GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Prior to kickoff against Hearts on Sunday (October 29), Sam Lammers has made the Rangers starting XI for the third game in a row under Philippe Clement. The manager appears to have erred in selecting the summer signing.
It was probably fair enough to give the former Sampdoria man a try when the Belgian manager arrived to find a bit of an injury crisis at Ibrox and needed to watch his new charges in action to determine what he had at his disposal. However, the Dutchman feels that he needs a spell away from the team to regroup because he hasn’t accomplished much more in his first two games under Clement than he did under Michael Beale, the man who signed him.
While Danilo, Kieran Dowell, and Jose Cifuentes are all back in the lineup, Todd Cantwell was not ready to start the team’s 4-0 victory over Hibs last weekend. However, he did make the starting lineup for the Sparta Prague trip and now for Hearts.
Although he may not be the most impressive player for the Light Blues, Scott Wright is still available and received a start in Clement’s opening contest. Hence, it appears like a squandered chance to tell Lammers that his lack of influence isn’t good enough to start him in the starting lineup at Ibrox.
If the manager opts for the standard 4-2-3-1 formation, it would undoubtedly be preferable to have Wright on the wing and Cantwell at number 10, as Lammers has primarily seen games pass him since his arrival and has been a part of the problem this season under Beale due to a clear lack of width and pace.
Perhaps Clement is trying to give Lammers a boost in confidence, similar to what happened with Cyriel Dessers up front, but unlike the Nigerian international who has at least scored for the new manager already, there doesn’t seem to have been much of a response thus far.
It would seem counterproductive to continue starting Lammers when other options become more and more available. Granted, he had the game of his life against the Jambos to disprove this entirely, but he hasn’t looked at ease in a Rangers uniform this season despite playing a lot.
Those who aren’t responding to the managerial change should step aside, at least for the time being, as Clement needs to make sure he gains as much momentum as possible in his opening games.
