When it comes to Kris Boyd on Rangers’ tactics, there’s only one thing he’s craving – two up front.
Steven Gerrard gave the experiment a go at Celtic Park a few weeks ago. Rangers ultimately lost the game 1-0 and failed to see any attacking flair come of their efforts. Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty looked like they hadn’t played together before, but it was a tough fixture for everyone involved.
This has raised question marks over whether the Rangers manager will revert back to that same system. On paper, it’s a style and combination that should reap a variety of goals at Premiership level.
Boyd should know all about partnerships given he had a deadly one with Kenny Miller back in his Rangers heyday. He’s now encouraging Gerrard to give Morelos and Lafferty the chance to have that same opportunity.
Speaking in the Herald, Boyd said the following:
“I always feel as if a club like Rangers should have two strikers up front. They create so many chances. If everything is done properly in terms of the midfield, if the midfielders are willing to run beyond the strikers and create opportunities, then I think it can be successful.
“I think we saw at Motherwell that Lafferty and Morelos is a promising partnership. Kyle can come in off the left and come in off the right. Alfredo is prepared to drop into the holes and the midfielders are prepared to get forward and get beyond them then it can work out well.”
“It can be successful”
Boyd has a great point in everything he’s said here. In Scotland, both Lafferty and Morelos could easily form a formidable partnership. The pair are goalscoring machines in Scotland, and could complement each other well.
It’s not so much the case that Rangers should always play with two strikers. There may be certain fixtures where the lone-striker is a suitable attacking system to play. But, in order to get through teams that sit deep, having two up top gives them something to think about.
It’s not just the fact that either striker can score goals. It’s also about each individual’s ability to hold the ball up.
Lafferty remains the better player in that respect, as he uses his power tremendously well to hold the play and move it wide. Morelos, however, is also increasing his own development in that element of his game.
At Rugby Park in particular, Morelos totally bullied the Killie defence out of the game. He bagged a stunning hat-trick as he constantly used his own strength to out-muscle his opposition.
Gerrard needs to start giving this a go at some stage. Both men are clearly capable, and it’s something the fans will be desperate to see.
