Sometimes in football, the league table doesn’t tell the real story.
Since Steven Gerrard was appointed their manager in the summer, Rangers have won just one of
four Scottish Premiership games, sit seventh in the table and have made their worst start
for almost three decades.
But, in spite of all this, there is absolutely no doubt that they are in a much better place
now than when Gerrard came in.
In the formative stages of his managerial career, the Liverpool legend has led Rangers
to the Europa League group phase, guiding them through eight games and four rounds of
qualifying undefeated.
Meanwhile, he has had to navigate an extremely tough opening to the league campaign that
saw his side travel to face both of last term’s top two, Aberdeen and Celtic, and has ensured
their progression in the League Cup with a comfortable 3-1 in o ver Kilmarnock, Rangers’
bogey team of 2017/18.
Gerrard achieved this quick transformation firstly by implementing an organised 4-3-3
shape.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor is protected by a back four featuring two aerially solid centre-backs
in Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic, as well as two flying full-backs in James Tavernier
and Borna Barisic.
Ryan Jack has established himself as the team’s first-choice No.6, with Scott Arfield, Lassana
Coulibaly and Ovie Ejaria competing for the other two central midfield berths.
The wide roles are taken up by Ryan Kent and, in Jamie Murphy’s absence through injury,
Kyle Lafferty, while Alfredo In his early interviews as Rangers manager,
Gerrard emphasised aggression in defending.
This has been evident in the team’s play, though the most important development has
been the institution of a clear and compact shape, something the team had lacked in previous
seasons.
Without the ball, they transition into a 4-1-4-1 shape.
The back four tends to be stationed closer to the halfway line than their own penalty
box, while the central midfielders combine covering the space in front of the defence
with harrying the opposition through man-orientated pressing.
Both wingers occupy positions in the inside channels – from here they can retain a horizontally
compact midfield line while simultaneously discouraging passes out to the opposition
full-backs.
Morelos is actively involved in pressing, blocking the centre while moving to pressure
the centre-back in possession.
Gerrard has brought in a more compact and zonal approach to defence than was seen before
at Ibrox, though the most obvious signs of his tactical intelligence have come in moments
of adversity.
For instance, when Morelos was sent off early on against Aberdeen, Rangers were still able
to control the majority of the match thanks to their manager’s mid-game changes.
By bringing both of his wingers inside he set his team up in a 4-3-2 defensive shape
that allowed them to congest the centre and press higher than they otherwise could have
done.
Offensively, Rangers are also a more complete outfit thanks to Gerrard’s influence.
The structural issues that caused problems for them in defensive transition last season
are no longer so noticeable.
At the same time, they are much more effective when it comes to building possession out from
the back and through the thirds.
Their No.6, usually Jack, often forms a 2-1 triangle with the centre-backs, sometimes
dropping between them to create situations of numerical superiority.
The other central midfielders, along with the full-backs and the wingers, vary their
movements and often rotate positions to exploit a number of attacking opportunities.
The outer central midfielders occasionally drop diagonally to the side of the centre-backs
during build-up.
This allows them to receive the ball while not having their back to goal, with a better
view of the pitch.
In turn, this allows the full-backs – who are both exceptional crossers – to push
forward down their respective flanks, while the wingers can come inside to offer an option
between the lines.
Alternately, the central midfielders push on and swap positions with the wingers, or
the wingers stay wide and allow the full-backs to drive forward in the inside channels.
These variations and rotations help Rangers to out-play pressing, confuse marking, unbalance
the opposition’s defensive structure, create free men, and/or penetrate the opposition’s
defensive block; generally speaking, they help to progress the attack, all while retaining
some semblance of balance to ensure they aren’t constantly caught on the counter if the ball
is lost.
Gerrard may have won just one of his first four league games as manager, and he may have
lost his first Old Firm derby, but Rangers are better thanks to his tactics.
And, with more time to settle in and work on his ideas, the club may soon be able to
challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title once again.