Rangers face Celtic tomorrow at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final. As before any Old Firm, this one feels a little more significant than usual.
Danny Rohl’s men carry some momentum travelling to Hampden, as do Celtic, buoyed by the return of Martin O’Neill as interim boss, yet still shaken by the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers and that statement.
Here’s a close look at the prominent talking points ahead of the game.
Will Danny Rohl stick with the back three or twist?
This could seem like a strange question to ask. After all, Rohl’s new formation - an ‘asymmetrical’ 3-4-3 that can shift to a back four - has helped catalyse back-to-back wins for the first time this season while individuals across the pitch appear more comfortable in a shape moulded to circumstance.
As the Rangers Review explained after Wednesday night’s 1-0 win at Easter Road, the shape crowds the middle, provides an extra defender to combat long balls and gets two strikers in the team. And, meetings with Kilmarnock and Hibs required different qualities, the former placing more emphasis on possession and the latter pressing and organisation. It’s a fluid approach, not a rigid formation.
The thing is, Rangers haven’t lost an Old Firm game in well over a year. They’ve generally adopted a similar template, established first under Philippe Clement, to sit in a mid-block and capitalise on a Celtic side who’ve got worse in that time period, lacking the individual quality out wide to threaten and spending much of the game with the ball held by either centre-back. Even Russell Martin adapted a little to this plan for his solitary meeting with Rodgers in August.
Does it not make sense to copy and paste a set-up that this team are comfortable with? O’Neill’s return lessens that argument to shift back to a 4-2-3-1, however. Don’t expect Celtic to keep possession for the sake of it on Sunday. Plus, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Barry Ferguson’s 3-2 win at Parkhead was achieved using a back five shape.
The question is, will Rangers concede control with three centre-backs up against one striker, unlike the two Hibs and Killie played? On the contrary, the pressing to regain possession before Danilo’s goal at Easter Road demonstrated the flexibility of this system. Shifting to a back four and retaining central compactness as one wing-back becomes a winger and the other the full-back. Expect Rohl's side to try and trap Celtic down one flank and then punish them centrally.
Rangers will want to generate chances through pressing opportunities at Hampden - although not set in stone, staying with this system feels likely.
Joshua Barrie
How does Martin O’Neill’s return change things?
Celtic’s 4-0 win over Falkirk in midweek saw them play forward quicker and create an abundance of chances. Albeit, they also defeated Falkirk 4-1 under Brendan Rodgers, enjoying a game against a team who will try and play instead of camping in and playing long.
O’Neill’s return saw Celtic play nearly 200 fewer passes than their previous season average - attempting 570, down from 731.
It has long been a gripe of supporters across the city, typified in Old Firm matches, that holding possession for the sake of it becomes predictable and slow. In contrast, O’Neill’s subtle shift to a more direct 4-2-3-1 from Celtic’s nominal 4-3-3 will probably continue on Sunday.
That will make preparing to face a first Old Firm trickier in a sense for Rohl, given he doesn’t have many games to use as a reference. On the other hand, he’ll trust that his structure and plan can win the day if Celtic lack their usual comfort in possession.
One thing is for sure, this won’t look anything like the tepid 0-0 draw played out a few months back.
Joshua Barrie
How much should we read into Rangers’ recent Old Firm record?
The old cliché says that form goes out in the window in these fixtures . That may not necessarily always be the case, but it holds water on this occasion, given recent events at Ibrox and Parkhead. This one is so tough to call.
The Premiership meeting a few weeks ago was a missed opportunity for Russell Martin. It was an Old Firm encounter in name only, with none of the ingredients that make this rivalry special. There was barely a robust tackle and Rangers didn’t even have a shot on target.
This meeting looks a very different proposition given the new faces in the respective dugouts. Rohl will not be as conservative in his approach as his predecessor was on that day, while the return of Martin O’Neill adds a new dimension to Celtic. Both squads still, of course, have their limitations and the quality of player on each side doesn’t stand up to scrutiny when compared to some of the teams that have graced this fixture.
