Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Club Brugge at Ibrox offered more than just a pre-season workout, it hinted at a team in transition, both tactically and in terms of personnel.
Our first match under new boss Russell Martin and the 49ers lead ownership group, there is for once a sense of optimism around Govan and hopes we can finally get on the road back to the top.
With several players, including new boys Lyall Cameron, Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard missing, key squad decisions looming, and Russell Martin’s evolving style starting to take shape, here are the main talking points from Sunday’s friendly.
Absentees Tell a Story – Exit Looming for Several?
Several names were not involved, adding fuel to speculation over imminent departures. Ben Davies and José Cifuentes were nowhere to be seen, with both players expected to move on in the coming days.
Rabbi Matondo also missed out, although his absence was down to a knock, not transfer movement.
Another player linked with a departure has been Nedim Bajrami who featured again and assisted Finlay Curtis for the equaliser.
With the likes of Kieran Dowell and Robin Propper featuring it could seem that reported exits may be further away than first thought.
Ridvan’s new number
Max Aarons has taken over the No. 3 shirt despite being a right back, a possible sign of Martin’s lack of trust in the Ridvan Yilmaz after speculation about his future.
Jefte started the match at left back before Yilmaz came on at the break but with the Turkish international now sporting 33 it could signal he is further down the list of first-team options, it could be close to the end of his time in Scotland.
Youth given a chance – And taking it
Martin handed minutes to several youngsters, including Bailey Rice, Josh Gentles and Zander Hutton. Robbie Fraser notably not involved, perhaps hinting at another loan move.
Another youngster in Curtis was the only player to complete the full 90 minutes and was deservedly named Man of the Match after his late goal.
None of the young players looked out of place, which bodes well ahead of a busy start to the season before the window closes.
Ross McCausland, however, continues to frustrate, lots of energy but little end product, often running straight into defenders.
Leon King endured a tough afternoon. Caught out for the opening goal, he looked off the pace and failed to recover defensively in several moments. His struggles last season at Championship side Queen’s Park appear to have followed him into the new campaign.
It is hard not to feel for King, a boy who clearly loves the club but is out of his depth now and is not even Premiership level never mind Rangers. His confidence has never recovered from his UEFA Champions League horror shows in 2022 and it’s time for him to move on, both for the club’s sake and his own.
Surprise leadership choice – Barron wears the armband
In a surprising move, Connor Barron was handed the captain’s armband ahead of Nico Raskin.
James Tavernier, who came on halfway into the match at centre-back, took over for the second 45 but the Belgian’s exclusion from leadership duties raised some eyebrows amid rumours of a big money departure.
A stylish new kit on a patchy pitch
One thing fans are united on was the new home kit, a sleek, classical design that looks set to be a fan favourite.
Less impressive was the Ibrox surface. The pitch showed signs of wear, with several noticeable patches hardly ideal preparation for the new season but hopefully something that will be fixed by Panathinaikos’ visit.
Formation and style – early signs of the Martin plan
Rangers lined up in a 4-3-3, with a clear 6-8-10 midfield structure and narrow wingers who tucked in when out of possession. The press was aggressive on Brugge goal-kicks, particularly in the first half, but disjointed at times as expected this early into the season.
One-touch passing was a theme, with fewer long diagonals and more central build-up. Full backs didn’t overlap as often, and throw-ins went forward more quickly, a subtle shift in tempo that Martin has changed from last year.
Still, the same old issue lingered: Rangers failed to exploit overloads, with Bajrami again guilty of hesitancy in promising areas other than his pass for the Curtis goal late on.
There’s a pressing need to get to the byline more often, a hallmark of Celtic under Ange Postecoglou, which is a must to be successful in the SPFL.
The squad looks physically sharper, though visibly fatigued by the end, no surprise given the intense training load Martin spoke about ahead of the game. New wide players still feel like a necessity before the season begins in earnest.
Tav at centre-back – A viable option?
With options limited, Tavernier started at centre-back and looked comfortable. His composure and distribution in that role was a quiet highlight as Aarons started at right back.
New boy Emmanuel Fernandez came on with Tavernier at the break and looked strong and quick, but as mentioned by Peterborough fans, can look raw at times.
Final Thoughts
It’s early days, but the building blocks of Martin’s Rangers are starting to form. There’s more movement to come in the transfer market, both in and out, but fans got a glimpse of a fresher, more dynamic approach.
With youth stepping up, a stylish new kit on show, and the system slowly taking shape, there's cautious optimism at Ibrox, even if there's work to be done.