Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad update during his pre-Aberdeen press conference revealed the Dutchman is lighter than he was before the winter break across the pitch.
Neither Kemar Roofe nor Ryan Jack have made the trip north, while the game comes too soon for Filip Helander. Most concerningly Steven Davis and Scott Arfield are both unavailable which, alongside Joe Aribo’s AFCON attendance, leaves the midfield undercooked and requiring recalibration.
Aribo and Arfield have started in victories at Tynecastle and the Toni Macaroni stadium, dovetailing one another’s third-man runs beyond the opposition defensive line and supporting Glen Kamara when necessary. Davis played alongside the Finnish midfielder during a recent 1-0 win at Easter Road and was also the chosen second No.6 in van Bronckhorst’s debut win over Sparta Prague.
Knowing none will feature, it suggests van Bronckhorst may tinker to exclude two No.8s from his formation and instead deploy a more offensively responsible No.10 ahead of two holding midfielders. Despite the obvious clamours for Ianis Hagi to step into that role, Ryan Kent could well be favoured this evening as the man to mirror Aribo’s impact.
Hagi’s preference to play centrally in comparison to Kent’s comfort high and wide is a valid counterargument, particularly as the Romanian only recently detailed why starting centrally allows him to play his best football.
“Being on the ball more and creating for the team, with more runners in front of me. I think that is when I’m at my best,” he commented.
That description does not depict the role Aribo has played recently, from the No.10 position he has more often than not acted as a runner instead of a distributor. With further consideration given to van Bronckhorst’s previous game plans away from Ibrox, Kent’s inclusion as the No.10 is admissible.
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Against Livingston and Hearts, the central runs made by Aribo and Arfield took advantage of either opponent’s high line. Each player scored with direct, arrowed runs into space that neutralised their opponent's attempts to limit the space Rangers played within.
The reintroduction of byline occupying wingers opens these gaps with such frequency due to the danger of leaving one of Kent, Scott Wright or Fashion Sakala in wide areas unmarked. Alfredo Morelos’ second in the capital and Aribo’s swooping strike against David Martindale’s side were a direct result of this aggressive width which opened up central pockets.
The argument for Kent’s central inclusion this evening is borne not only out of his previous propensity to operate in central spaces, alongside his comfort in taking the ball with a man at his back, but the threat he can pose with similar runs to above.
The Englishman has excelled out wide in the past number of games by maximising his one-v-one duels and attacking from outside to in, often benefitting from the unpopulated areas he receives possession within which allows the attacker to build momentum upon approaching his opponent.
Comparison of his carry map ending in the final third under Steven Gerrard in the Scottish Premiership this season (top) and van Bronckhorst (bottom) stipulates the role change.
It’s been a welcome change from the regular early-season sightings of Kent picking up possession in areas of the pitch where the opposition were comfortable and well-protected. Playing as one of Gerrard’s two No.10s afforded Kent freedom and positional autonomy on a good day, but restricted his best assets when the centre of the park was congested and Rangers’ tempo below-par.
Within Gerrard’s system, it was Kent that was designated with making cutting, vertical runs in behind the opposition defence. Connor Goldson’s diagonals were used more regularly as a switch of play to Borna Barisic, the vice-captain’s increasing responsibility in build-up since the change of manager has seen his distribution over the top unleashed more regularly.
Kent was at times the recipient of these ‘long through balls’ played by Goldson last season and more regularly got on the end of passes behind the defence from the right side of the pitch.
Here on the opening day of 2020/21, Kent moves infield and times his run perfectly off the last man to accelerate away and score.
Against Livingston towards the end of the same campaign, the attacker recognises a central space has opened and runs beyond onto James Tavernier’s through ball before scoring.
Kent also played superbly, in a game that was very transitional and afforded ample space to attack, at No.10 against Celtic last season.
The fixture displayed his ability to isolate opponents infield, turn and drive at the defence and attack space behind the opposing midfield.
The match tonight is likely to be less transitional - however this match demonstrates Kent's ability from the No.10 position.
The 25-year-old's past experience occupying central zones would translate naturally to playing infield under van Bronckhorst. This isn’t moving a winger inside that has never received the ball on the half-turn! The attributes he possesses alongside some simplified, arrowed runs in behind the Aberdeen defence would retain the threats that the Dutchman has relied upon in previous fixtures - with Wright and Sakala playing from either side.
Wright made a notable impact in the two games immediately preceding the international break while Sakala, although not as technical as Kent, has shown against Motherwell how effective he can be playing from the left-wing. Furthermore, he carried out defensive responsibility at Tynecastle and when isolated one-v-one against Dundee created time after time in a 3-0 victory.
Supported by a midfield pairing most likely to consist of John Lundstram and Kamara, this starting XI would allow the visiting side to retain the punchy, wide-berthed attacks that force the opposition to defend every acre of the pitch with equalling intensity.
Kent is at his best wide, but his inclusion as the team's No.10 tonight could be the answer to Aribo's absence.
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