These occasions are about mentality first and foremost. Rangers have questions to answer in that regard and those new to the fixture must prove that they can handle it. The last meeting at Hampden, and the agony of that shoot-out defeat, should motivate those who endured it. This is a match Rangers are more than capable of winning.
Chris Jack
Where to play Djeidi Gassama (and why it’s so important)?
One complaint so far from Rohl’s brief tenure, and an issue he undoubtedly inherited, is chance creation. Understandably, the German has prioritised making this fragile squad hard to beat first and foremost. A new shape and new relationships in the final third have yet to really click.
Arguably, the only new signing of the summer to demonstrate any sustained quality in attack has been Djeidi Gassama. With five goals, all scored in Europe, in a side lacking attacking patterns, Gassama’s individualism to jink in and shoot from the left could prove vital. Although Mikey Moore has been bright recently, in an end-to-end game, Gassama’s ability to run beyond Youssef Chermiti, should he retain the No.9 spot, puts him ahead in the pecking order. Aside from Thelo Aasgaard’s flashes of quality, no one else in this team looks capable of grabbing a game like Gassama has demonstrated in Europe.
A quick glance at the Frenchman’s shots in the league shows a far greater tendency to shoot from the left, albeit he has played far more frequently from that side.
When starting on the right, whether at wing-back against Kilmarnock or on the right wing in this campaign’s previous Old Firm, Gassama can stretch the game and use his speed. However, that position doesn’t allow him to use his finest attribute, cutting infield onto his favoured foot.
Celtic are also weak on the right side of defence, with no Alasdair Johnson or Cameron Carter-Vickers. Playing Gassama on the left, next to the in-form Jayden Meghoma, feels like the best option.
Joshua Barrie
What team would you pick, and why?
Rohl raised a few eyebrows with his selection on Wednesday night as he rotated his squad for the win at Easter Road. His decisions proved to be the right ones in the end. As he acknowledged, if Rangers had lost then he would have come in for criticism. Such is the life of a manager.
The German must be tempted to stick with the three at the back approach that has made Rangers more resolute in the wins over Kilmarnock and Hibernian. James Tavernier will return to the team regardless of the shape and should join John Souttar and Derek Cornelius if Rohl opts for a three. Behind them, Jack Butland is the first name on the team sheet in more ways than one given his form this term.
A couple of other positions take care of themselves. Nico Raskin will start in midfield, with Jayden Meghoma - who caught the eye at Easter Road - and Djeidi Gassama wide. Danilo deserves to start after two goals in two games.
The other slots are up for grabs. Mohamed Diomande looks the most obvious partner to Raskin given that Connor Barron – such an accomplished performer in midweek – is suspended. Then it comes down to who joins Danilo. Rohl praised the counter-pressing from his side against Hibernian. Asked about Youssef Chermiti, he pointed out that the Portuguese is starting to understand what is required to lead from the front. Chermiti looks a more obvious pick than Bojan Miovski.
The last spot is between Thelo Aasgaard and Mikey Moore. Was the Norwegian given a rest from the start on Wednesday with the derby in mind? Or did Moore play himself into contention? Aasgaard's experience may just give him the edge.
Chris Jack
Rohl played two forward-thinking players at wing-back against Kilmarnock. When travelling away to Hibs, however, he opted for Max Aarons on the right. Although this was likely a rotational choice, expect one of the flanks to be a more defensive player tomorrow.
Why? As explained above, Rangers will shift into a back four when they press and given Meghoma has been liberated to run forward and stretch the game, the player on the opposite wing must be more reserved, to tuck infield and make sure the back door stays shut.
Of course, they can still push high in possession, but against a team likely to play two wingers, I predict Tavernier to return at right wing-back. That means Rohl can utilise his creative force in the final third where required but additionally, I’d have some concerns starting Tavernier in a back three against Celtic. Bruce Anderson’s header at Ibrox last weekend, which Jack Butland saved so well, was the latest example of the captain at times defending crosses poorly.
Raskin will sit at the base and Diomande, often a good performer against Celtic, trusted with the higher midfield role that Barron excelled in over in Leith. That leaves the likes of Miovski, Aasgaard and Moore to impact the game from the bench.
Joshua Barrie
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