A threadbare Rangers team will have an interesting look to it when we line up against Ajax this week. As well as those who are already out, Ben Davies, who didn’t take part in Monday’s training session, has been added to the list with John Lundstram also out through suspension.
It would be a tough ask with a fully fit side but Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have his work cut out trying to pick an XI capable of going toe-to-toe with the Dutch champions.
Speaking to Vital Football though, Dutch analyst Marc Lamberts has highlighted where Rangers should target if we are to have any chance of picking up any points in this Champions League campaign:
“I’ve not been particularly impressed with Ajax but, they had the weekend off, so they are fresh. Rangers will need to overload midfield and their defence is shaky so a high, aggressive press could put them under pressure.
The alternative is a really disciplined defensive organisation with a high-quality transition.”
Against Napoli, we looked so much better in the second half when we pressed higher up the park. Not only is it more likely to result in chance creation but we simply don’t have the players available to “park the bus” – that we could be starting with James Sands and Leon King at the back says it all.
We don’t even have the ability to flood the midfield because they are all out too, expecting Glen Kamara to play the full 90 minutes after being out for a few weeks is a big ask against a good team.
Having Davies fit would’ve made a huge difference as it would allow Sands to play in midfield, I’m not entirely comfortable with a Scott Arfield and Steven Davis pairing against such a dynamic opposition.
Van Bronckhorst’s tactics can be questioned at times but, with the players he has missing, working out a game plan to suit those that are fit could well take a miracle for us to emerge with our first points of what has been an arduous European season – it’s sad to say it but, let’s just get it over with.