One of the biggest conundrum the Rangers manager is facing now is trying to find a system to make the best use of his squad. The signing of Jermain Defoe opened up a lot of options for Steven Gerrard, and we have already seen him try the 4-4-2 diamond and the traditional 4-4-2 in the past few games.
After the signing of Defoe, Gerrard was quoted as saying (Daily Record), ”Jermain gives us the option of playing two up front, whether that be 4-4-2, a diamond, 3-5-2… it gives us that luxury. Kyle also does that we can go with a target man and a smaller guy around him.”
One of the formations the gaffer mentions is a 3-5-2, and we would like to analyse how the team can lineup in that and how effective that system could be given the set of players the manager has at his disposal.
In defence, Allan McGregor is a guaranteed starter in goal. Joe Worrall and Connor Goldson will be two of the back three if we are to guess Gerrard’s intentions. The other spot should go to Nikola Katic after his recent displays.
In midfield, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier are going to be the widest players on each side and would play as a wing back. The fact is that they anyway play most of their games camping in the opposition half right now. So, they shouldn’t have any problem playing in this slightly new position. Ryan Jack is going to be the defensive cover in midfield, and Steven Davis can partner him. Scott Arfield is likely to play in a slightly more attacking role, and he can make forays into the penalty box with his late runs.
Up front, Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe are going to partner up.
However, the major problem in this formation is to find a place for Ryan Kent. Surely he can’t play as a wingback as that would be too deep for him to affect play. Another position where he can fit in here is in the attacking midfield’s role, i.e. he could take Scott Arfield’s spot in the lineup.
Now to thrive in that role, Kent needs to have the vision to pick out a pass, and that is something which he isn’t the best at right now. Playing in central areas would also give him less space to showcase his pace, skills and trickery. The Liverpool loanee is best equipped to take on fullbacks and feed the ball from the wide areas. Therefore this is going to be a major downer on why this formation wouldn’t work as we aren’t able to find out how Kent can be utilised.
Apart from that, the formation can suit the other players if they adapt to it and maybe the Gers might even become more defensively solid in this system. But overall, without a proper playmaker, this formation is a no go for us.
