Almost every manager has a system that they prefer to implement which causes problems when clubs chop and change them as often as Rangers.
Since Steven Gerrard left Ibrox in 2021, Barry Ferguson is the fourth Rangers manager to be appointed, something that affects injury rates, consistency, and recruitment.
In Patrick Stewart’s lengthy interview, he spoke about players no longer being recruited for whoever is in charge and this is the footprint that Nils Koppen must follow in the summer.
Key to this, is players who are capable of playing in more than one position, but who have the physicality and athleticism to adapt between domestic and European football.
What this means, is that one position in particular should be ignored and removed entirely from the Rangers squad for the start of the 2025/26 season.
Why Rangers don’t need to recruit for a No.10 this summer
A quick look across Europe shows that all of the successful teams share similarities in how they set up.
They have wide forwards (or wingers) who can score goals, but who have pace and are hard working out of possession.
In midfield, there is an abundance of hybrids, players capable of playing as attacking midfielders or as box-to-box midfielders – these are the players who a lot of the creative burden is placed.
What there isn’t, is a lot of No.10s.
Rangers currently have three if you include Ianis Hagi alongside Nedim Bajrami and Tom Lawrence.
Two are out of contract in the summer and there are serious doubts about Bajrami’s ability to make the grade for Rangers.
Domestically, these players just get crowded out.
Lawrence’s goal against Dundee is a reminder of what he is capable of, however, his fitness issues have seriously curtailed his ability to play every three days and to play at the intensity that Rangers need.
What position should Rangers strengthen in the forward line?
If the next Rangers manager wants to utilise a No.10, use Hamza Igamane or Danilo, who have both shown that they can create chances and score goals in support of another striker.
It also means that there is another natural goal scorer on the pitch.
Ferguson currently has Vaclav Cerny as as the SPFL’s main difference maker which highlights perfectly what a good wide man can do.
This summer, Rangers will pay £4m for Oscar Cortes, but it is the one position where Koppen needs to get the cheque book out and add real depth.
A return for flying machine Adama Traore wouldn’t be expensive and whoever replaces Ferguson, has to inherit more depth and more players capable of scoring goals and of beating players 1 v 1, not more players who only fit one system, in a system that doesn’t work for over 40 games of the season.
