As an already dramatic season reaches its first stoppage, we look at what Steven Gerrard has to ponder over the internationals.
It’s been a hectic start to life at Ibrox for the Liverpool legend. Qualification for the Europa League coupled with an Old Firm derby defeat means he’s tasted both the good and the bad in Glasgow so far.
It’s been a major summer overhaul at Rangers, however. 15 new players have come into the club, with business only just completed several days ago. Gareth McAuley was the final signing through the Ibrox gates, but many more arrived previously.
The fact is that Gerrard hasn’t even had time to put his feet under the desk in Govan. The hectic schedule since starting work in June has been ridiculous to say the least. Yet, supporters are as excited as they’ve ever been since coming up the divisions. Therefore, the new man is certainly doing something right.
Of course it all hasn’t been rosy to start. Here, we take a look at the burning issues Gerrard needs to ponder over the international break.
His best XI
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He’s getting close, and you can sense it.
The likes of Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos, Connor Goldson, and Nikola Katic are all mainstays. There are a few more, but Gerrard has to finalise his strongest XI before his side return to domestic action.
With new signings consistently seeming to arrive in the door, more and more options keep getting added. Where will Eros Grezda and McAuley fit into the side for example?
His midfield is just about nailed on. Ryan Jack, Ovie Ejaria and Arfield are all adored by Gerrard. But the return of Lassana Coulibaly could and should see a change made.
At the back, Joe Worrall has been guaranteed game-time. What would this potentially mean for the Goldson-Katic partnership that’s impressed so much?
There are a few decisions to make, and Gerrard has done extremely well to form a consistent side so far. But he needs to make a final decision when the likes of Coulibaly, Graham Dorrans, and Grezda are fit.
One or two up front?
It didn’t work at Celtic Park, but we’ve stated in the past that Gerrard should stick by the Morelos/Kyle Lafferty partnership.
The pair are good footballers, and on their day could surely work as a prolific duo. Being thrown in together for their first full 90 minutes at Parkhead shouldn’t be the end of that experiment.
Instead, the manager should let it develop and see what they can learn from each other. This also ties in to what his best XI looks like, but is an individual matter of its own.
Morelos has done extremely well to start the campaign and has six goals to his name already. All of those were scored as the lone-striker. But you also have to find a way to get Lafferty into this side. He arrived to much fan-fare from Hearts, and he is wasted on the bench.
Added to that, neither man can particularly play down either the left or right side. Both of their talents and attributes are wasted there.
The potential for this partnership is terrific. Again, we didn’t see it at Parkhead, but it needs time to grow. Both have the beating of sides across Scotland, and together they could be deadly.
Goals from midfield
Ovie Ejaria has seen the script and banged in two against Motherwell and FC Ufa respectively. But outside of that, only Lassana Coulibaly has netted for Rangers from midfield.
Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield have yet to net this season. That then leaves Rangers with just three goals from the central-midfielders in 13 competitive matches under Gerrard.
More creativity is needed from this area in terms of goals. If Gerrard likely continues to play with just one up front, the likes of Arfield have to be contributing more.
The Rangers manager will know this heading into the break, and needs to get his flair players more involved. Whilst Rangers are showing good possession stats in the early part of the season, they need to be more ruthless with it.
Ryan Kent is another who needs to start creating. The onus is now on him to create down the left after Jamie Murphy’s injury at Rugby Park.
The midfield is a slight concern in this regard, and is the final issue Gerrard should be thinking over during the internationals.