If a lack of a killer instinct is a problem, as it always seems to be, then Steven Gerrard needs to sort it out in January.
The Rangers manager once again bemoaned his side’s lack of cutting edge yesterday. Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hibernian. The result now means that Rangers cannot top the table unless they beat Celtic by four goals on Saturday.
Rangers huffed and puffed for plenty of the game, but didn’t create enough quality chances. Many continue to say it after Rangers fail to win, but Scott Arfield’s absence was a telling factor once more.
If the Canada international isn’t fit for Saturday, he’s going to be a big miss there too. But Gerrard must make sure that’s the last game where he will be a miss.
Speculation has been rife regfarding striker targets in January. The likes of Dominic Solanke, Tom Eaves, and Fran Sol have all been linked with a move to Ibrox.
The truth is, however, Rangers desperately need a couple of number 10s to help change matches when things aren’t going Rangers’ way.
Rangers could be getting even more from Morelos
Despite having a top striker who’s incredibly already on 20 goals for the season, Rangers still aren’t getting all they can out of him. Many of Morelos’ chances are coming from him having to work hard himself to create them. That’s leading to a lack of decent service from the flair players.
Any chances Morelos does receive from his teammates tend to be from cross-balls. The likes of Glenn Middleton and James Tavernier must be high up on the list of who sets up Morelos’ goals.
Meanwhile, nowhere near enough is being created centrally without Arfield.
Rangers can’t afford to come back from the Winter break and continue to bemoan a lack of incisive quality in the final third. The three-week stop in Scotland gives all clubs a chance to improve on their weaknesses. A lack of a killer instinct is one of Rangers’.
Too many strikers and not enough number 10s have been linked heading into next month. Supporters will just be hoping, however, that work has been done to identify a couple of targets that can sort this creative mess out.
If Rangers come back from the break empty-handed in that regard? Then they can simply kiss any title-challenge goodbye.
