Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. When Rangers attack either with pace or with a measured approach, we simply don’t commit enough players beyond the ball, it’s an issue that has bothered me for a long time but is more apparent in recent weeks when we are playing against a side that is sitting in.
The good thing is that, despite it looking like Michael Beale’s fault and the Gers gaffer erring on the side of caution, his comments after the 3-0 win over Raith Rovers suggests that he is wanting more from those in the final third.
🗣️ “There’s no grey areas, you’re either all in or you’re out.”@RangersFC manager Michael Beale joined our studio panel to discuss a number of topics after advancing to the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals 🔵#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/DqkCKFsq0x
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 12, 2023
“I would like our quality to be a bit better at times, I though Borna Barisic put three or four fantastic crosses in and he needs more from his forwards.
“We need to get more in there, I’d like to see Ryan Kent go in there more, Todd Cantwell go in there more, and that was why i made the sub with Scott Arfield because he has got that knack of running in the box and I fancied him to score.”
Kent in particular needs to learn that he is no longer the only one capable of breaking down a stubborn defence, there is Fashion Sakala on the other side, Nico Raskin can play a pass as well as Malik Tillman and Cantwell. Then we have Ianis Hagi returning from injury and our two full-backs who regularly chip in with goals and assists.
The 26-year old winger has to be more selfish, stop dropping deep to link play and get himself on the end of chances created by others, there will be less pressure on him having to score spectacular efforts from outside the box if he can pad his numbers with a few tap-ins – six goals in 80 games is far from acceptable for a Rangers forward.
If Kent doesn’t want to adjust his game, or isn’t capable of it, then Beale has to look elsewhere. Kent had an excuse before under Giovanni van Bronckhorst when he was being told to hug the touchline now, his boss is telling him to get higher up the park and into the box – if he extends his Rangers contract but doesn’t improve his numbers, he could well find himself in the unfamiliar position of having to watch others who can add to the goals for column from the bench.