High-pressure encounters with Tottenham Hotspur and Old Firm rivals Celtic hardly stands out as the ideal moment for Philippe Clement to start experimenting with Rangers’ starting XI.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final against beloved Hoops, Neil Lennon suggested that Rangers could alter their formation with James Tavernier beginning as a right-wing back before thinking better of it.
‘You can’t change the system in a couple of days’, Lennon accepts.
But the Tavernier dilemma is still one Clement must figure out. Do the qualities he provides going forward offset those well-publicised defensive deficiencies?
It is only two months since Daizen Maeda led Tavernier a merry dance in a 3-0 trouncing at Parkhead, after all. And with the jet-heeled Japanese in such terrifying form, the prospect of a repeat scenario will be keeping Clement up at night.
Though Kris Boyd, the legendary Rangers striker, saw enough from Tavernier’s fine performance in that 1-1 Europa League draw with Tottenham Hotspur to suggest that, maybe, he can handle the threat of Maeda after all.
Kris Boyd suggests Rangers may start both James Tavernier and Dujon Sterling
Tavernier followed up goals against Ross County and Kilmarnock with a trademark assist as Hamza Igamane maintained his ‘flying’ Rangers form with a 47th minute opener against Spurs.
But it was the captain’s performance at the other end of the pitch – where he is supposedly at his weakest – which stuck with Boyd.
“Before Rangers’ draw with Tottenham, I thought James Tavernier had no chance of facing Celtic on Sunday,” Boyd tells the Scottish Sun. “Now, I don’t see how the Ibrox captain can be dropped.
“The Gers skipper was just outstanding as Clement’s side delivered their best display of the season against the Premier League outfit. He set up Hamza Igamane’s goal, and was solid against Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min.
“When Dominic Solanke had a chance to win it for Spurs late on, Tavernier was the man who made a vital block. Which leads me to the massive dilemma facing Clement; Can he really drop his captain for an Old Firm final after that?
Yes, Daizen Maeda has had so much joy against Tavernier over the last few seasons, and that is an area Celtic will target again. But Spurs did the same on Thursday night, and he stood up to everything.”
The alternative, of course, is Dujon Sterling. With Neraysho Kasanwirjo unavailable, Sterling is the man Clement will turn to if he opts against including Tavernier from the off.
Sterling is a more reliable defensive option, certainly. But, as Boyd points out, ‘he won’t offer the same as Tavernier going forward’. And Rangers cannot afford to simply sit back against Celtic.
They need to offer a threat too, with Tavernier still their most consistent source of creativity.
Though Boyd feels there is a way to get Tavernier and Sterling in the same team. That would necessitate John Souttar being ruled out, however. Rangers are sweating over Souttar and Igamane after both were forced off against Spurs.
Sterling is seen as a more solid option, but he won’t offer the same as Tavernier going forward.
“John Souttar’s expected absence is another reason why dropping the skipper would be a gamble,” Boyd adds. “Losing Souttar to injury and benching Tavernier would leave Rangers short on big characters for such a huge game.
“Here’s a thought; could Sterling move inside beside Leon Balogun in place of Robin Propper? Credit to the Dutchman for putting on another good Europa League display, but he has been found wanting domestically.
“Sterling offers pace, height and aggression and is a sensible option to play at centre-half.”
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Ridvan Yilmaz’s left-wing heroics give Philippe Clement a dilemma
The former Chelsea youngster, snapped up on a free from Stoke City in 2023, has played as a right-back, a left-back, a defensive midfielder and even further forwards on the wing since moving to Scotland. Sterling has not yet been fielded in the centre of defence, however, and throwing him into a new role with silverware on the line would certainly be a risk.
Though as Ridvan Yilmaz proved against Tottenham – Philippe Clement hailed Yilmaz’s ‘warrior’ spirit and tactical intelligence has thrived ahead of Jefte as a left-sided midfielder – not all experiments are destined to blow up in the manager’s face.
“Pairing Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz on the left against Spurs was a bit of a surprise,” Boyd adds. “But it worked perfectly. They dovetailed well.
“And, with Celtic strong on the right side, that must be something Clement is considering.”
