Rangers' midfield evolution: Supplementing full-backs, 'box' build-up, and free 8s

From the Third Division to the Europa League final, there are Hollywood directors less skilled at coming up with more enchanting fairytales.

Beyond the results, however, Rangers have undergone a considerable tactical evolution on the pitch in their quest to return to the summit, with Steven Gerrard, one of the finest midfielders of his generation, placing specific importance on the role of the midfield.

Implementing a structured midfield was top of the 42-year-old's priorities upon his appointment in the summer of 2018, with Lassana Coulibaly, Ovie Ejaria and Scott Arfield becoming the new management’s team first batch of arrivals. The former was predominantly used as a powerful ball-carrier, while the latter pair were tasked with unlocking defences in the final third.

Gerrard’s initial midfield vision involved a sitter with two higher No.8s, with Rangers enjoying some early success playing Andy Halliday as the deepest midfielder.

However, it was unsustainable given the ball-playing limitations of the defence. Instead, Rangers became preoccupied with overloading the flanks – specifically the right involving James Tavernier and Daniel Candeias – with one of the deeper midfielders supplementing Tavernier when he motored forward.

Over the winter months, meanwhile, there was a gradual shift towards a double pivot in midfield, with the most advanced midfielder used to help overload the right flank. Ross McCrorie, for instance, performed commendably in a ‘destroyer’ role in the 1-0 win over Celtic in December 2018.

January saw the arrivals of both Steven Davis and Glen Kamara, injecting further quality into the midfield ranks. Structurally, however, Rangers continued to encounter the same problems.

In the 1-1 draw with Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock at Ibrox in March 2019, the Gers registered 642 passes, which was just under 200 more passes than their season average. The midfield three were often on the same line, with Rangers lacking sufficient penetration of Killie’s defensive line from deep.

With wide wingers and a flat midfield trio, Gerrard’s set-up often lacked a presence between the lines.

Hence Arfield’s prominent role throughout the campaign. The former Burnley midfielder struggled for a consistent run in the side due to injury, missing both the 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox and the 1-1 draw at Dens Park days later in December - both of which were among Rangers’ least creative performances that season.

However, Gerrard's men were undoubtedly a more dangerous attacking outfit with the Canadian international in the side. Arfield provided a between-the-lines presence, capable of combining efficiently with teammates in tight spaces infront of the opposition’s defence.

Just as important was Arfield's runs beyond the opposition’s defensive line, penetrating the penalty box as he did in the example below during a 7-1 rout of Motherwell. The midfielder ended the campaign with ten goals and seven assists.

The summer of 2019 welcomed the addition of Joe Aribo after he departed Charlton Athletic. The Nigerian was viewed as a hybrid threat, capable of carrying the ball from deep while also providing a cutting edge in the final third.

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Domestically, Aribo provided Gerrard with a consistent threat in the left half-space, allowing greater symmetry across the midfield. As a result, Rangers became less lateral in their penetration against deep defensive blocks.

The Nigerian’s ability to advance in the left half-space also allowed him to supply Alfredo Morelos, such as below.

Gerrard became more affirmative in his use of a double pivot in his second season at Ibrox. Ryan Jack enjoyed the best spell of his Rangers career in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign, with Kamara also underlining his worth in his second season in Glasgow.

The Finland international was comfortable adapting his role to the strength of the opposition, operating in a slightly more advanced role on the inside left given his ability to evade pressure, while he could also slide in and form a double pivot when required.

Gerrard’s men took the next step in the Europa League by qualifying for the knockout stages that season, underpinned by the midfield trio of Davis, Kamara and Jack. The 2-1 win at Celtic Park in December – Rangers’ first win in the east end of the city since 2010 – was similarly supercharged the role of the midfield.

With Davis and Kamara comfortably patrolling the central spaces, Rangers were able to stretch the pitch horizontally. Jack supported Tavernier on the right-hand side, while Ryan Kent’s opener from Borna Barisic’s pull-back highlighted the Gers’ capacity to move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.

Key to the title-winning campaign of 2020/21 was the defensive backbone of the side, with Rangers controlling games to a greater extent with longer spells of possession.

Davis enjoyed perhaps his finest campaign in midfield across his two spells as a Rangers player, with his consistent displays helping him scoop the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year Award. The Northern Irishman would often operate as a single pivot against some of the league’s lesser lights, but he was part of a ‘box midfield’ that helped Gerrard achieve the control he craved in the centre of the pitch.

READ MORE: How Calvin Bassey's central defensive role helps Rangers realise Pep Guardiola mantra

Rangers would often build in a 2-3 structure, with Aribo having a free role to either stretch the opposition vertically or drop onto the midfield line depending on the circumstances. This allowed Gerrard’s side to attack with a front five, as highlighted in the example below (with Morelos dropping off the forward line as opposed to the Nigerian).

The freedom Aribo was afforded was one of the key facets of Rangers going forward that season, with the Nigerian allowing Kent to play closer to the central striker. The former Liverpool man enjoyed his most prolific goalscoring season in Glasgow with 13 goals.

However, the biggest departure from the previous norms arrived when van Bronckhorst succeeded Gerrard in November last year. Immediately, the Dutchman decreased the responsibility of the midfielders to progress the ball, placing more emphasis in that department on the central defenders. The thickness of the circles representing the centre-backs in the 2-0 win over St. Mirren on Boxing Day highlight the shift.

After some initial success with one sitting midfielder and two free No.8s, van Bronckhorst then bolstered his midfield following the 3-0 thrashing at Celtic Park in February, bringing John Lundstram back into the side alongside one of Jack or Kamara. Successive victories over Hearts and Hibernian at Ibrox without conceding vindicated the Dutchman’s decision.

In Europe, meanwhile, van Bronckhorst simplified Rangers’ approach in possession compared to Gerrard. The former Gers boss would still look to build with shorter passes against superior – or equal – European opposition, whereas his successor enjoyed success bypassing the midfield.

The crushing Europa League final defeat in Seville against Eintracht Frankfurt displayed the rougher edges of van Bronckhorst’s direct approach. In fear of turning the ball over in midfield, Rangers were keen to vacate the centre of the pitch. The result was a formation that resembled a 5-1-4 as Rangers struggled to gain control.

In domestic fixtures, Rangers have displayed a vulnerability in possession under van Bronckhorst in the midfield department. However, the return of Davis from injury in April certainly provided the team with greater ownership of the ball.

Both the Northern Irishman and Arfield penned one-year contract extensions earlier this summer, with each having played a significant role in the evolution of the midfield department over recent seasons.

Gerrard established a successful European blueprint in midfield very early into his reign at Ibrox, but it certainly took some time for him to fine-tune his set-up for the nuances of the domestic environment in Scotland.

Van Bronckhorst has inherited a higher calibre of player than Gerrard did in 2018, but the Dutchman’s use of Kamara, for example, shows how he’s keen to extract lesser-spotted qualities from his midfielders.

Next season proves to be interesting in the evolution of the Rangers midfield.