Rangers: Why does Steven Gerrard want to introduce a new system?

Firstly, he admitted his intention to try and include James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson in the same starting 11.

READ MORE: How will Rangers fit James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson in the starting XI?

Not by squeezing his captain into an unfamiliar position, but by playing him in a role that allows him to occupy areas where “he is used to being”.

Additionally, he openly told RangersTV that he and his coaching staff plan on developing and introducing a new tactical system for his disposal throughout this coming campaign.

“I have to have the variety because some teams and some managers will try and stop this system. They’ve seen it for some years now,” he explained.

“Within games, I might have to tweak something or change something. Just to keep people thinking and opposition managers and have the variety to try and adapt within the game.

“That’s where the players have got to be quite clever and listen to the information that we give them.”

First, let’s look back at the tactical evolution Gerrard has overseen to this point.

The 41-year-old has developed a tactical identity from the first day of his tenure. The season before his arrival featured such a lack of basic fundamentals and as such, a well-organised attack-minded team was a welcome novelty.

The first aim in his new era was to secure European qualification – which proved a real financial milestone. But with qualifiers starting in early July, priority had to be given to implementing a system that would prove successful in European competition. It took time and a tweak to the position of the inside forwards for Rangers' 4-3-3 to garner real success domestically. But right from the start, it blossomed in Europe.

Throughout the three-year stint following that summer, we have seen numerous tweaks and changes to the original blueprint which was laid down in 2018.

The role of the full-backs changed when Borna Barisic came good, Steven Davis’ deployment as the No.6 improved distribution from the back and through the pitch. Playing a more narrow front three helped solve the conundrum of facing a low block and Kemar Roofe’s arrival allowed the inclusion of two outright finishers in any given starting 11.

In more recent times, playing a 4-3-1-2 has occupied both opposing centre-backs, allowed Roofe and Alfredo Morelos to pick up central positions in a partnership and Ryan Kent the opportunity to play as a No.10.

On the continent, the narrow 4-3-3 formation we saw in the summer of 2018 has remained relatively similar, although all the player introductions mentioned above have improved it.

It is designed to be effective in transition, surrender some control in wide areas of the park at the benefit of protecting the centre.

There are numerous advantages to this system. The two number 10s can create numerical overloads in the half-spaces and protection from three central midfielders gives either full-back the ability to drive forward. Furthermore, the mid-block the light blues play in means they can shuttle their wide midfielders across to cover opposing full-backs, which leaves forwards in advantageous counterattacking areas.

Morelos’ equalising goal against Porto was a near-perfect image of the attacking principles referenced above. With Kent dropping into the half-space and Kamara rotating with Barisic who bombed forward as his team transitioned quickly through the pitch.

⚽️ GOAL OF THE DAY: Alfredo Morelos v FC Porto pic.twitter.com/QQ5jcaeXrq

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 25, 2020

Additionally, turnovers can often be achieved by trying to manipulate the opposition wide. This is because when a player in the full-back position receives the ball, he only has three directions to play in as opposed to four, with the touchline acting as a makeshift block.

Scott Arfield’s winning goal against Standard Liege in a 3-2 home win last season was a great example of this. With his team counterpressing to win the ball back efficiently knowing the opposition’s passing options were limited in this area, compared to the middle of the pitch.

There have been occasions when this system has been used against them, however. Slavia Prague for example really hurt Rangers in the wide areas. Knowing that their opponents were reliant on central midfielders to provide defensive support on the flanks, they switched play often to outnumber Rangers out wide.

Similarly, it took a switch to a diamond midfield against Braga in 2020 to gain a foothold. The opening 60 minutes of an eventual 3-2 win at Ibrox was in truth a procession from the Portuguese team.

Domestic football is a different challenge because of the space they have to play in.

Towards the end of last season, at home Rangers' shape was often more emulative of a 4-2-4, with Joe Aribo or Ianis Hagi playing ahead of Davis and Kamara.

Particularly at home, the challenge is nine times out of ten to break down a deep and compact defence. There was a time when that prospect was a struggle. But they have become a team that is comfortable in a variety of game states.

For the near-faultless 20/21 campaign, two matches stand out domestically as let-downs that point towards the need for what Gerrard called “variety” in-game.

Against St Mirren in the League Cup, the Buddies were able to stifle their opponents down the right and pressed intelligently to impact distribution. Rangers did eventually manage to counter this by introducing Davis into a double-pivot, but St Mirren’s momentum carried them home.

READ MORE: What went wrong in Rangers' 20/21 League Cup exit?

Against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, Rangers couldn’t find a way past the towering opposition backline. It was perhaps a match that in hindsight may have suited the later introduced 4-3-1-2.

READ MORE: What went wrong in Rangers' Scottish Cup exit?

All the mentioned adaptations have been evolutions within a system. Gerrard’s comments seem to suggest that for evolution to continue, variety must be achieved through a new system altogether.

He now sees the need to introduce an entirely new formation. So that his successful tactical blueprint can remain unpredictable and he can ensure opposition managers don’t predict his game plan. Notice how he mentioned the new system would be to adapt "within games”. This isn’t him ripping up a proven plan, but protecting it by enabling other options.

It’s something Michael Beale hinted at towards the end of last season. He said: "We are evolving and adapting. The good news for us is that the Rangers you see today is only just the start. Winning the league was just the start. It wasn't the endpoint it was just the start of us going on a dominant run.”

In an age where every team is analysed to the tenth degree, managers want options. The top teams in the world, who play the most effective systems, are no different.

When Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who typically play with a very functional and workmanlike midfield, signed one of the best creative midfielders in the world in Thiago after they won the Premier League, it was because he provided them with something different. Which in turn, gives the opposition a different threat to consider.

Klopp said at the time: "It's difficult, and we said that last year like we said it this year, to improve a team like us at the moment in a normal way.

"In this specific case, he is a [Liverpool] player because he brings in a different dimension in our game, that is true.”

Rangers were absolutely exceptional last season, but as Gerrard conceded in the quotes at the top of the piece managers will be wiser to a system after playing it six times than on their second meeting.

He wants to add his own "different dimension" to improve this team.

And although the tweaks aforementioned support the side in their attempt to break teams down, a different system means that opposition sides have to prepare for a different type of threat altogether.

Think of it this way. A team may have some success blocking the Govan men in the middle of the pitch, say in the way St Johnstone did in the Scottish Cup. But if Rangers then change to a three at the back and play with an overlapping centre-back, in the form of Tavernier, the opposition has an entirely different game plan to contend with. A different dimension to face.

READ MORE: The three at the back Rangers system that could fit James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson

Similarly in Europe, the side's role has changed. In their first two seasons, you could have argued the case that they were considered the weakest team in their group to the outside world. Last season that was different.

True, if Rangers do manage to qualify for the Champions League they will with it be tasked with facing a higher level of opposition. But this side enters the competition with a reputation they did not have in 2018. Teams will be wary of their threat and as such Gerrard wants to be equipped with the option of a different formation.

As Beale said, last season was just the start. Now on top, the Ibrox side can evolve and adapt to remain there.