Barry Ferguson will go back to the drawing board for the visit of Athletic Club, with Rangers lurching from one game to the next.
The lack of control has been an issue for weeks and when the goals dry up, as they did against Motherwell and Hibernian, there is only one outcome.
Unfortunately for the current interim Rangers manager, there isn’t just one problem to fix.
Jack Butland’s form is a problem and is struggling to replicate the form that saw him on the brink of an England recall whilst the misplaced faith in Cyriel Dessers continues to frustrate.
With an almost fully fit Rangers squad, Ferguson has a decision to make, and one of those should to be to recall Clinton Nsiala.
Barry Ferguson has to start Clinton Nsiala for Rangers
Prior to being hooked in the first half hour against Kilmarnock, Nsiala had looked every inch the player who had been developed by AC Milan’s academy.
Yes, he was a rough diamond, but it is easy to forget that all his senior minutes as a footballer have come in the Light Blue of Rangers.
Speaking after the game-changing substitution in which Robin Propper was lucky to escape the axe too, Ferguson explained the Nsiala sub and was quick to play down any potential problem:
“At times, during the game when things aren’t going well, you have to make tough decisions,” Ferguson explained. “Clinton is young. He will recover from it. But I just felt we had to make the change and obviously it worked out pretty well.”
Former Ranger Gordon Dalziel, however, was more scathing of Nsiala’s display:
“[Ferguson] could have taken any of the back four off. Well, you wouldn’t have taken Tavernier off.
“The two centre-halves were terrible. They were all over the place. They were getting bullied by Kilmarnock.”
Why recalling Nsiala vs Athletic Club makes sense
The back three system worked well for Rangers against both Celtic and Fenerbahce and it would be a surprise if Ferguson doesn’t revert back to this.
With John Souttar suspended, Nsiala is a natural replacement and is the only left-footed centre-half at the club.
His passing and ability on the ball has been one of the main attributes that have caught the eye and, in a three, he has more freedom to express himself.
There is also more cover inside him too.
Calvin Bassey is flying at Fulham, but he wasn’t always the imposing and assured figure that he is now.
The 25-year old had his moments just like Nsiala against Kilmarnock, and it has made him the player he is today.
Ferguson won’t get the Rangers job now so, his remit must be to build for the future, starting with reinstating Nsiala to a position that he could well make his own next season.
