Rangers' tactical issue that one returning player can solve

Because for his faults, Dessers is effective. The week prior to the international break he managed three crucial goals. Although across the Europa League group stage and Scottish Premiership Dessers is two goals behind his underlying numbers (five goals from 7.08xG), it would be a surprise if for a second-season running, Dessers’ end-of-season total does not break 20.

However, strikers do not exist on an island. Or rather if they do they ought to be pretty consistent when found. Philippe Clement has been forced to adapt to Dessers for the course of his tenure due to injuries suffered by Danilo. Glimpses from the Brazilian in the last fortnight show why his return can solve a particular tactical issue that’s nagged away all season.

Across the board Clement’s side just isn’t scoring enough goals. Take away the six against Ross County and it’s 10 in 10 domestically, a goal per game in the league. While Dessers is still scoring, Rangers' attack is rarely free-wheeling.

Read more:

Vaclav Cerny inside track with FC Twente boss: Danilo link and his standout season

Fewer scored than Dundee and on track for 57 goals - The concerning Rangers data

Dessers allows Rangers to go over the top of defences, but rarely through them. The 29-year-old is effective running in behind a high line, but not when asked to drag his team up the pitch.

That’s why the forward can appear to be more involved against a higher standard of opponent away in Greece against Olympiacos. Look at the still below, taken just before Dujon Sterling lofted an early pass over the top into the path of Dessers, a consistent theme on the night. The hosts are attempting to squeeze the pitch and play a high line so there's little space between the midfield and defence, but a lot behind it.

The difficulty is that domestic football games rarely look like this for Rangers. Dessers’ insistence on running behind a defence rather than linking play ahead of it can become too predictable. In the example below, consider how different the picture is from the above. There’s space between the opposition midfield and defence rather than behind it, but Dessers still wants to stretch the play and not act as a focal point. On this occasion, the move breaks down with little space for Tavernier to hit.

Two passes from two right-backs into the Rangers No.9 just days apart tell a story of the differences between European and domestic matches, and the need to treat them as such. The issue is up until now, Clement has rarely been handed the keys to an alternative option.

Another contrasting image can show us how Danilo’s inclusion at No.9 should help Rangers play through the centre of teams rather than relying on runs in behind.

When the Brazilian came off the bench against Motherwell at Hampden his link-up play immediately made Rangers more fluid and unpredictable. Danilo’s first action was to receive a diagonal pass from Vaclav Cerny which opened up a third-man pass into Connor Barron.

Notice the No.99 with his hand up as Cerny looks for an option, the duo played together at FC Twente in Holland and enjoyed a fruitful partnership. The forward’s movement to peel off the front line and link play immediately poses Motherwell with different problems. In this example, the opposition defence would likely rather a striker run behind than drag centre-backs into a technical battle 20-yards from goal.

(Image: Wyscout) A few moments later the pair linked again. This time play is more congested but Cerny knows his teammate will receive a pass and return the ball. A slick move between the two almost results in the Czech winger finding the bottom corner from an angle. Again, it was only made possible by Danilo looking to link in the space ahead of the opposition defence, not run into a small area behind it.

(Image: Wyscout)

Now, consider the below frame from a 1-0 win over Hearts last weekend. Cerny is in a similar position to play a one-two with Dessers, arguably a better one given the move occurs in transition. However, the 26-year-old doesn’t decide to play a one-two. Instead playing in Mohamed Diomande who tried a shot from range. Why?

If anything, this is descriptive of the connection enjoyed by Cerny and Danilo that doesn’t appear, in a link-up sense, to exist between Cerny and Dessers. Arsene Wenger’s ‘technical empathy’ theory - “passing the ball is communicating with another person” - comes to mind. Dessers is a forward who wants to run behind and his actions are reflective of that, even at this moment you don’t get a sense, watching the tape back, that the Nigerian is looking to link play.

In the previous example above it’s Danilo’s movement that enables Rangers to slice through an opponent, not go around them or try to make up territory with a ball in behind. 

Danilo is not a forward who only moves in front of defenders, however. His role in the lead-up to Nedim Bajrami’s winner against Motherwell showcases as much, demonstrating speed over distance to push back the defence and fashion a passing angle for Cerny.

(Image: Wyscout) Similarly, the man signed from Feyenoord should help Rangers to get up the pitch with his back to goal. Rangers' issue this season has often not been what they do in the final third - it's their inability to reach and remain in that area.

Why? A change of shape in midfield to incorporate Nico Raskin at No.6 has seen Clement move away from a 4-2-3-1 last season to a 4-1-4-1 this campaign. Taking away a No.10 close to the forward.

It’s making the Ibrox side more difficult to play through, but leaving them with a man less up the pitch. Given both wingers track back to support their full-back, Dessers is often the only player who remains up the pitch for Rangers. The forward's lack of options when playing with his back to goal doesn't always allow for a consistent route forward. Especially considering the missing piece of a pacey winger in Clement’s system.

This is an extreme example taken from the win over Hearts, but demonstrates the number of bodies committed to protecting the box and territory Rangers lose as a result. 

Against Hearts, and Motherwell, Danilo’s demonstrated flashes that suggest a superior game with his back to goal can help solve this problem. In this example below the Brazilian starts and ends a transition move given that aforementioned ability to exploit to space ahead of a defence. 

Is all this to say one of Rangers' striking options is bad and the other good? Not at all. Dessers has his strengths and, perhaps to a greater degree than other players, his game features pronounced weaknesses that impact the side’s overall performance. There's no doubting the fact that throughout this season a lack of link-up and hold-up options at No.9 has harmed Clement's side.

The forward will still have his say this season. If Danilo can have his then everyone, including Dessers, will benefit.