Why Michael Beale's Rangers squad spine requires action

This may well have been a new manager, still embarking on a new era at Ibrox but for those in the stands, there was nothing fresh about the experience. The same group of players were letting them down again on the big stage, all while January arrivals Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin sat on the bench.

Michael Beale has faced plenty of criticism for Sunday's starting 11 in the match’s post-mortem. The crux of his argument against playing Raskin and Cantwell focused on their minimal involvement heading into the tie.

“You’ve got two players coming in who have played two and a half games each against opponents where you’ve got the ball,” he explained post-match.

“There was a little bit more in terms of what we needed to do off the ball defensively and also match legs.

“That’s the same team that played ever so well in the Old Firm at new year and gave the best performance in terms of 90 minutes since I came back against Hearts.”

Given Beale spent the January window reiterating Rangers’ need for starters who could drive his iteration of this side forwards, and the upgrade Cantwell and Raskin offered from the bench, that call didn’t reflect well when illuminated by hindsight.

Alasdair Johnston, a January arrival across the city, was one of Celtic’s best players at right-back having made his debut in the New Year Old Firm. 

Only one of the players who started the last Old Firm League Cup Final in 2019 played for Celtic in last weekend’s version, Callum McGregor. Contrastingly, seven remained from Rangers' starting side on that day in the form of James Tavernier, Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

Perhaps, once surveying the evidence, Beale knew himself that the wrong call had been made. It was Cantwell, Raskin and Tillman he highlighted specifically post-match as players who make him optimistic when looking to the future. 

“The job was always going to be big regardless of this result," he said.

"It’s important we bite down on the gum shield and take our medicine. It doesn’t taste too nice right now but when I look at the team with the promise that Tillman, Raskin and Cantwell have shown there is enough for me to be super optimistic about the future.”

Analysing the share of minutes across Rangers' squad this season, that future cannot wait. In Raskin and Cantwell, alongside the already established Tillman, an element of Beale's new spine is already in the building and ready to go.

Take a look at the below scatter chart, outlining the squad’s age profile and share of minutes in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Tavernier (2493), Kent (2119), Barisic (2110), John Lundstram (2097) and Goldson (1883) have collected the most overall. Followed by Tillman (1696), McGregor (1564) and Ben Davies (1521).

Only Tillman populates the top left section, young and consistently involved, where Raskin and the slightly older Cantwell should soon arrive.

The bottom right section generally consists of injured individuals. Steven Davis, Tom Lawrence and John Souttar all remain out of action while Kemar Roofe missed Sunday’s match with another knock.

The bottom left section features further case studies. Ianis Hagi has just returned from a year out with injury, Ridvan Yilmaz was the club's marquee summer signing but tore his hamstring late last year after eventually being introduced into the side, Rabbi Matondo’s arrival took up a significant outlay of the budget but he’s struggled with form and latterly injury.

READ MORE: The 1 from 9 injury and fitness fact that shows Rangers transfer woe

Leon King did break through under Giovanni van Bronckhorst while Adam Devine deputised successfully in Barisic’s absence over the Christmas period. Alex Lowry continues to wait for a similar run of matches.

The centre is populated with the likes of Morelos and Antonio Colak, who’ve split the minutes up top. Kamara and Jack, both of whom have spent time on the treatment table and Fashion Sakala. He’s been a net positive under Beale to this point, even if decision-making at Hampden abandoned him at the very worst of times.

Others such as Scott Arfield, Scott Wright and Jon McLaughlin are by every measure squad players. James Sands has never been able to kick on from the promise shown against PSV last August.

As my colleague Jonny McFarlane wrote yesterday, the reality of Rangers’ injury situation has prohibited any real evolution from occurring in the starting 11. Sunday’s team felt like the same core of 2019’s crop because, in the simplest of terms, it very nearly was.

Arrivals such as Ridvan, brought in to help begin the necessary transition towards a new spine, haven’t been able to play consistently. If you throw the Turkish international into the mix with Raskin, Cantwell and Tillman, things look better. There is room for optimism.

Beale has the ingredients to form a new foundation even if further business this summer is non-negotiable. 

“I have to be excited about working with someone and the journey they are going on,” the manager said in the January window when discussing new arrivals. 

“I have to feel that they are someone who can come to Ibrox in front of 52,000 and really will grow and not shrink.

“That is the biggest question I have when I sit in front of a player – are they going to shrink at Ibrox or grow?

“We need growers and people who are going to come in in the next two or three years and help us win trophies and do well in Europe.”

Beale’s made no secret of his desire to build a new Rangers and recruit players who can go on a journey to make that happen. This is why, paradoxically, his selection on Sunday seemed to contrast earlier statements. 

Tillman’s isolation as Rangers’ only real standout player in the under-25 bracket this season is proof of the evolved profile Beale must fashion going forwards. 

Putting Raskin and Cantwell front and centre from now on can be the start of that process.