“I CAN see some things I want to change, what we have to be better at. My first meeting with the players will be tomorrow, it’s better to tell them first."
Speaking with steely determination in the Blue Room on Monday, newly unveiled Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst reflected on the previous day’s ill-fated trip to Hampden.
A 3-1 defeat to Hibs showed a team in need of fresh vision and new ideas. Picked apart in three swift attacks by Jack Ross’ side, the systemic issues that have proven to be a shadow all season shone in a calamitous opening 38 minutes.
Change was a pre-requisite before Steven Gerrard packed his bags for Aston Villa. The tactical blueprint which has proved the foundation for such success has gradually become more exploitable. Teams now so familiar with the movements they’ll face and corridors of uncertainty they can target.
With just two days to prepare for tomorrow’s Europa League tie against Sparta Prague – how much and what can Van Bronckhorst feasibly alter?
“Normally you have a couple of weeks to train with the boys and train your philosophy – your way of playing,” he told The Rangers Review at his first press conference.
“So, in that way, it has to be a little bit different. But I’m sure we can help them before Thursday in getting some information across and some details to get a good result.“
One such detail will unquestionably address the team’s width, or lack thereof, which played directly into the hands of Hibs at the national stadium.
Reliant on either full-back to provide such outlets, familiar problems of a lack of pace in wide areas and inability to play through the pitch were noticeable.
James Tavernier here reacts to a second ball. However, without any other options from the right, the entire team is condensed into one half of the pitch.
He provides a decent cross here but is severely limited because of his on-ball options. A passing lane is needed outside of Tavernier to stretch the otherwise tight defence.
This situation repeated itself regularly. With Joe Aribo either not instructed or failing to overlap and provide width.
When options were ahead of the right-back, the approach play was far more uncomfortable for the opposing defence. Here, Aribo gives him a route outside of the congested centre.
Because Josh Doig has had to engage Tavernier, and Hibs are set up with the expectation that Aribo will largely occupy the half-spaces, Hanlon rushes out and forces a tackle that leads to a free-kick.
The avenue beyond the Hibs defence would surely have been found in quick switches, a ploy Rangers have been vulnerable to themselves. Look at both Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun pointing to the spare man here – Borna Barisic. Play instead remained on the right side.
The Edinburgh side were drilled to allow either full-back space, comfortable defending crosses with three centre-backs and trusting that neither Tavernier nor Barisic would beat Doig and Chris Cadden in one-on-one battles.
As per above, Cadden and Doig tucked in to restrict balls down the side of both their wide centre-backs. Only jumping out to engage Barisic and Tavernier when they received possession.
See earlier in the game, Doig applies pressure on Tavernier once Goldson releases the ball. He isn't trying to prevent this pass, but the following decision from Tavernier.
Doig retreats once the ball is returned to Goldson. Content that play has not progressed. The same pattern was visible on the left.
Here Allan McGregor picks out Barisic, triggering the movement of Cadden.
As above, Boyle’s run shows the ball backwards and Cadden this time is more aggressive than Doig – helped by Barisic’s body shape and first touch. The Croatian left-back must loft the ball away.
Either wing-back performed this function only when a pass was made wide to prevent the Hibs defence from being left man-for-man with space on the outside.
It forced Rangers to rush distribution and limited their options. Barisic and Tavernier often look to play into the near-side half-space after receiving from the centre of defence - which as explained was congested with the far-side wing-back tucking in.
See below the distance between the ball-side and far-side wing-backs.
Like their counterparts, Barisic and Tavernier were unwilling to leave their centre-backs man-for-man. This explains why both didn't sit as high as they normally would in possession.
A final area of note is broadly the concession of three chances. Vulnerability from both set-pieces and diagonal runs when both central defenders are occupied has been previously covered. As have throw-ins – which was the origin point of Hibs' second goal.
READ MORE: What Rangers must learn from Liverpool throw-in coach to stop wasteful 'worst advice' strategy
Josh Campbell pulls Steven Davis away from his position in front of Balogun and Goldson. His touch takes the ball into the path of Joe Newell, who can find the feet of Kevin Nisbet.
Nisbet and Boyle are now two vs two, so Tavernier has to come across. Nisbet turns Balogun with ease and in stepping up to engage, Goldson opens the avenue for Boyle to be found.
The line is disjointed because Tavernier has had to sprint across and cover.
Showing more set-play areas in which Rangers must be sharper - but also underlying the value of synchronized moves from throw-ins in such positions. A chance, as Ross' men displayed, to make marginal gains from a break in play.
Van Bronckhorst's comments around the implementation of new ideas is important. In his words, the process has to be "a little bit different" due to time constraints.
He will hope the foundations which looked so weak on Sunday are firmer for the visit of Sparta. Aided by the small details he has identified.
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