Fashion Sakala finding Rangers wavelength as pace injection set to give Ibrox men a new dimension

He was heavily involved in the 1-1 draw with Motherwell last weekend, scoring the goal, getting plenty of touches and shooting opportunities, and threatening with his movement off the ball. Steven Gerrard praised the striker’s performance after the match. “He looked ready, he looked lively,” Gerrard told Rangers TV. “He pulled off a great goal and looked dangerous throughout.”

Sakala had already impressed Gerrard, and Rangers supporters, with his positive attitude. That positivity is seen on the pitch in the way that he plays. He always wanted to attack Motherwell. Sometimes that led him into dead-ends, but mostly it caused problems to the opponent.

Adjusting to a new style 

At Oostende in Belgium, Sakala played in a two-man strike partnership, often alongside a target man. Both of his usual partners, Makhtar Gueye and Marko Kvasina, were 6ft 4in tall and acted as focal points for long balls. Sakala would run onto their flick-ons, and enjoyed a more fluid role. He’d move across the full width of the field, looking to get on the ball and test the opposition’s back line.

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There is more complexity in Rangers’ attacking system. There is a mixture of direct and short build-up play. Sometimes they play through the lines, sometimes they go wide and cross, sometimes they go over the top. The good news is that Sakala already looks like he’s getting onto the same wavelength as his teammates.

In the 20th minute against Motherwell, he reacted brilliantly to a loss of possession, sprinting back and tackling to regain the ball for Rangers. This combination of attitude and speed is what makes him a perfect fit in this specific aspect of the team’s play – pressing to stop counter-attacks at source.

He immediately went on the attack, playing a one-two with James Tavernier before accelerating away from Bevis Mugabi to work a shot on his left foot. The goalkeeper saved, but only just.

Sakala continued to combine well with his teammates, linking attacks and helping Rangers to retain and progress the ball. He played some particularly nice one-touch lay-offs to get Kemar Roofe on the ball, and laid back brilliantly to Steven Davis with his chest just past the half-hour mark.

While he is adapting well to Rangers’ system and the expectation that he rotate and combine with the other forwards within Gerrard’s narrow front three, Sakala is still getting used to the level of pressure faced in Scotland.

There were a couple of times where he tried to be positive, taking the ball on the turn without awareness of an opponent breathing down his neck. He ran into trouble, giving the ball away in the process.

An injection of speed and directness

Sakala has a constant desire to turn and face goal, to play forward and attack the defence. This attitude, combined with his speed, made him a consistent thorn in Motherwell’s side. One of the first things he did in the match was try to dribble at his opponent. He beat one man, then lost the ball.

Quick, dribbling isn’t necessarily his strong point. He can work shots for himself in the box, but he isn’t going to slalom past three or four defenders. His close control was inconsistent at Oostende and remains so now. Perhaps he will develop in this aspect at Rangers, but it’s likely that his main threat will continue to be off the ball, rather than on it.

Sakala loves to play on the shoulder of the last man. On 11 minutes he got in behind Motherwell’s defence, running on the back shoulder of the defender and latching onto a through ball. He took one touch to control, then shot, forcing a save and a corner kick.

It’s evident that Sakala is more adept at getting into positions to finish moves, rather than being the player to instigate those moves. Against an opponent, like Motherwell, who leaves space behind their defence, this quality will come to the fore.

When in position, he needs no second invitation to shoot. On right foot or left, Sakala doesn’t waste time to test goalkeepers. Some of his finishes can be wild, but then the same could be said of Alfredo Morelos.

Sakala offers something different

Sakala may not offer the same bulldozing strength that Morelos offers, and he doesn’t have the assured first touch of Roofe. His passing is also limited in comparison to his rival No.9s. However, what he offers that neither Morelos nor Roofe do is pace. Whether it’s on the counter-attack, or running in behind to finish well-worked sequences, he gives Gerrard a different option up front.

Rangers have been accused of being too slow and careful in possession. There is a danger, at times, that they try to control too much, filling the team with technicians and creators, patient players who take their time on the ball.

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In recent weeks it has felt as if an injection of pace and directness is necessary. Scott Wright can assist in this sense as one of the two inside forwards, but at striker, Sakala ticks these boxes more than either Morelos or Roofe. Going for goal as quickly as possible, whether it’s through his runs or his shots, his style lends itself to a higher tempo.

Technically raw in comparison to his teammates, it may take time for supporters to get used to Sakala’s style. There will be inaccurate passes that halt moves prematurely, and sub-par first touches that invite tackles and turnovers. But there will also be an urgency and a speed that adds a purpose to all the possession.