If Rangers fans had there way, Philippe Clement probably wouldn’t still be the man picking the team to face Motherwell at Hampden Park on Sunday.
The two sides have met at the national stadium already when the manager saw one of the best first-half performances from his squad only to squander a series of chances and let the visitors back into the game.
Given the effort – or lack of – at Pittodrie, choosing who should line up for Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup to face Motherwell is not an easy task.
Rangers predicted XI vs Motherwell
At the back, only Jack Butland could walk off the pitch with any sort of reputation in tact as those in front of him went AWOL.
James Tavernier sold the jersey for Aberdeen’s second when he failed to execute a simple clearance whilst Neraysho Kasanwirjo saw two goals scored from his area of responsibility.
John Souttar and Leon Balogun dealt largely with everything that was thrown at them, however, their positioning for the first goal was shocking – both in no man’s land and neither marking any of the two opposition players who contributed to the goal.
With Robin Propper out of form in his recent Rangers appearances, Clement doesn’t have many more options.
Clement explained Jefte’s absence in mid-week but he should be starting at Hampden, as should Dujon Sterling.
Sterling impressed on the right wing in the second half and he did enough to keep his place in the starting XI, at right-back.
Tom Lawrence was anonymous at No.10 in a big game again, and, with Ianis Hagi available to play on the wing, there is no reason for Nedim Bajrami not to play centrally.
Vaclav Cerny was missed against Aberdeen and should have shaken off his minor issue to create what looks like, on paper, as Rangers best attacking midfield trio of the season.
Leading the line, Danilo. As with Lawrence, Cyriel Dessers contributed nothing to Rangers attack against Aberdeen and even if Danilo can only manage 60 minutes, his inclusion should be made to prove a point.
Clement is already a man under pressure, to not make changes would suggest that he either doesn’t care or is too stubborn to admit when he is wrong, and neither is a good look.
How Rangers should line-up
- Starting XI: Butland, Sterling, Jefte, Balogun, Souttar, Raskin, Barron, Bajrami, Hagi, Cerny, Danilo
