Rangers legend Barry Ferguson was blown away by the strength of the Gers’ bench on Thursday night for the Europa League fixture against Lech Poznan [Daily Record].
The Gers triumphed 1-0 courtesy of a header from substitute, Alfredo Morelos, as they maintained their 100% record in Group D.
It wasn’t a vintage performance but it was a mightily effective one, as the Light Blues secured their eighth consecutive win and fifth straight clean sheet in all competitions.
Ferguson was pleased with how his old team handled themselves and impressed by the options the manager had available from the bench.
“Steven Gerrard is paid to make decisions and he came up trumps with his substitutions,” he wrote in his Daily Record column. “Looking at that bench I just think ‘wow’.”
“You’re bringing off Roofe and Hagi to bring on Morelos and Aribo. If anything you are strengthening the team and that’s the difference with Rangers this season – strength in depth.
“The one bit of quality in the game – the ball from Barisic and Morelos’ header – won it and Rangers deserved the win.”
Barry Ferguson raves about Rangers bench as strength in depth highlighted – Verdict
During Gerrard’s first two seasons at Ibrox, he was often able to name a strong starting XI but rarely did he have exciting options to call upon mid-game.
Alfredo Morelos had little to no competition, while a handful of others were also almost guaranteed a start every week.
Times have changed, though, and the subs bench is now regularly packed full of quality.
Ferguson uses the Poznan game as an example and it’s little surprise, given that the players available to Gerrard were: Calvin Bassey, Filip Helander, Ryan Jack, Cedric Itten, Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo, Brandon Barker, Greg Stewart, Jon McLaughlin, Jamie Barjonas and Morelos.
However, he’s referring to a general strength in depth that is a trump card for Rangers this season, especially with five substitutions permitted in Premiership matches.
Injuries permitting, Gerrard will be able to turn to a handful of internationals in any given game, should his initial lineup be failing to do the job.
It’s a sign of real progression for this Gers group, with competition for places at its fiercest since the manager’s arrival.
