Ryan Kent's surprising Rangers numbers point to imminent creative increase

Exciting, entertaining and unpredictable for better and for worse. Kent had a number of moments throughout and made a big impact on the game’s final outcome, while also failing to register a goal or assist.

On another day he could have ended the game with both, Joe Aribo clipping the crossbar from his mazy dribble and cross before a second-half one-v-one chance was hit straight at the visiting keeper. Too often in his Rangers career, the attacker hasn’t quite been incisive enough, and this is what has held him back from becoming the division’s top player.

Aside from last season, when the ex-Liverpool attacker returned 13 goals and 11 assists, numbers have always been used as a stick to beat him with.

While Kent’s goals and assists haven’t shot up since the managerial change, underlying numbers and recent performances suggest a change in fortune may be forthcoming.

An improvement under van Bronckhorst 

Across the board, Kent’s numbers have travelled in the right direction under the new management. Comparison of his league outings under Steven Gerrard (top) compared to van Bronckhorst this season (bottom) demonstrates a promising trend.

The increase in open play xG assisted and successful dribbles, in particular, is evidence of greater chance creation and attacking success when one-v-one. Since November 28th, van Bronckhorst's first league game away at Livingston, only Jota has made more successful dribbles (3.81) than Kent (3.59). In terms of xG assisted, only teammate Alfredo Morelos ranks higher in the same time period.

Looking at Kent’s On-Ball Value numbers offers encouragement.

OBV is a metric that measures the value of all actions on the pitch and, unlike xG assisted, is not dependent on a shot to judge the value of an action.

For example, this dribble and cross Kent made against Lyon would not count towards his xG assisted as no one gets on the end of it, however, OBV can measure such actions.

In league appearances from July 31 to November 7, Kent's dribble and carry OBV stood at 0.20 per 90. Since, it has risen to 0.34, the highest in the league over this time period.

Kent has recorded the highest OBV total per 90, which measures all actions on the pitch, of any outfield player in the division in the same timeframe. His OBV per 90 rising from 0.24 to 0.53.

Aside from his xG per 90, everything is starting to look up for the Englishman.

Against Hibs and Hearts, he assisted two goals and earned a penalty. In both those ties, the narrative post-match focused on missed chances as Kent took seven shots but failed to score.

However, all seven shots combined to an xG of 0.73, they weren’t necessarily bad misses or premium chances.

What’s behind the change?

From van Bronckhorst’s first post-match press conference in charge at Rangers, it was clear he wanted to change Kent's role.

“My wingers, I like them to have a free role, but at times they have to keep it in the wider areas to create one-v-ones or overloads," he said.

“When we have the right speed of play we can get the ball to danger zones where we can have Kent on the ball.”

READ MORE: The Rangers blueprint to beat Borussia Dortmund - Joshua Barrie

Having played as one of Gerrard’s two No.10s previously, the sight of Kent attacking full-backs when isolated from wide areas was refreshing. Towards the tail end of the previous management team’s spell at Ibrox, the winger was always receiving the ball in congested areas and rarely finding space to attack.

Kent’s creative numbers have increased because he is simplifying his actions and receiving the ball in areas of the pitch where he can isolate markers, to use his pace and one-v-one skillset.

Take either assist against Hearts, as Kent uses intelligent movement to earn space before playing clinical, well-timed crosses.

Are overlying numbers still to improve?

Throughout the course of the season, It’s important to also add two caveats. The sample size under Gerrard this season was small and Kent looked generally off the pace and in his final outing under Gerrard against Ross County, Kent looked to be returning to form post-injury.

But since returning in November his numbers have travelled upwards and based on his creative numbers recorded recently, a consistent number of assists should follow.