Stage two of Philippe Clement’s first phase of being Rangers manager has been completed with two players in particular proving that they are key in everything that the new manager wants to achieve.
The Gers boss arrived at Ibrox and told his squad that things would be different, that things would be simpler.
What Philippe Clement has managed to do is get Rangers dominating games and being more aggressive, all over the park led by John Lundstram and Todd Cantwell.
Philippe Clement can build Rangers success around key duo
Aggression doesn’t have to be running about shouting at or kicking other players, it can be intent and purpose.
There have been a lot of improvements in the Rangers squad since Clement arrived but the form of Lundstram has been particularly impressive.
When he is needed to help build play from the back, he has dropped in to help his centre-halves.
What has been noticeable is the sheer volume of work that the scouser has been getting through.
He’s been everywhere but in a good way and doing exactly what Philippe Clement wants, setting the tempo of Rangers to be higher.
Not too long ago, he was one of the names that a lot of fans would have been happy to see moved on, now though, Belinda Carlisle can be heard being sung by the support once again.
Europa League Lundstram is back.
The other player who embodies the new philosophy is Todd Cantwell.
Like Lundstram, only further forward, he can be seen driving others around him to play with more belief and to not worry if something doesn’t come off.
The handbrake has actually been taken off.
Against Aberdeen, he was pivotal.
Not everything came off but he created more chamces than anyone else and caused a fear in Aberdeen’s defence.
If only Don Robertson had punished the likes of Graeme Shinnie after their first or second fouls on the enigmatic playmaker instead of allowing them to batter him for the whole game.
A manager’s plan won’t work if the players don’t buy into it but the Rangers players have bought into Philippe Clement’s.
It is the dynamic duo leading the way.
