Towards the end of Dick Advocaat’s tenure at Rangers, he started to throw combinations of players at the wall hoping that something would stick.
With his position as manager under threat, Philippe Clement picked what looked like the best XI available from those in the squad who are fit.
There is one area in particular where Rangers looked vastly improved and where Clement knows the key to success is – the wings.
Rangers quality on the wings starts to deliver for Philippe Clement
Ianis Hagi is a fine footballer, as is Vaclav Cerny, but they will need help throughout what is going to be a long season.
Every goal against Kilmarnock except for Hamza Igamane’s fine long range effort involved using the width, stretching the play, or getting in behind.
They also, nearly, all involved Cerny and Hagi.
The first saw Hagi, starting wide, and then cutting inside onto his right foot, played the ball in for James Tavernier for the opening goal against Kilmarnock.
The second came after Cerny had already threatened on the right and Danilo drew a fine save from Robby McCrorie.
Three goals came from Rangers left and one from the right.
Has Clement finally found the domestic answer?
The lack of any one-v-one threat is the single biggest consistent difference between Rangers and Celtic and why they don’t usually have any problems beating teams domestically.
They have pace and a dribbling threat from both flanks and have full-backs who overlap.
Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are back in training with Clement hinting that they aren’t far away from playing competitive minutes.
This still leaves Rangers short of “proper” wingers though in terms of the type of threat that is needed to break teams down.
A player with Cerny’s ability but who can drive at the by-line to create chances and cut inside to score goals must be a January priority.
Clement always said that Rangers would improve when the better players were fit, now he needs to make sure they are properly covered when they aren’t.
