With the title race entering a decisive phase, Rangers face the first of five decisive games against Motherwell tomorrow.
Danny Rohl faces three key dilemmas ahead of the match at Ibrox; who starts at right-back, who starts on the right-wing, and does he start with two strikers?
Our writers assess how Rohl may approach those calls ahead of the weekend and what it could mean for Rangers’ push for the title.
Chris Jack
Will Danny Rohl go for two up top or not?
What he would like to do and what he is likely to do are two different things here. There is enough evidence now to show that having two strikers on the park is the most effective way to get the best out of this team, both individually and collectively. In an ideal world, Rohl would go with a partnership up top.
However, the risks, be it injury, a poor performance or a game that needs to be changed, will surely see Rohl go with one and keep another in reserve. Thelo Aasgaard is the most likely beneficiary in that scenario. Youssef Chermiti will probably get the nod, but Bojan Miovski will have a part to play. The news that Ryan Naderi may feature this term again is certainly welcome.
Who do you think starts at right-back?
The head will rule the heart here. James Tavernier’s penultimate afternoon at Ibrox should begin on the bench. Emotion must be taken out of the situation. Rangers have a game to win and a title to pursue, and their best chance of landing the prize and giving Tavernier the farewell he deserves is to have Dujon Sterling at right-back.
Tavernier will still have a huge influence on and off the park over the remaining five matches, but he is second choice at present. When Sterling is available, he plays. Yes, he does not offer as much going forward, but he is the more solid option right now and Rohl won’t allow anything to distract Rangers from the job in hand.
What’s the plan on the right wing?
There are three contenders for the one spot. When Andreas Skov Olsen was signed, the idea that he wouldn’t be one of the first names on the team sheet for a must-win match at Ibrox would have seemed unlikely. His form hasn’t been there, though, and that leaves Rohl with a dilemma.
Do you keep faith with the Dane and hope a break has revitalised him ahead of the run-in? Or do you stick with Djeidi Gassama or gamble on Oliver Antman? The Finn is probably third in the pecking order right now. Gassama looks more capable of being a game-changer, so go with Skov Olsen and keep the former Sheffield Wednesday man in reserve for when the game opens up in the latter stages.
Joshua Barrie
Will Danny Rohl go for two up top or not?
I find it unlikely, and here’s why. Much of Ryan Naderi’s role has been about getting the ball into the final third while playing alongside Chermiti. As covered in more detail recently, Rohl believes that Aasgaard is a ‘hybrid’ player who can join Chermiti on the last line or drop into midfield to support ball progression.
None of his current striking options, in place of Naderi, offer that. Especially against a Motherwell team who look to overload the midfield with a box shape and try to play out from the back, Rohl could opt for a man-to-man system with two strikers on the centre-backs. However, the aggressor, Miovski, is likely to start on the bench again. That allows the North Macedonian to enter the game when it opens up or when Rangers are spending more time around the opposition penalty box.
Who do you think starts at right-back?
This week has understandably focused on Tavernier. However, Sterling is the first-choice pick at right-back for these final five post-split fixtures. It is understood there is even a chance he could feature on Falkirk’s artificial surface at the end of the season, despite missing the most recent trip, if required.
Tavernier’s starts may be few and far between before he leaves the club in a few weeks. Sterling is the obvious pick for trips to Tynecastle and Parkhead, and the Rangers defence looks far more secure when he, alongside Rommens, protects the centre-backs. Don’t bet against Tavernier having a final moment or two, but in line with Rohl’s management to date, if Sterling is fit, he will play.
Read more:
- I've watched James Tavernier my whole adult life - here's why Rangers legacy is clear
- Every word Danny Rohl said on James Tavernier exit timing and board talks in Spain
What’s the plan on the right wing?
Gassama’s impact from the left wing in the second half against Falkirk was the latest in a long line of contrasting displays. Quiet before the break, the former Sheffield Wednesday winger often produces his best football from the left in the second half of matches.
With that in mind, I agree that Skov Olsen could be used here as Rohl looks for a sustained impact from the Dane in the final weeks. As ever, the starting 11 is only part of Rohl’s plan, with substitutes a key component of his game model. With Rommens not yet back, I wouldn’t rule out Gassama starting on the left, given he is more of a natural winger than Moore, who prefers to drift infield and has been carrying a knock of late.
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