According to PLZ Soccer, there has been some shocking news coming out of Rangers this morning: neither Borna Barisic nor Dujon Sterling have been practicing.
On October 25, the Scottish football news source said on Twitter that Ridvan Yimaz’s exclusion from the Europa League team had left Philippe Clement facing a dilemma at left back.
There won’t be a suitable left-back for Clement going into Thursday night’s [26 October] Europa League match against Sparta Prague, therefore a makeshift defense will be required.
Beale is already returning to haunt the Rangers.
Although many at the time thought Michael Beale’s decision to leave Yilmaz out of the Europa League team would mean the end of the defender’s Ibrox career, Yilmaz stayed at the club during the transfer window, and Clement would need him today. Ben Davies might have to start somewhere other than his preferred position because of the left-back injury crisis. Given that he is a defensive player by nature, this seems sense, but it might present issues for Clement.
His ignorance of the wide defensive role may occasionally leave him vulnerable. It may also limit the attacking danger posed by the left wing in the absence of a natural overlapping full-back who can deliver crosses into the box.
If the new manager decides it would be better to start with three in defense to cover their responsibilities while using a winger or midfielder in a different role as a wing-back to perform the overlapping roles, then a change in formation may be in order.
In any case, things are far from perfect before the manager’s second Rangers game as manager.
