Three simple Rangers tweaks to reignite fires of 55 - Blair Newman

Part of that process will no doubt be identifying those who fit the current ‘model’ and those that don’t. While the old manager is gone, the style he implemented remains intact.

Four points clear at the top of the Premiership, with a League Cup semi-final on the horizon and qualification for the Europa League knockout rounds still possible, there is no need for Rangers to completely flip the script, tactically speaking. However, whoever is appointed may want to bring new ideas to the existing system.

With that in mind, here are three potential tweaks that could be made.

A new defensive shape

For the most part, since finding the system in 2019, Gerrard stuck by the 4-3-3 with a narrow front three. Defensively, the frontline’s compactness made it difficult for opponents to play through midfield, forcing them wide. Rangers could press on sideways passes along the back line or out wide with the touchline acting as an extra defender.

Pressing was one of the first things Gerrard sorted during his time at the club. He brought greater organisation and intensity to the team. However, the narrow 4-3-3 wasn’t without its problems. The system placed significant demands on the midfield three to shift as a unit and cover the ball side, and the full-backs could be exposed at times, particularly by clever European opponents utilising quick switches of play.

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The new manager may not change the basic formation; the 4-3-3 may, on paper, remain intact. But they could opt for a different defensive shape, perhaps reverting to one midfielder supporting the striker while the wingers fall back to help cover the width of the field. This is something Gerrard experimented with in his first season, and it was successful in his first Old Firm win, with Scott Arfield marking Scott Brown out of the game.

Rangers are conceding more goals nowadays. While some of this is down to set pieces, there have also been issues in open play. Re-solidifying this team should be priority No.1, and that may mean a change of defensive shape or simply more game-by-game strategy to nullify specific opponents.

The double-pivot

Before his departure to Aston Villa, Gerrard toyed with a double pivot – two base midfielders. This was something he used more consistently in his first season as Rangers manager, with Ryan Jack, Lassana Coulibaly, Andy Halliday and Ross McCrorie among those to take on the base midfield roles.

Eventually, Steven Davis came in and he became the team's solo pivot, acting as a deep playmaker. But Davis turns 37 in January and is no longer relied upon to play every game. Jack is his most natural replacement, but he is just back from a long-term injury. The only other player to have played base midfield alone is John Lundstram, though his lack of pace and agility is problematic.

Glen Kamara isn’t necessarily a ball-winner, but he’s too good all-round not to play. With young Stephen Kelly also on the fringes of the squad, it’s not as if there is a lack of options in this area. Perhaps the new manager, taking all of this information into account, will re-consider the double pivot, and deploy Kamara-Plus-One at the base of midfield.

The return of 'true' wingers

Rangers have sometimes struggled with the tempo of their play when trying to break down a defensive block. When playing a short passing game against conservative opponents who choose to sit deep and deny space in-between or behind their back line, speed of passing and movement is key to open up gaps.

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With Ryan Kent back in action, Fashion Sakala coming into form, and Scott Wright showing glimpses of his quality, Rangers now boast three fast attackers, all of whom can play on the wing. In order to stretch defences, it may be worth re-introducing true wingers and deploying one or two of the aforementioned trio in wider starting positions.

At the moment, Rangers play a narrow frontline with and without the ball. Of course, there’s room for manoeuvre, but generally, the front three move in central areas to try and out-number the opponent through the middle, confuse man-marking, and/or find space to play through the lines.

Again, using true wingers isn’t something Gerrard was against. Daniel Candeias and Kent were his wingers in 2018/19, and quite often they took up wide positions to get isolated 1-versus-1 – as seen below. From these areas, they could get the ball facing towards goal and drive at their opponent, or make off-the-ball runs in behind un-detected when the ball was on the other side.

Right now, Rangers’ attacking width is provided by the full-backs. But that may change if the new manager wants to mix things up a bit. Kent, Wright and Sakala are among the fastest attackers in Scotland’s top-flight, and the idea of them running towards goal at top speed over and over again is a frightening prospect for full-backs.