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A consistent phrase threaded through all of Michael Beale’s early interviews as Rangers manager has been 'identity'.

“It’s important we create a strong identity which will be the rock that moves us forward,” he said speaking at this week’s AGM. “I need to give the players a clear identity and real clarity of their roles.”

It’s easy to cast this and other early statements aside as buzzwords. Beale’s certainly maximised the power of communication so far and the pitch product is far more important than any footballing superlative. The repetition of identity is important and intentional, however. It not only speaks to the differences in philosophy Beale holds compared to Giovanni van Bronckhorst but diagnoses what he’s viewed as problematic from the outside looking in.

Van Bronckhorst was a tactical tinkerer, adapting his team’s approach from game to game dependent on the opposition. This variability allowed him to punch upwards in Europe but never lent itself to the fast, rhythmic and powerful domestic performances likely required for success.

"I always try to be flexible,” he said speaking before an away tie with Union Saint-Gilloise, in which his side changed shape to match their opponents and lost convincingly.

“We can play many ways, depending on the opponent, how they will play defensively,”

Beale is less reactive to the opposition. Preferring his team to try and implement their style on the opposition and act always as the aggressor.

“We’re Rangers, we shouldn’t change for anybody,” he continued, speaking on stage. “We should have a real strong identity on the pitch and every time we play we should try to impact and force that on our opponent. We shouldn’t take a backwards step against anybody.”

Under Van Bronckhorst, Rangers did not play in recognisable patterns or score many similar goals that unveiled a wider framework. That’s not wrong, because surely there is no right way to play football? There are, however, successful examples and increasingly in football with organised defences and limited space, teams possessing an orchestrated attacking identity come out on top.

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That’s not to say all of the best outfits play in scripted motions which detract from an individual’s autonomy. Some managers are more controlling than others and the degrees of rehearsal vary. But tactics work in cycles, responding to obstacles faced.

“Systems no longer exist in football, it’s all about the spaces left by the opposition. The spaces are no longer between the lines but among players,” said Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti earlier this year in reference to the smaller zones which games are played in. Created by deep blocks, high lines and intensely-organised opponents. 

David Selini, the IFK Varnamo assistant manager who play in the Swedish top flight, provided interesting context on the topic of a playing identity when speaking on the Modern Soccer Coach recently.

“We don’t want our structure to be predictable but we want it to be predictable for our players. It has to be easy for our players to recognise these queues that you’re talking about. Maybe, [Erling] Haaland and [Kevin] De Bruyne have that when [De Bruyne] moves the ball a certain way, with the next touch he may swing the ball in but the defender will not know that. So you [Haaland] have a half-second advantage to react.

“The players should recognise subtle details that are impossible for those not in it to recognise exactly what’s going on. It’s about allowing them to be creative but providing different possible solutions.

“We want to create a common language for our players so they recognise what their teammates are doing. Then they can find solutions that could look creative, but they’ll have recognised movements of each other.”

This isn’t to say the framework Selini describes is exactly what Beale will implement. But alongside Spaletti’s admission, it contextualises a trend.

It’s no coincidence that Beale believes a ‘clear’ identity with ‘clear’ player roles can help turn the fortunes of a team who’ve lacked distinction domestically. In this mini pre-season, interrupted by the weekend’s tie with Bayer Leverkusen, that will likely be his core task.

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