By Duncan Wright
It will take time. It’s a transitional period. There are a number of new players at the club. All statements given by Phiilippe Clement over the first couple of months of this season. Whilst each of the statements are factually correct, many Rangers fans believe these to be convenient excuses for the poor performances seen from Rangers this season in what could arguably be described as a stuttering start.
Following a disappointing defeat to Kilmarnock at the weekend, Thursday night saw Rangers back in European action in the Europa League. FCSB (the team formerly known as Steaua Bucharest) travelled from Romania to Glasgow’s South side to play in a competition that Rangers have had considerable success in over the last few years.
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Pressure is never far away when managing Rangers and despite Clement outwardly voicing that he is happy with his team’s progression, he knew a victory against FSCB would quieten down some of the dissenting voices getting louder in the Ibrox stands. The Rangers manager has steadfastly stuck with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation since his arrival at the club despite it not always generating the positive results supporters demand.
There has been considerable discussion around Rangers style of play, with complaints and concerns becoming louder following the defeat to Kilmarnock on Sunday. Clement was asked directly in the midweek press conference about the number of sideways passes made by defenders and the insistence of playing long balls to striker Cyriel Dessers. The question clearly touched a nerve with the manager and Clement rebutted the suggestions with reference to Rangers excellent performance away to Malmo as evidence his approach was working.
There would have been some ironic smiles amongst the Rangers support after just 30 seconds of Thursday night’s game when John Soutar aimed two aimless long balls forward in the direction of Cyriel Dessers. However, this approach was to be short lived and after a frantic five minutes Rangers settled into the game quicker than their opponents and with ten minutes on the clock Tom Lawrence opened the scoring.
The goal came from a quick interchange of play between Cerny and Tavernier on the right allowing Cerny to cut the ball back to the edge of the box for Lawrence. The goalkeeper will be disappointed not to have saved the shot but Lawrence was delighted to get his fifth goal of the season. Rangers got a second after thirty one minutes, after Cerny pounced on a loose pass, cut inside from the left and curled a shot into the corner of the net.
Despite being two goals ahead it wasn’t a stellar first half performance from Rangers. There were periods of sloppy play, loose possession and needless fouls. Not to mention a gigantic let off at the start of the game when Jack Butland was caught in possession. He was extremely lucky that the referee blew for a foul before Miculescu scored into the empty net.
Lawrence was replaced at half time for Diomande and he was involved in Rangers’ third goal which not only made the game safe, but was evidence to supporters, and perhaps Clement himself, that this team can play and create an identity on the pitch. Rangers worked the ball from the edge of their own box, with Raskin demanding the ball as a number six and playing forward at pace to Tavernier on the right. He played inside to Diomande who released Cerny who was now on one on one. Cerny was direct, running at pace, and turning the defender inside and out before stroking the ball past the goalkeeper. It was an excellent goal and showed what Rangers are trying to do in an attacking sense.
In the build up to the third goal Dessers received a poke to the eye in a somewhat bizarre incident and he was replaced by Igamane. The Moroccan made his mark on the game shortly afterwards with his first goal for the club. Connor Barron pressed high, was rewarded by winning the ball and he released Igamane who took his time before blasting the ball into the net.
Despite the formation remaining the same there was a notable difference in Rangers midfield against FCSB. Connor Barron and Nico Raskin gave Rangers a structure in which to build from and added much needed solidity in the centre of the pitch. Connor Barron’s energy and tenaciousness was backed up by Nico Raskin and both were extremely effective at winning the ball back for Rangers. Not only did they stop the opposition playing, both were prepared to take the ball under pressure and play forward through the lines, best exemplified in the build up to Rangers’ third goal.
With the structure provided by the midfield two, Lawrence could play further forward and provide a focal point for the Rangers attack allowing Bajamri and Cerny to occupy the inside left and right channels and give the team the three that Clement wants in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Beyond those three attacking players Cyriel Dessers struggled. Once again his link up play was poor and he looked short of confidence after going through a period where he seemed to have found himself in a better place. Clement will need to look again at whether he needs to change who he plays at the very top of the pitch.
This was Rangers’ biggest victory in Europe in seventeen years and cannot be viewed as anything other than an excellent result. But Clement and the Rangers fans will share a frustration that the performance tonight could not be delivered in the league game at Kilmarnock just four days earlier. It will take time Clement said but in Glasgow, time is a precious commodity.
