ALTHOUGH the goalscoring duo of Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence stole the headlines following the 3-1 pre-season victory over West Ham, there was special recognition reserved for the contribution of James Sands in the lead up to both the second and third goals.
Indeed, the American emerged from the pre-season exercise with renewed credit as he heads into a pivotal season at Ibrox. Sands’ loan deal expires at the end of the season and he faces a fight to convince the management team that he is worth a permanent contract next summer.
The American featured 14 times in all competitions last season after arriving midway through the season, featuring predominantly in midfield and as an emergency central defender in Europe.
His versatility had proven useful for Giovanni van Bronckhorst as he juggled considerable domestic and European commitments, yet on an individual level Sands appeared to be suffering from an identity crisis on the pitch.
The 22-year-old was installed as midfielder in his early days in Glasgow, adding some steel to the centre of the pitch as van Bronckhorst sussed out his midfield options. Sands formed a double pivot with Glen Kamara, but Rangers struggled as a creative force due to the functionality of the pair.
Indeed, the American posted a 98% passing accuracy in the 1-0 win over Livingston at ibrox in January, underlining his assurance on the ball but also his reluctance to progress the ball through the opposition’s defensive lines.
The 1-1 draw at Pittodrie against Aberdeen was a similar tale. Although his completed passes from the evening reflected the rigidity of van Bronckhorst’s system in those early days, it was equally the product of a player lacking personality on the ball at a tough venue.
Indeed, Sands’ cameos in central midfield have largely been designed to help supplement the full-backs as they motor forward. The American would often drop into the right-back slot to allow James Tavernier to advance down the flank.
It has typically been the speed of Sands’ action upon receiving the ball that has undermined his midfield performances. The American isn’t comfortable taking a pass on his back foot in the mould of Steven Davis or Ryan Jack, often limiting his immediate passing options.
Where Sands has shown clear promise, however, is his ability to distribute the ball over long distances. The 20-year-old has enjoyed his most encouraging displays when positioned in the backline, providing him with a clear view of the pitch ahead.
Sands is assured at spotting his targets and he has the ability to weight his long lofted passes into his teammates.
In many ways, the American is representative of van Bronckhorst’s style of football. As a midfielder he can often appear functional in his responsibilities, whereas his ball-playing ability is allowed to shine when he drops into the defensive line.
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Take his actions in the 2-0 win over Dundee United last season, for instance, where he dropped into the left-side of central defence in the second half. If we isolate his forward passes, there is a clear emphasis on passes towards the left.
It is fair to argue that this is natural for a right-footed defender playing on his unfavoured side, but a comparison with his forward passes in the pre-season victory over West Ham offers a telling insight.
Sands was much more ambitious with his distribution, often looking inside the pitch to help Rangers switch the ball to the opposite side. Indeed, over 38% of his passes went forward against the Hammers.
The American’s main obstacle to progression at Rangers lies with the fact that, although Sands is a stylistic fit in van Bronckhorst’s system, there are several more experienced players in the squad who excel in the same areas that he does. Connor Goldson, John Souttar and John Lundstram are all just as accomplished in moving the ball over longer distances.
As a depth option as part of a three-man defence, Sands proved in Europe last season that he is an able understudy given his ability to replicate the qualities that van Bronckhorst demands from his central defenders.
As a central midfielder, Sands has few redeeming qualities relative to the environment at Rangers. However, his upside as a central defender is becoming more evident each passing week.
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