SIGNING in the summer of 2020, Kemar Roofe appeared to be the missing piece Rangers needed in domestic football.
Introducing another finisher into the front three alongside Alfredo Morelos was highly valuable en-route to a 55th league title. Steven Gerrard used the former Leeds player most regularly as a narrow inside forward, possible due to his work off the ball. This increased the side's goal threat in possession and allowed them to retain a strong foundation when defending.
Roofe's 14 league goals, league-high xG per 90 and contributions in Europe vindicated the signing of a player who has always suffered from injuries.
The 29-year-olds xG per 90 this season has only dropped by 0.03 to 0.54. His goals per game output has again only marginally decreased from 0.78 to 0.77. He has 10 goals in all competitions and six in the Scottish Premiership - an impressive return given his availability.
He is very much a penalty-box forward, doing his best work close to the opposition goal. Despite rarely starting as a centre-forward his shot map resembles the activity of one, with only six of 52 shots last season coming outside the 18-year box.
That’s why the attacker's defensive involvement outside of the box, as highlighted below, was so valuable to Gerrard. He could block passing lanes and help his teammates retain a compact shape out of possession while acting as a second No.9 around the penalty box.
According to StatsBomb, only 5.6 of the 90-minutes he played were as a centre-forward. His game time in the league predominantly came as the right-sided No.10.
The Jamaican has been unavailable for the majority of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s spell at the club to date, starting just once away in Lyon and coming off the bench at Easter Road to earn a 1-0 win over Hibs.
Not dissimilarly to Ianis Hagi, Roofe is perhaps an example of a player that on the surface appears better suited to the previous regime's system.
Van Bronckhorst has continually reaffirmed his desire to play with wingers who stretch the pitch. He recently told Dutch show Rondo that his biggest tactical change since arriving in Scotland was to start playing with “out and out wingers”.
That is not Roofe. The No.10s under Gerrard played very differently from the traditional wingers used by van Bronckhorst. They weren't tasked with carrying the ball over long distances or providing width, as the likes of Scott Wright and Ryan Kent are now instructed.
Take Roofe’s carries that ended in the final third from last season as proof. Notice the distinct lack of activity on either wing.
Although set-ups have varied, broadly speaking you could categorise van Bronckhorst’s 4-3-3 to be more traditional than Gerrard’s. The two wingers do most of their good work outside of the box, maximising one-v-one battles and stretching the pitch. Considering the location of Roofe’s previously highlighted shot map, this isn’t a role he will fulfil under the new regime. Playing at No.10 also seems unlikely, given both Joe Aribo and Scott Arfield have been required to adapt in-game and occasionally defend deep positions.
Which leaves the centre-forward role, occupied by a resurgent Alfredo Morelos.
The flexibility displayed by the new management team doesn't rule out tactical alternatives, but Roofe and Morelos don't look at their best when both playing centrally.
Is then rotation the most likely outcome, with 50+ games in a season and Morelos not able to start them all? After all, Roofe's availability record makes it difficult to argue he would spend too much time out of the side if in a direct battle for this spot in the team.
Roofe's quality is inarguable and his impact last season keenly felt, he guarantees goals and earns chances. His task over the next few months will be to perform to a level that earns a starting spot.
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