WHEN Rangers signed John Lundstram in the summer of 2021, he arrived with a reputation for his box-to-box attributes.
However, the majority of his appearances last season came at the base of midfield given his ability to break up play, demonstrate tactical flexibility and progress play.
The Liverpudlian’s role on Saturday was a combination of both. At times he played deep, breaking up attacks and restarting possession. On other occasions, he was receiving in the final third and getting on the end of cut-backs.
This all-action performance allowed Lundstram to showcase his full array of talents.
The ex-Sheffield United player assumed a higher position than supporters have been accustomed to domestically. If we compare the pass network from Saturday’s 4-0 dismantling of St Johnstone to the previous week’s 2-0 win against Kilmarnock, that becomes clear.
Against Kilmarnock, Lundstram and Steven Davis played in a similar zone, with one of the two often staying infront of the opposition’s low block to control the game.
On Saturday, the role of the midfield pairing could not have been more different. Ryan Jack played a line up as the right-sided No.8 while Lundstram was active in higher zones than the week prior.
The 28-year-old was handed greater positional freedom and attacking responsibility in the final third. Having taken just one shot in each of Rangers’ previous two league meetings, he took five at the weekend.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has won over supporters with performances in big matches. The Dutchman navigated his side to a European final, ended the wait for a cup win and appeared to learn lessons from previous Old Firm defeats towards the end of last season.
The challenge he faced this summer was to build a team capable of dominating domestically and breaking down blocks. Saturday’s win over St. Johnstone may have taken a while to get going but offered encouragement that as new players gel and tactical ideas start to play out, league success can be achieved.
The manager has spoken about the importance of increasing numbers in attacking areas when breaking down a defence and Lundstram’s role achieved just that, helping to move the visiting block and create space in the final third.
Sometimes, it was simply the midfielder’s movement that took markers away from central areas. Below, he creates space for Connor Goldson to step into.
His high starting position offered the constant threat of a cut-back and shot from the edge of the box.
In this example, he is holding a high position. Rather than staying deep to protect his centre-backs and guard against counterattacks, he provides a forward route by driving through the pitch and winning a free-kick just outside the box.
Often in pre-season, two midfielders dropped deep to progress possession and allow the full-backs to move high. On Saturday, it was more common to see Lundstram sitting behind the opposition front line and Jack a line ahead, offering forward passing options.
Why? Rangers kept their width deep in the pitch to stretch St Johnstone’s front three and with Jack and Malik Tillman occupying the midfield pairing of Melker Hallberg and Daniel Phillips, Lundstram could receive unmarked in the final third.
Here’s another example soon after the above scenario.
The midfielder was found by his teammates just once more against St. Johnstone than during the previous week against Kilmarnock, but the location he was receiving possession in differed greatly. Keep an eye out for this highlighted zone in particular, just outside the opposition penalty box, in the below pass reception maps.
Against Kilmarnock, Lundstram was rarely involved in the attacking third, normally getting on the ball in front of the opposition defence.
Whereas against St. Johnstone, he was regularly picked out with cut-backs at the edge of the area and found by his defenders in space outlined above.
Van Bronckhorst has faced criticism for starting with ‘two defensive midfielders’ domestically, but Saturday demonstrated the importance of considering roles and not just positions.
Lundstram’s higher starting position showed how Rangers’ No.6 can disrupt the opposition block when not sitting on the centre-back’s toes.
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