Risky Business

And so begins another period of uncertainty at Rangers. In late May when the takeover was completed, the feeling of stability - which had been conspicuous through its absence for quite some time – rode into Edmiston Drive saddled up with hope and expectation. There were adults in the room. A structured approach emerged: appointments were made in the appropriate order; roles were clearly defined and filled by qualified, capable individuals with proven track records.

But change, whether positive or otherwise, is always challenging, and it tends to breed a level of uncertainty which can only be eased over a period of time during which progress in performance is tangible.

In football, as in life, there is risk involved with every decision. The hope is that these risks can be minimised by serious, experienced people making calculated, clear-headed and unemotional choices. And while it seems like we have taken a decent-sized stride forward off the pitch in this regard, the small sample size we have on it has been less convincing.

Russell Martin’s appointment was met with much ambivalence and some overt disappointment. He was on the back foot from day one and the ragged performances over the first three competitive matches have done little to change minds or ease concerns.

In many ways this is unfair: it is clear that he does not yet have at his disposal the type of player that he desires. However, as important as getting the result against Panathinaikos was, we might easily have been out of the tie after the first 45 at Ibrox. Again, in Athens we rode our luck and over the two games our progress was based more on the profligacy of the opponent rather the performance of our team. On the other hand, it was a must win tie which was safely navigated with impressive goals from a new signing and an academy graduate. There were, too, some flashes of excellent football and these should give cause for at least some optimism.

While there are cogent arguments to excuse the slow start to the season, there remains concern in equal measure. The team looks unbalanced, unsure of itself and, at times, frankly scared and shambolic.

To have right-sided players at left centre back, left back, left midfield and on the wing seems incomprehensible, and leaves us vulnerable to a hard press on that side of the pitch. We are certainly not seeing the best of Aarons or Raskin in the positions they are being asked to fill and it seems counterproductive to shift two of our more talented players to satisfy a system.

The right hand side is being hampered by a largely ineffectual Diomande and the totally absent Dowell. Danilo has appeared often to be as useful as an idiot child on amphetamines and has offered very little in the way of hold-up play, chance creation or attempts on goal. Running about does not a centre forward make.Dessers must start on Tuesday. And right there folks is a sentence I thought I would neither type nor utter.

We all knew about the manager’s style if play and many of the fans’ concerns derived from this possession based, play out from the back philosophy. He has a different take, referring to high intensity pressing, outrunning and outfighting opposing teams. It was meant to be risk and reward, and while we are very capable of taking risks at the back, ironically when we do play through a press the lack of courage, decision making and risk taking means that very little reward has been on offer.

There are, of course, notable exceptions such as Gassama’s goal at Ibrox, but standing at the back of the Tommy McLean stand on Saturday, I was not alone in venting frustration as potential attack after attack in the first half petered out due to indecision, inaction, or the risk-averse square pass. As much as we could have lost the Pana tie in the opening half a couple of weeks ago, we could and should have won the game on Sunday by the same point. The least said about the second half, the better.

So, moving on, is the manager going to have to the courage to be a risk taker? Will he drop or manoeuvre Tavernier to properly accommodate Aarons? Will he tweak the system to allow players like Raskin to thrive as he previously has? Will he look to either Moore or Antman to replace the dismal Dowell?  Are the players ready, and willing, to follow his creed? Can they outrun and outfight Plzen? Can they take personal and collective responsibility and fill the shirt as they should?

Martin has already taken the risky step of calling out the players, only time will tell how that plays out.

So many questions and such little time. At least there are a few more weeks in the window.

I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Rob Erskine