September isn’t yet out and Michael Beale’s change of tactics has shown that Rangers got it wrong in the summer transfer window.
A degree of credit has to be given to the Gers boss for realising that he had to change things with what he was trying to do but the recruitment has left plan B with few options.
Michael Beale has said he was happy with his transfer business but Rangers performance and the players picked against Motherwell suggests that he got a lot wrong.
The manager didn’t want to retain the services of Ryan Kent and sanctioned the sale of Fashion Sakala.
He was also quite happy to let Scott Wright leave and Rabbi Matondo was also deemed surplus to requirements.
And yet, no wide players were signed other than the versatile Abdallah Sima.
Michael Beale shows transfer window mistake with Rangers selection
Wright and Matondo starting in a key league game with the manager under pressure does not paint a good picture for the manager.
Michael Beale has gone to a plan B of sorts against Ross County and Real Betis but answers on a postcard for what he was trying to do against Motherwell.
Wide men were replaced with a back five when Matondo went off with neither fullback making any attempt to get higher up the park and do what they were supposed to be doing.
When Wright dropped into the back three between Ben Davies and Connor Goldson to play a five yard square ball, it was always going to be a struggle.
What was the point?
Morgan Whittaker had been a target and moved for just £1m, Luis Palma went to Celtic for a little over £3m, there were players out there available and even on free transfers but Michael Beale was happy was his Rangers squad.
That Beale said he hadn’t prepared for losing Sakala or that we hadn’t replaced Kent makes it even more bizarre.
Nine players arrived in the summer, however, looking at the team on Sunday, where were did we actually strengthen?
Rangers fans could see it when the window shut, but Michael Beale couldn’t and that’s why he looked out of ideas against Motherwell.
