, confidence is low and requirements change from game to game, is it any wonder attacking play hasn’t clicked?

By the time the international break ends and Rangers visit McDiarmid Park a week on Saturday, the need to find a combination at the top end of the park and stick with it is crucial.

An important consideration when referencing any area of a team is how it relates to others. For Rangers to find the right balance in their attack, it’s important to consider who plays next too and behind those three individuals. For example, away at Ross County although a front three of Kemar Roofe, Dessers and Lammers didn’t boast an obvious threat in behind, the forward running from Nico Raskin and James Tavernier elsewhere addressed that need.

Fashion Sakala had his faults but brought, alongside Ryan Kent’s pace, a certain dynamism to the Rangers front line last season and threat of pace in transition that a front three of Dessers, Danilo and Lammers does not obviously possess. Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo do boast such qualities and their introduction away at County, or at home against Livingston, exploited space that tired games began to offer up.

Last season, Beale generally opted for two No.9s in each line-up, attempting to increase his side’s goalscoring profiles and play with an extra player in the top line. The recruitment this summer, with Lammers signed to operate as a No.10 and Sima, Dessers and Danilo regarded out-and-out No.9s, seemingly informed that desire. Aside from Dessers, however, the new arrivals' involvement has proven sporadic.

Danilo’s lack of game time since a big-money move from Feyenoord has confused some elements of the Rangers support because, although guilty of missing a few big opportunities, the Brazilian’s looked sharper than Dessers. He’s not lightning-fast over distance but counts upon a quicker turn of pace and ability to move off the back of defenders. For the outlay spent it was anticipated that the 24-year-old would quickly become a centrepiece of this side. Having failed to start the big games so far, Danilo’s role since early appearances has been restricted.

READ MORE: Michael Beale's plan for Rangers' front three and why summer arrivals fit vision 

Dessers has started eight of nine, only missing out away to Servette, and has been favoured by Beale as a focal point of the team. He’s faced some undue criticism but hasn’t exactly exploded onto the scene. Dessers’ final ball, on show in the first leg against PSV, has impressed but a lack of pace was isolated in the past week even if the Nigerian is an intelligent presser. Whether still building sharpness or not, there are undoubtedly levels to be shown in his game, but it’s clear that the former Feyenoord man is favoured by his manager. Regardless of the balance Beale has sought, Dessers has generally been included.

Lammers has two high-profile misses against Celtic and Servette to his name which won’t have helped fears regarding his goalscoring record before a move from Atalanta this summer. The 26-year-old moved to Ibrox in need of a fresh start to showcase obvious technical talent which has come out in patches. The free No.10 spot developed feels a perfect fit for his talent on the surface, with autonomy to crash the box, offer one-on-one superiority out wide when necessary and provide a back-to-goal route through pressure. Again like Danilo, Lammers is yet to see a run of matches to build confidence or make a sustained impact.

Those three arrivals have only played together on two occasions, with Roofe’s welcome return to fitness and form offering some explanation as to why in recent weeks. It begs the question, do Lammers, Danilo and Dessers have the required dynamics to play as a front three?

Todd Cantwell’s role also feels important in this discussion. Speaking to the Rangers Review in the media mixed zone following a home tie against PSV the 25-year-old explained that Beale views him as a No.10 and a No.8 adding, “I think players need to be able to play in more than one position these days."

He’s right and prior to defeats against PSV and Celtic, Beale had utilised Cantwell effectively in different games dependent on their state. Given the requirement to break down defences domestically playing Cantwell in the midfield three to join the attack makes sense and facilitates the inclusion of an extra attacking profile a line ahead. On Sunday, however, the midfielder appeared to be situated too deep with Ryan Jack often higher on the opposite side at the start of the second half. What’s more, when Rangers have looked at their best under Beale recently, Cantwell’s been at the centre of the attack.

There are legitimate questions as to whether Danilo, Dessers and Lammers will work over time. Do their profiles have the complimentary features required to suit a variety of matches? Certainly, if those three are to become the whole, or a large part, of Rangers’ attacking trident the dynamics provided on either side and behind them are crucial.

Beyond the specifics and the details, in a month that was supposed to herald the dawn of a new era, supporters have been left in a play-style identity crisis.

This Rangers team need to build their image fast after a month in August that hurt league prospects and saw them lose the chance to lay down a marker against Celtic. It’s time for Beale to show his plan before it’s too late and that can only achieved through consistent selection, regardless of the opponent or style of game faced.

Rangers have options up top, but only by putting confidence in a specific trio will the benefits of that trust start to show. Only by committing to an attacking balance can one be found.