One thing that Giovanni van Bronckhorst hasn’t been able to do since taking over as Rangers manager is pick from a fully fit squad, in fact, he’s hardly been able to choose which striker he’d prefer to lead the line.
That Connor Goldson has had eight central defence partners since the Dutchman took over last November also indicates that it’s been a pretty turbulent time in terms of injury and availability.
But, imagine, in some sort of fantasy football world, he had a full complement of players who are in form and available, who would he go with?
This is who I think he would pick for domestic matches:
We need to be more attacking domestically so, by having the running power of Ridvan Yilmaz to break lines we would have a different threat from deep, Filip Helander might never play again for Rangers but his record – when he has been fit – speaks volumes for a player who is widely regarded as our best defender – the right-hand side of defence is unlikely to change for some time although John Souttar, at his best, would run Connor Goldson close.
The midfield three is one that we have seen work already this season, it’s just a shame that Tom Lawrence’s injury came before our hardest two games of the season, the only other position up for grabs would probably be on our right.
Like Helander, Roofe’s numbers speak for themselves and in the SPFL he wouldn’t be asked to play like a traditional winger, instead, tasked with getting in and around the box to support Alfredo Morelos – we need more goalscorers in the team and he is certainly one of them.
As for in Europe, I think we would line up differently because of the different quality of opposition and style of play that we would face.
Borna Barisic has probably been the only player to emerge from the Parkhead and Amsterdam debacles with any credit and, on top form, is one of our best players, offering a solid 1v1 defence and an attacking threat. It’s a tough call next to him with Filip Helander still being in the squad but, in Europe, I think Ben Davies has been brought in for his ability on the ball and not the physicality that the SPFL demands, although we’ve yet to see what he can really do in a Light Blue shirt.
Gio likes a bit more bite in his midfield for mid-week games and I think that James Sands has grown into the Rangers top, alongside John Lundstram we would have a physical and more dynamic engine room.
With needing to do extra work without the ball, I’d like Lawrence playing off the right. He has a good work rate and would allow Tavernier to overlap whilst also being able to chip in with a goal, at number ten though, it’s a bit more difficult to choose.
We’ve not really seen Ianis Hagi in his preferred position due to tactics and injury and Malik Tillman has shown that he can be a playmaker and get on the end of chances, however, he has also shown signs of inconsistency. I’d be happy with any two from the three of Hagi, Lawrence and Tillman for the central and right-hand side attacking positions.
The squad is gradually starting to look stronger so we will soon have a better idea of what Gio is hoping to do – if he is given long enough that is.
Tell us what you think and what you feel is our strongest XI or the team you would want the gaffer to go with with everyone fit – as unlikely as that may be!