Michael Beale’s tenure as Rangers manager is already showing signs of creaking with a summer transfer window that can’t come quick enough.
A dismal defeat to Aberdeen summed up the Light Blues season in a nutshell and highlighted all that is flawed about the Gers gaffer’s philosophy.
In the last three games, the xG against is 2.5 – which in itself is high – but what makes matters worse is that we have conceded seven goals.
Clean sheets used to be the norm, the defence used to break records. Now, it is doing well if it concedes only once.
Teams don’t even have to work hard to score against us. Just put the ball in the box and something will happen.
When the Rangers rear guard concede chances, 40% of all shots on target end with a goal, that simply isn’t good enough.
Michael Beale has spoken before about the importance of shape and approach out of possession, either the players aren’t listening or his plan just isn’t working.
The 42-year old coach is well respected and his “own the pitch, own the ball” strategy should be ingrained in his squad by now.
Our shape out of possession simply isn’t good enough under a manager who makes this a priority.
With a mini pre-season and a week between most games, you have to wonder what is happening at training.
Michael Beale has to adapt and make changes to Rangers approach
Things aren’t much better at the other end.
Alfredo Morelos reportedly won’t be here next season and, despite being able to add numbers, Fashion Sakala’s inconsistency and ability to miss easy chances on a regular basis must also make him a favourite to be replaced.
The midfield seems to be able to create opportunities but the balance isn’t right and we are still deploying a square peg in a round hole in front of the defence to protect them in John Lundstram.
Recruitment will only solve so many of the problems.
If Beale persists with certain players in certain positions, nothing will change.
He has yet to win an Old Firm game in three attempts, has employed different tactics in each one and has now lost at a ground where Rangers hadn’t lost for five years with a stronger squad than Giovanni van Bronckhorst ever had.
The time for talking ended a long time ago and having only one or two good performances in 22 games is a real concern.
He knows these players, recruited more than half of them and still can’t get a tune out of them.
Too many games have seen desperate comebacks or late goals putting the gloss on what have been poor displays. We even struggled against Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers.
Other than saying the right thing and talking a good game, have we seen anything that suggests Beale can actually walk the walk yet?
Hampden on Sunday is a must win for a variety of reasons, every Old Firm is but the Gers gaffer has to get this one right.
We need better players, that is a fact, but we also need a manager with a game plan that works.
