FRIDAY’S cup tie with Stirling Albion featured a healthy number of topics to entertain in a match that was completely dominated by the hosts.
There was the impressive goalscoring debut of Alex Lowry from the bench, an appearance for Leon King and some intriguing tactical experimentation from the start.
The team sheet posed more questions than answers once delivered an hour before kick-off. Was Jack Simpson to play at left-back? Would James Tavernier underlap as seen against St Mirren on boxing day?
A back three was the chosen system from the start in a set-up more resemblant of a 3-6-1 than a 3-4-3. With Cedric Itten the lone striker and Juninho Bacuna, Lowry and Tavernier played as three No.10s in front of John Lundstram, Brandon Barker and Fashion Sakala offered width on either flank.
The below shot demonstrates the pitch positions occupied by the side.
The pass network from the fixture includes the second-half move to a back four, yet still paints a valuable picture of the principles used in the opening half.
Undoubtedly there was an element of experimentation and suitability to the selected players considered in picking Friday’s team. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has proven a flexible coach during his time in Glasgow, happy to adapt to the opposition and mould his team to get the best out of individual players, however this system was a culmination of several tactical principles he has introduced so far.
Let's start from the back. Van Bronckhorst has utilised this ‘3-1’ build-up shape before during his time at Ibrox, notably in a home tie against Dundee when Borna Barisic inverted and supported Sakala with the occasional overlap.
Build-up patterns have been a slight source of concern since the managerial change given the emphasis on midfielders getting into the box, thus decreasing their responsibility to get the ball into that area. Playing with a 3-1 structure, whether that is achieved by tucking a full-back infield or starting with three centre-backs, should theoretically create a numerical advantage in this area of the pitch. Plus, it always provides passing options to the No.6 which van Bronckhorust's side have at times lacked.
The 3-6-1 formation affords plenty of central activity while stretching the pitch thanks to either wide player. Often Rangers could be seen on Friday overloading one side of the pitch, switching play to the less populated flank before returning the ball infield with space subsequntly created.
A constant theme of discussion provoked by the Rangers manager in the previous two months has been pace and trickery in wide areas, which the 3-6-1 provides. The phrases ‘one-v-one’ and ‘keeping the width’ have often been reiterated in press conferences. Keeping Sakala wide stretched the Stirling Albion defence who had to remain attentive to the Zambian’s threat in space. The 20 dribbles he attempted throughout shows how often the home side sought out their left-sided player as a route to stretch the opponent.
Playing wide this often opened up spaces centrally. If the opposition chose to leave either wide player in space they risked leaving full-backs vulnerable to one-v-ones.
This principle led to regular sequences like the below frame, as the No.6 is found easily, the opponent has to defend relatively wide to account for either winger and a number of players occupy central zones.
The shape was more a sign of things to come than an excuse to squeeze squad members into a formation that afforded game time. As the management team endeavours to create a tactically-flexible blueprint the key principles of stretching the defence with width, opening central spaces and seeking out solutions in build-up remain constant.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here