Hindsight is a wonderful thing, however, as we discovered from Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s subtle changes to the team that played Sparta Prague, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Alfredo Morelos instantly looked back to his dangerous best, a constant thorn in the Sparta defenders’ side, and then there was Ryan Kent who was pushed into a wider starting position than the one that Steven Gerrard preferred him in.
What we have to remember is that Kent was only starting his second game back after long-term injury and looked pretty close to his most electric form, playing more as an orthodox winger allowed him to isolate his marker on more than one occasion and creating chances for both himself and others.
His performance had everything except a goal, that he had one effort from cutting inside and another from running through on goal demonstrates the threat that he carries, when Gerrard was wanting him to play more centrally he was getting crowded out and became less effective – teams had started doubling up on him, it is harder for them to do this when he is hugging the touchline.
Playing Kent alongside Joe Aribo, Ianis Hagi and Morelos gives the Rangers attack a great mix of abilities, pace, creativity and strength, with all of them capable of producing double digits for goals and assists, the shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation allows them greater freedom to express themselves.
For all that the timing of his departure was a cause of great annoyance, Steven Gerrard’s departure may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to this team – freedom from the tactical rigidity that delivered 55 could yet see us reach new heights.