Despite an up and down start to his Rangers career, Jon Flanagan’s main position isn’t where he’s been operating.
The Liverpool academy starlet was brought up as a right-back. Unfortunately, we’re starting to understand why that was the case.
Flanagan has struggled immensely over the last week operating at left-back with Borna Barisic out. He’s a reliable figure in the Rangers side, but there are clearly more comfortable left-backs available in reserve. Andy Halliday and Lee Wallace are both more familiar with the role, and naturally left-sided players.
It’s a shame for Flanagan, however, who’s a lot more accustomed to playing down the right. Unfortunately for him, that position is occupied by the current captain James Tavernier.
If the choice were Flanagan’s, it would be a tricky one. He would risk a lot of first-team action down the left to slot into a more familiar role which he’s a lot more comfortable with. The downside is the fact that Tavernier won’t ever be dropped for the big games.
One issue Steven Gerrard does have at the moment, however, is cover for Tavernier down the right. With Flanagan still operating down the left, he has no natural right-backs outside of his captain.
Borna Barisic is still out with a knee complaint. But when he recovers, Gerrard should do both himself and Flanangan a favour and move his former Liverpool team-mate to the right.
Plenty of experience
Flanagan is by no means a poor player. He has plenty of experience in the Premier League in England with 50 Liverpool appearances to his name. Stints at Burnley and Bolton are also on his CV.
Rangers is far too cut-throat an environment to be plying your trade in a position unfamiliar to you. Flanagan currently finds himself in that position at the moment, and it’s showing.
The ease with which Gary Mackay-Steven got away from him for Aberdeen last week was symbolic of a player not featuring on his preferred side. Spartak Moscow also got plenty of joy out of him, and he continues to struggle making passes with his left-foot.
It didn’t always seem this way. Initially, Flanagan looked an extremely capable performer down the left, but it’s clear he’s now getting a tad shown up for it the more he plays there.
Gerrard should do the player a favour and put him back to the side he’s most comfortable in. In extreme circumstances, Flanagan’s left-back berth can be revisited.
For now, however, the former Liverpool man deserves the chance to show everyone what he’s got in the position he’s comfortable with.
