It’s time to move on for the famous Glasgow Rangers following Steven Gerrard’s exit and although the new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst won’t start until Monday, the players must put his philosophy of not giving an inch without a fight into practice ahead of locking horns with Hibernian on Sunday afternoon in the Scottish League Cup semi-final outing.
The Gers defeated ten-man Hibs last month in an edgy encounter. The Edinburgh side lost all their games since the Ibrox setback and it’s high time for Jack Ross to turn things around at Hampden Park. The Scottish champions might take a while before settling down under the altered circumstances and the Hibernian boss must take advantage of this momentary instability to get closer to the silverware.
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup To Face Hibernian
Defence
The changes should not be immediate as they have been playing together in a particular setup for quite a few years. Yet the gaffer must stop rotating the goalkeepers and hand the ‘number 1’ status to Jon McLaughlin over the 39-year-old Allan McGregor. Young Robby McCrorie might fancy his chances under the new management.
Despite a match-winning display against Moldova, the Scotland international Nathan Patterson must stay patient for his chances as long as skipper James Tavernier continues to impress with his marauding runs, attacking expertise and set-pieces from the right-hand flank. Connor Goldson should retain his place in deep defence in spite of the contract conundrum, whereas Leon Balogun is expected to get the nod over Jack Simpson as the other central defensive option. Calvin Bassey has been promising as a left fullback, but the Light Blues would require Borna Barisic’s experience in such a tricky fixture.
Midfield
A small tweak in the formation might take place in the middle of the park and Gerrard’s 4-3-3 is likely to be compromised for a 4-2-3-1. Rangers have ample central midfield options in their ranks and the return of Ryan Jack is a massive boost amid Steven Davis’ rough run of form. The Scotsman should be handed a start as a double pivot alongside Glen Kamara. Besides Davis, the likes of Scott Arfield, John Lundstram and Juninho Bacuna would also wait for their opportunities at some stage of the contest.
Joe Aribo has excelled in a free role and is tipped to operate as an attacking playmaker. Ryan Kent’s return has restored the firepower from the left, also the presence of Ianis Hagi down the right would add more balance and variation while scripting quick attacking transitions.
Attack
Alfredo Morelos has been wasteful of late and the manager should opt for Kemar Roofe’s poaching traits high up the pitch. Zambian centre-forward Fashion Sakala fired in a hat-trick against Mauritania last weekend but his club form must improve in order to cement a starting status in the long run.
