Stagnant Rangers need freshening up after lacklustre start to the season - Four Lads Had A Dream

I’ve never really felt Rangers have the right to win any game, it takes desire, heart and quality, I’d back them every time however if we are on our game, but the truth is we are miles from where we need to be. I talk a lot about context on this column and rightly some needs applied here, Lyon should be credited as a very good side and most certainly are of Champions League standard. They are a very slick and streetwise European team, they will be hard to stop in this tournament, with lots of quality throughout. At times they were clearly playing within themselves and simply capable of upping it when required.

But that doesn’t mean Rangers can’t be better.

I don’t believe in the old adage that a game like that is a free hit. Sure we are punching but on our game Rangers can and should be trying to throw those punches, see Porto and Benfica for example. At no time last night did those games feel close in performance and atmosphere. There was no electricity on or off the park and it’s somewhat systematic of what we are seeing on the park right now.

I’ve tried to put my finger on what the issues are but the truth is there are several, all combining to make the bigger picture make more sense. Rangers aren’t on form, individually and collectively, and there are factors to consider. Covid, injuries and suspensions haven’t helped, throw internationals in and there have been a number of factors to help explain just why that form hasn’t been found.

At some point, however, we have to stop pointing to that and start looking closer to home for answers.

There is a staleness to this side and lethargy that we just can’t seem to shift. In many ways, we are having to try to respond in games because we are failing to set the tempo from the off, St Johnstone a prime example. Form is patchy in others when we are capable of a whole lot more.

I don’t pretend to sit and analyse games the way others expertly do but there are some very visible and obvious flaws contributing to what we are currently producing on the field of play.

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First up, key output from the full back areas has slowed dramatically and both players are struggling to create the openings they have previously. It hasn’t stopped, as we saw against Celtic and St Johnstone with two quality moments, but there is no doubt it has dramatically decreased in quality. Two reasons for that in my mind, teams are more mindful of what we are trying to do and individually we are well off performance levels that are acceptable. Too many times last night crosses hit the first man or were simply hit into an area with two huge defenders waiting to clear, we need to be a lot smarter and borderline controversially perhaps, Tavernier and Barisic need to be a lot better.

The next problem area is the midfield and there has been a stagnation of the things we done so well. The press and pace from the middle has slowed. Ryan Jack is a huge miss but that vibrant midfield has become pedestrian at times where three touches is being had when only two are necessary. That zip in ball retention is no where near the levels necessary for where we need to be.

Upfront, well they are suffering from everything happening before them, as well as individual form being well off. Ryan Kent will now have an enforced rest and it is a huge blow even when he isn’t clicking in top form. He has been trying but clearly far away from his dazzling best. That’s not a criticism, he’s never one to hide, it’s simply just a fact that he hit heights last season that must become standard.

But another glaring problem, and certainly not a popular thing no doubt, is Alfredo Morelos has stopped contributing in key areas. In three games, Celtic, St Johnstone and then Lyon last night, I fail to remember a clear opportunity or good bit of play in any. It’s not through lack of effort but the lack of chances is a subsequence of the things I mentioned previously, full backs being curtailed and his midfield/forward players not creating opportunities. Alfredo himself though is almost treading through games, that spark and zip is certainly not there.

Then there is the whole issue with an unbalanced front three with no real right hand side player who has nailed the position. The brightest and most enthusiastic, Scott Wright, curtailed by Covid and chances limited by a manager who seems to be taking his time with him. In my opinion it really is time, a sustained run may now be really more relevant for everyone.

There are some big decisions to be made on whether we keep at it or whether now is the right time to freshen things up. There doesn’t need to be wholesale changes but the reality is that there is options for those that aren’t yet firing to where they should be.

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Calvin Bassey, Nathan Patterson, Juninho Bacuna, Stephen Kelly, Kemar Roofe (perhaps a run at number nine) and Scott Wright are all arguably chapping at the first team door to freshen things up. It doesn’t have to be all at once but a change here and there may help just freshen things up.

The manager has spoken about having that big squad, well perhaps it’s time to start delving into it. He has to find a way to inject an urgency and zip into the side. A few need a rest on the back of busy summers and big seasons, that is natural. A few also need a little gentle reminder that there place isn’t always granted no matter what.

This isn’t also an article to go after the players and criticise everything they do. They aren’t bad players, they don’t need all chucked from the team and sold immediately, they might just need help and a little spark from somewhere however.

But that’s only a fans view. As I mentioned I don’t pretend to be a tactical guru who can give you stats which back up my every suspicion. I can only tell you what I am seeing or what I think I am, I can also be accused of looking for things that aren’t really there, sometimes you are just beaten by the better side. Perhaps it’s a mix of both.

The manager is wise enough and surrounded by enough experience to know what he is doing.

As I said right at the start of this, Rangers won’t be defined by last night and certainly shouldn’t be lambasted on that performance.

There is no doubt we can start doing what we do a whole lot better. At the moment we are getting by and we do have a semi decent start domestically, so it isn’t all doom and gloom certainly. There are levels to go up and performances have plenty of scope to improve, there is certainly context to everything.

But at some point we are going to have to step things up also. Everything in rational context is important and absolutely necessary but so is honesty.

We have a lot more to give and a lot more to do before we hit the heights of last season. That achievement is gone and as we raise the league flag on Sunday perhaps that is the closure needed.

We are Champions, we do have quality and we can replicate it.

Someone just needs to spark it