Rangers look like a different team since Philippe Clement arrived at the club, gone is the slow paced, horizontal football that plagued recent seasons.
There is a simplicity with how the Gers boss has gone about his business and improved several members of his squad, getting a tune out of a team bereft with injuries.
One key component has been in midfield with John Lundstram explaining the key difference in Rangers play now that Philippe Clement is in charge.
Rangers message being hammered home by Philippe Clement
Most of the teams that we face are set up to destroy rather than create which means that they are more than happy for play to be dominated in front of them, especially at Ibrox.
Throwing crosses into a packed box has never been a consistently successful tactic against a low block and, ultimately, it cost Michael Beale his job.
There has been an increased intent to Rangers play, forward passes might not always come off but there is an element of forgiveness when the ball is turned over if there has, at least, been an attempt to make something happen.
When asked if he has been asked to deliberately be more adventurous for Rangers, Lundstram was quick to praise Philippe Clement’s philosophy.
“I think that’s been one of our main aims anyway, trying to get in behind teams a little bit more.
“You’ve watched plenty of games here, it can be tough to break teams down at times so there’s loads of emphasis on trying to get behind teams really and try to play the passes to penetrate teams.
“Sometimes it can get frustrating playing in front of teams a lot so it’s just trying to do that a lot more all over the pitch.”
Every goal scored against Kilmarnock came from being brave in possession, players making clever runs and teammates making the effort to find them.
Against teams like Kilmarnock, and as we have seen so far under Clement, intensity and aggression is key to breaking them down as is getting behind them.
The last thing any defender wants is to be facing his own goal trying to defend because it makes it harder to track strikers.
Look at Ross McCausland’s goal as well as Todd Cantwell’s at Ibrox against Killie.
Two totally different goals but both included quick play, one-touch football and movement of players.
It sounds simple and yet Rangers haven’t been doing this for years, that Philippe Clement has identified this need is a sign that things are heading in the right direction.
