Rangers hero identifies problems caused by duo playing together

Danny Rohl lined his side up in a 4-4-2, with a box midfield, once again against Motherwell, with Chukwuani and Raskin at the base of it.

They struggled with the speed of Motherwell's play through the thirds and were dominated in that area in the middle of the pitch, up against the likes of Elijah Just and Callum Slattery.

Andy Halliday has already spoken about how going man-for-man made things difficult for Rangers and how Rohl should have changed things sooner.

Thomson doesn't feel the pairing of Raskin and Chukwuani works against teams who break quickly on them, because neither are disciplined in their defensive positioning. He reckons the likes of Connor Barron is more suited.

He told The Breakdown : "I think Chukwuani will become a real good Rangers player, but I just wonder when he plays with Raskin. Raskin is an enigma for me a wee bit, in the respect that I think he's brilliant. Last week he was amazing, and he was the Nico Raskin that everybody loves for Rangers.

"I thought when Diomande came on - albeit it never really changed much as such - there was just a bit more of an understanding in the middle of the pitch. I think Chukwuani and Raskin are less disciplined as midfielders. Even though they're both really good players, I think Diomande and Barron are more structured in how they play. I think it then helps Rangers when the ball turns over.

"When they don't have that structured player in that disciplined role... Raskin wants to play as a six, but he’s got so much energy and so much quality to affect the game further forward, like he did against Falkirk. I think he gets wasted when he plays back there. You then lose that energy and competitiveness to win the ball back in the right areas - which sustains attacks, keeps the pressure on, and suffocates teams. That’s normally what you feel as an opposition at Ibrox.

"Whereas when Nico gets caught in the no-man's-land role, I would call it. I think a Connor Baron would play that role better, and I think it would then take the shackles off of Nico Raskin and allow him to go and join in and run. Play like how a player would play in the school playground. I just think if you ask them to do a disciplined role against a good team that pass and move, and have so many players that are good on the ball, Rangers are so open in the middle of the pitch."

Said after Sunday Raskin & Chukwuani are too similar & Raskin dropping in between CB’s just slows the game down.

Spot on analysis by @KThomsonAcademy. I Would be starting Dio against Hearts. pic.twitter.com/vm0B2f8Z4n

— __YC9__ (@__YC9__) April 28, 2026