There’s no denying that Steven Gerrard’s Rangers midfield is starting to hold some real quality.
The return of Graham Dorrans has meant that there are now far more players available than places in the engine room. Gerrard has already gone on record and stated that he likes what Dorrans brings to the table. But, in truth, the Rangers manager has said that about most of his midfielders.
Indeed, Dorrans is going to be up against Andy Halliday, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria, and Lassana Coulibaly to name a few. There’s also still Ross McCrorie waiting in the wings with Greg Docherty to come back at the end of the season.
It’s an array of talent at Gerrard’s disposal that’s certainly pleasing on the eye for Rangers fans. It also now looks as though the Rangers manager is finding himself in the healthy situation Brendan Rodgers did two years ago at Celtic.
When Rodgers arrived in Glasgow, he had a plethora of midfield talent at his disposal. A rotational system worked best for Celtic and meant that they ended up winning the treble that season through their freshness. Even though Rangers fans won’t want to compare themselves to Rodgers’ side, it’s a valid comparison.
Nobody is first choice
With the amount of talent available to Gerrard this season, it’s likely he won’t have a preferred midfield. There may be players such as Coulibaly who plays in the big games. But a certain shape with specific personnel in there may not be something Gerrard decides to stick to.
Instead, a horses for courses approach could reap real rewards this season. Coulibaly seems undroppable, as does Ryan Jack and Ovie Ejaria on their days. But in order to accommodate Dorrans and the increasingly impressive Halliday, a rotational system must be put in place.
Gerrard has gone and praised every midfielder in his squad on a personal level. It’s the same as what Rodgers did when he arrived at Celtic. That gave his club a big boost and players were willing to fight for him in that first season. Rangers could be about to experience that same fight and love from the players towards Gerrard.
It’s a damning indictment of how poor Rangers were last season that we’re getting excited about squad depth. But there’s a strong feeling amongst many in the support that the Gers players are giving their all for the manager.
It all starts again today against St Johnstone. Who Gerrard decides to place into his midfield is anybody’s guess. The fact is, however, that there’s places up for grabs and a big talent pool looking to take advantage of it.
