The real meaning of Tavernier and Dessers’ Rangers substitution
Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier were replaced at Hampden <i>(Image: Alan Harvey – SNS Group)</i>
Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier were replaced at Hampden (Image: Alan Harvey – SNS Group)
To an outsider, the move would’ve appeared strange. Rangers, chasing a winner in a must-win semi-final, taking off their No.9 who’d equalised proceedings and captain, responsible for scoring the goal that won this competition a year ago.
Philippe Clement has shown deep loyalty to Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier during 13 months at Ibrox which both have repaid in periods. The former broke the 20-goal barrier last season and started this campaign in a confident mood, the latter’s journey in Glasgow and share of big moments is well-known. Rarely when Rangers have required a goal in years gone by has Tavernier been sacrificed.
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With that in mind, it felt significant that Clement chose to replace both with Danilo and Dujon Sterling when rolling the dice around the hour mark. The result on the day alongside several individuals lifting their own levels was a quicker, slicker and stronger performance earning a deserved spot against Celtic in next month’s final. And the implication long term? That remains to be seen.
Defeat at Pittodrie on Wednesday night left Clement a loss away from open mutiny in the stands yesterday afternoon. Ill-advised media comments and the continuing lack of clarity at executive level only added to the anger and apathy among Rangers supporters travelling to Hampden. Those who’ve lost faith in the Belgian coach will require much more than yesterday’s 2-1 win over Motherwell to get back on the saddle but could reflect on a performance far more cohesive and dynamic after the break.
Motherwell’s goal, scored by Andy Halliday to add another complex dagger into Rangers’ spiralling situation, derived when both Tavernier and Jefte took a momentary pause from defending. Dessers spurned an open goal just before the whistle alongside a generally poor first half but made amends with a close-range finish four minutes after the restart. Nedim Bajrami’s late winner, provided for by the excellent Vaclav Cerny, was the least Rangers merited.
(Image: Alan Harvey – SNS Group)
The first goal was a well-worked cutback created against a low block scarcely seen this season. Rotations on the right earned Cerny possession of the ball in his favoured right channel where Barron was making a run inside. The second was the exact type of vertical, seesawing, clinical football Clement has been red in the face to remind people of lately without all that much evidence. Both came as a result of Cerny taking ownership and risks. After coming off social media following a horror miss against Lyon the Czech attacker has become his team’s most important one.
Cerny, Nicolas Raskin, Bajrami, Jefte and Barron all took responsibility after the interval. The substitutions of Dessers, Tavernier and Tom Lawrence also saw Clement’s side end the game with a younger and more varied starting 11. Offer Motherwell the prospect of facing the team that started or finished the game and they’d likely opt for the former.
Clenent’s football has suffered understandable criticism this season. Rangers have often looked caught between trying to become a possession team and knowing that direct football is their most potent weapon. When Clement discusses his football he highlights duels, spaces, and verticality – this isn’t a game model foundationed on possession of the ball or a manager well-primed in unpicking low blocks. The underwhelming chance creation numbers this season (Rangers’ xG difference is a whole 10 goals lower than Celtic after 10 games) is evidence of that. Clement’s football is based on big spaces and therefore, requires as many one-on-one profiles as possible.
Read more:
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Clement’s football needs duellers to thrive. Those who can progress the ball themselves and win battles without the help of teammates. Think how much more Jefte, for example, looks in this system at left-back compared to Borna Barisic. A big-space player who thrives on progressing the ball individually.
Lawrence, WHO limped off in the first half, has been a favourite of Clement all season, in part due to Bajrami’s enforced role on the left-wing. Consider the Rangers front four that lined up, however, and ask, how much unpredictability does it carry? Dessers will run behind but never link play, leaving the space ahead of the defence unexposed. Bajrami and Cerny always want to cut infield and often requires the space in transition to do so. Lawrence lacks the engine to make up for Dessers’ deficiencies and will rarely run beyond.
Danilo’s introduction immediately posed Motherwell problems. Would the Brazilian run behind as threatened for the winning goal or drop in to link play and create openings? The knock-on effect was a little more variety and a few more spaces. Stuart Kettlewell’s defence couldn’t sit and defend predictably but rather, were forced to react to a variety of movements. Simply there were more threats to consider and fires to put out. A striker who brings others into play will usually improve the collective.
(Image: Alan Harvey – SNS Group)
Sterling provided a nonchalant recovery run at right-back in the closing stages that offered just a hint of the player he could be if given a run in his favoured position. There is a belief internally that the former Chelsea defender has his highest ceiling in that role, so is it not time to give him a run of games? After overcoming an issue that disrupted October the 24-year-old, a member of the Ibrox leadership group, needs to play.
Danilo’s recovery from a knee injury sustained at Tynecastle last December has been long and complex. Some were surprised at his place in the stands rather than on the bench at Pittodrie on Wednesday. While still not at his peak the 25-year-old so clearly makes Rangers a better football team. When Rangers return to face an in-form Celtic in Mount Florida next month there is no doubt they’d be better placed with Sterling up against Daizen Maeda and Danilo attempting to link proceedings and take the team forwards.
Clement made big calls to turn a game that required intervention on Sunday. Has he seen enough to vote for change?
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Cyriel Dessers
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