Since Giovanni van Bronckhorst took charge at Ibrox 11 months ago, he has lacked a consistent option on the right wing.
This season alone Malik Tillman, Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence, Scott Arfield, Scott Wright and now Fashion Sakala have played ahead of right-back James Tavernier. Making his first league start of the season in yesterday’s 4-0 win against St Mirren, Sakala showed he may well have been the answer all along.
As the Rangers Review wrote during the international break, Rangers' best domestic spell under van Bronckhorst and their most fluid showings against a low block have featured wingers stretching the opposition defence and providing dynamic solutions on either flank. In this article last December, van Bronckhorst was quoted to have said playing with two wide men was the “biggest change he made” during the early weeks spent in the job.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “Normally we have some different approaches to play against a team who is very deep with five defenders. Today I decided to play with two natural wingers with one-against-one possibilities and speed.”
It’s no coincidence that a return to two touchline-hugging wingers was the foundation for a stronger performance against St Mirren. It was night and day compared to the last Ibrox league outing against Dundee United when Rangers laboured to a 2-1 victory.
Sakala was glued to the right touchline yesterday which facilitated Tavernier’s increased involvement in the centre, given he didn’t always need to hold the width on the right-hand side.
“It was a bit different but still, he can play to his strengths there,” van Bronckhorst said on the full-back's role.
It's a tactic Rangers used last year and could prove fruitful going forward. After all, given the creative numbers that Tavernier racks up from out wide, consider the impact he could have using those attributes closer to goal.
The shape shown in the below pass network is very similar to van Bronckhorst’s early teams with two No.8s occupying the half-spaces, full-backs arriving rather than occupying space in the final third and two wide wingers stretching play.
Remember, the below graphic gives players an average position based on where they distribute the ball from. It shows a team's shape when in possession.
With a winger on either side of the pitch, Rangers were able to constantly stretch the visiting defence and pin their wing-backs deep. In the below sequence as John Lundstram switches the ball wide to Rabbi Matondo, Sakala can be seen on the right-hand side touchline. This was a constant feature.
Playing against a compact side with five defenders, the hosts had to create space before they created chances in the final third. Using a one-v-one threat like Sakala, capable of beating opponents and breaking the block, and stretching the pitch went some way to helping them achieve this.
Here’s a good example. From his narrow position, Tavernier finds Sakala wide on the right after receiving a switch of play from the left. Opposing left-wing back Scott Tanser has to mark up tight, otherwise, Sakala can turn and drive at the defence unopposed.
However, this means the St Mirren backline is now disorganised. The “very deep five defenders” referenced by van Bronckhorst post-match have been moved.
Ryan Jack and Antonio Colak occupy the two nearest centre-backs to make sure they can’t cover the space Tanser has vacated. By switching play, stretching the pitch and isolating Sakala, Rangers have created space to attack.
Now, the attacker can use his one-v-one ability to go beyond two defenders and fashion an opportunity.
Sakala can reach top speed quicker than most players. If isolated against an opponent with space behind or inside, he’ll win the foot race nine times out of 10. Even when an opponent gets tight like the above example, there's no guarantee they can stop him.
The assist for Colak’s goal is similar to the above scenario. Before analysing the execution, it’s important to consider the position in which Sakala receives the ball.
This is further evidence of why dynamic players, capable of beating opponents, are so vital when breaking down a defence. And gives some explanation as to why Rangers’ tempo in home league games has often left supporters frustrated.
If this is Arfield, Lawrence or Tillman, all attacking midfielders who’ve played off the right rather than glued to the touchline this season, they can’t launch quickly into space like Sakala, who takes a positive first touch…
...Injecting pace into the attack before creating a third goal with Tanser and Mark O’Hara taken out of the game completely.
In a matter of seconds, he has taken his team from the touchline…
...To a dangerous central location where the attacker can play in Colak.
At points this season, Ryan Kent has been the only player in the Rangers team capable of going past his man at pace. ‘One-v-one’ is something van Bronckhorst has referenced regularly during his time at the club for a reason. Especially when playing against a low block, it commits defenders and creates space for others.
Even when Sakala wasn’t able to reach the byline or create an attack himself yesterday, the attention he attracted opened up space elsewhere.
In this example, he can change the picture of an attack completely by taking on his man, disrupting the defence and laying the ball back into the path of Tavernier. In the first frame, St Mirren are in a good shape with no opposition players in their box.
After Sakala beats his man and attracts another, he’s pushed back the defensive line, allowed his team to load the box and created a far more valuable crossing location for Tavernier who has four players to target.
Rather than just passing the ball around the defence, a player like Sakala can commit opponents when he receives the ball on the touchline.
Tavernier also tried three shots from the edge of the box that went close. Because the two teams were matched up with three midfielders each, he was often untracked when arriving in the middle from right-back. St Mirren’s midfield three are highlighted in the below scenario.
That pocket of space he infiltrated was created in part by Sakala’s wide position, pinning the opposition wing-back.
Sakala completed 38 of 41 carries throughout the game, a 92.7 percent dribble success rate.
He offered his side a dynamic outlet on the right by committing markers, creating space and stretching the play. And as demonstrated by those above carry numbers, he was making consistently good decisions on the ball.
This won't always be the case, there's obviously a reason that the manager has taken this long to hand Sakala a league start. He can be unpredictable and less polished than other options but in turn, he is often more effective in domestic games and provides a more substantial goal threat than competing teammates.
After the game, the 25-year-old spoke of Tavernier’s support off the pitch during a difficult spell out of the team.
"He has been there for me, even when I've had difficult moments,” Sakala said. “Having conversations outside of training. When I was given the chance today he had a chat with me, telling me about my qualities and what I can bring the team."
It may have taken van Bronckhorst until October for those qualities to be used. But having searched for a right-wing solution all season, Sakala's showing against St Mirren has been the most convincing yet.
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