Ross Wilson believed Rangers had secured a player who could be the present and the future in Rabbi Matondo this summer.
“At 21-year-old there’s a lot more to come from Rabbi,” he said upon the winger’s arrival. “He will be a strong investment and addition to our group”.
So far the Welsh international, who moved to Schalke in a multi-million-pound deal as a teenager, has shown little of either ever since a pre-season friendly against West Ham, marked by cutting runs and end product.
He fits the description of Wilson’s AGM comments last week: “We definitely feel some of those players [signed this summer] have made a fantastic return for us and others haven’t made a strong enough return yet.”
There’s been a widespread feeling that Matondo’s ill-suited right-wing profile has made it an uphill battle from the start at Ibrox. During his final appearance under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a 1-0 home win against Hearts, Matondo’s lack of contribution was highlighted in a rare moment of public criticism. “Rabbi had a difficult game, his contribution could have been better,” the Dutchman said during his post-match press conference.
Appearances have been fleeting and numbers disappointing, although undoubtedly not helped by the environment that's engulfed the club during recent months. He does have four league assists in just over six 90 minutes but two of those came during the final minutes of already-won matches.
As shown in the below map, which charts passes received by Matondo in the league this season, he’s almost exclusively got on the ball wide by the touchline.
Van Bronckhrost wanted his wingers to stretch the pitch and win one-on-one duels. However, the slow tempo of his team’s approach play in combination with deep defensive blocks faced often allowed the opposition to crowd out Ryan Kent or Matondo in already limited space.
Michael Beale’s reputation as a player developer is no secret and likely a big argument in favour of his appointment. The 42-year-old seems to match relationship with theory, preaching the need to develop people and players.
"People think it’s all about tactics but it’s actually about the relationships you have, and the feeling you have towards the other person in that relationship,” he says.
“The small wins for me at the moment are: ‘Are the players happy, do they know what they’re doing and are they training well?’ If I can’t get those three things right, we’re knackered. We need everyone fit and together,” he said speaking last week.
“Getting the best out of the individual will make a strong team and a strong Rangers”.
So how will Matondo be used differently under the new boss?
During the weekend’s friendly tie with Bayer Leverkusen, Matondo played in narrow positions. Picking up central locations in closer proximity to his teammates, dropping to offer a passing option and also spinning behind on occasion in an attempt to try and utilise his pace.
Remember, Beale says he wants the attack to play closer together on and off the ball, working in combination with one another. He’s also reiterated the need to provide players with freedom and field them in preferred positions.
Rather than being stuck to one of the wings Matondo, like Kent, will likely be afforded freedom to move around the pitch. Will this suit him? Could it allow more time spent coming off his favoured left side as was the case this weekend?
There is an interesting parallel to be drawn in Kent’s journey, which also started out wide at Rangers before the then on-loan youngster was gradually coached to play infield, operating closer to the striker in central areas of the pitch.
Could Beale, a coach known for his ability to develop individuals, help conduct a similar path for Matondo? Who, now aged 22, needs to kick on and make this move a successful one.
His speed allows him to press aggressively and given Beale wants to chase the opposition more, acting with greater intention off the ball, the Welshman could be a handy addition out of possession. Only Daizen Maeda (26.28), Malik Tillman (24.44) and Ewan Henderson (24.39) have made more possession-adjusted pressures per 90 league-wide than Matondo (24.17) and only Hearts’ Kio has more pressure regains (4.46) than the Rangers attacker (4.09).
He may not be granted many opportunities to use that speed domestically on the ball in the Premiership, but it could come in handy during transitions and when pressing opponents.
Beale will know there’s talent to be tapped into as he seeks to prove Wilson right, that there is more to come from Matondo.
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