Rangers finally, at long last return to competitive action this evening with a Premier League clash against Aberdeen at Ibrox, after the call off in the Scottish Cup match vs Fraserbough left the Gers fans having to wait just short of 4 weeks without a competitive game.
This is a match all involved will be eagerly anticipating, with clashes with Aberdeen always proving feisty affairs. Throw into the mix that in the away dugout will be the man who turned down the Ibrox hot seat job, just over two months ago and all the fall out that ensued. This game shapes up to be explosive on and off the park.
WILL RANGERS BE CAUGHT COLD?
Rangers will need to be at it right from the first whistle tonight, with their counterparts from the northeast having played on Saturday. Aberdeen put on a largely impressive and dominant display in the Scottish Cup over Championship leaders St Mirren.
It is vital that from kick off Rangers set the tempo and dictate the tone of the game, with having no competitive football for the best part of a month the team will not want to be caught cold early on.
GOSS, HALIDAY OR BOTH ?
Who will take on the holding midfield role left vacant by injuries to McCrorie, and Ryan Jack is a question Murty must get right in this game.
Will he opt to give Sean Goss his first start at Ibrox, in such a testing environment or will he go with the returning Andy Haliday ?
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My feeling is Murty will opt for Goss to fill the role, asking Haliday to perform in a role he has shown in the past is not his strongest would be unfair in my opinion.
There is no doubt McCorie will be a huge miss along with Jack, however plays in this role will need to cover a lot of ground and maintain the type of pressure on the ball that both they provide.
WILL WE SEE ANY TACTICAL SURPRISES?
In the previous encounters against Aberdeen Murty has thrown a few tactical surprises, this game could be more of the same.
Will Murty decide to go back to a diamond formation in the middle of the park ?. A formation that has worked well at times this season, or will he make a formation change completely .
Murty could decide to go with a back three integrating Martin, Wilson and Bates into the same side allowing the full backs to provide the width, in turn allowing Windass along with Candaias to tuck in when required. This might also be effective in keeping Aberdeens wingers pinned back at stages during the match.
I would seem harsh on paper if David Bates were to miss out. Turning a man of the match display last time out at Parkhead, he has shown he is a more than capable member of this team.
HOW LONG BEFORE CUMMINGS SCORES?
I know I may be acting a bit optimistic, however Jason Cummings promised us goals in a fantastic interview with RTV, upon signing and I fully expect him to deliver on those remarks. What better way to start than scoring against Aberdeen at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
It is not even certain that Cummings will start the match, with the noises coming out of Ibrox that he may have to settle for a place on the bench.
The game might have just came a touch early for Cummings, this however is exactly the type of fixture he was brought to Ibrox to play in. He is the type of player who thrives in these environments and even if he does not start e game, I can see him having a big say in the outcome of the match.
JUST HOW WILL THE PLAYERS FIT IN ?
This is a Rangers side that no longer picks itself. Despite a catalogue of injuries Murty will face a selection headache in some areas.
The biggest question will be in the forward areas with Morelos, Candaias, Windass, Holt, Cummings and Murphy all pushing for a starting spot. It is likely that Cummings will miss out but with places up for grabs however starts knows they will need to perform to keep there place.
Rangers, can also boast some different options from the bench now. Players that can come on and influence the outcome of match.
I personally feel we might have seen the last of Niko Krancjar in a Rangers jersey but with the return of Micheal O Halleran and Andy Haliday from their respective loan spells, together with Kenny Miller nearing a return, Murty can for the first time perhaps look along the bench and feel confident in his options.
This is the line up I would pick heading into the match, along with my prediction tell me yours:
Foderingham, Tavernier, Wilson, Martin, Holt, Goss, Holt, Murphy, Windass, Candaias, Morelos.
Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen with Cummings off the bench to score.