Michael Beale wants his Rangers team to play without inhibition. Freedom and expression are at the heart of his philosophy, and his imprint was already evident in the 3-0 friendly victory over Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
There is usually little to garner from challenge matches, they are often sedate affairs, but a managerial debut at least added intrigue on a bitterly cold afternoon. Spectators at Ibrox were perhaps expecting a return to the past, with a familiar formation reappearing, but the shape differed from the Steven Gerrard era.
The 4-3-3 formation anticipated did not materialise, with the four attack-minded players - Malik Tillman, Ryan Kent, Rabbi Matondo and Antonio Colak - afforded the freedom to roam and interchange. Beale wants his team to perform with the ‘shackles off' and his unwavering commitment to an assertive style should ease the long-standing predictability problem.
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“We want to press and be more aggressive, and that takes a different type of fitness from maybe we have right now,” remarked Beale post-Leverkusen. Most incoming managers tend to make a subtle comment regarding the need to improve endurance; it is often baseless and uttered to resonate with supporters, but Rangers have been energyless and lacklustre for much of the campaign.
It will be pre-season before Beale can fully implement his methods, but in the meantime, he will work with a squad he has repeatedly praised for its quality. The core group has underperformed this season, standards have plummeted, but the old-timers have been left vulnerable by an influx of non-contributing summer arrivals.
Earlier this month, shareholders scrutinised Ross Wilson’s body of work at the club’s AGM - and the Sporting Director looked decidedly uneasy as he encountered hostility for the first time. Many recent purchases have frequently delivered substandard performances, and Beale's remit includes altering the perception of the recruitment department.
Bar the odd exception this season, the vast majority of players toiled under Giovanni Van Bronckhorst during the first half of the season. The new boys will, therefore, rightly, be afforded another opportunity to shine under different leadership - and a good manager should be able to squeeze more from Tillman. The USA internationalist has shown glimpses of his considerable potential, and he should dazzle in a forward-thinking system.
Matondo, another summer signing, has struggled to make his mark this season. The 22-year-old, omitted from the Welsh World Cup squad, has flattered to deceive during his sporadic appearances. His blistering pace is an asset, but his awareness and decision-making requires work.
As with any new manager, there will be winners and losers. Glen Kamara will be an obvious beneficiary; Beale adores his subtleness in possession, and his return to the starting XI after a spell on the fringes is almost assured. Kent will be enthused by the return of a familiar face, while Tom Lawrence, Tillman, Alex Lowry and Ianis Hagi will benefit from the manager’s commitment to brains over brawn.
John Lundstram was amongst the first names on the team sheet under Van Bronckhorst, but his position is under threat. Colak, the top goalscorer this season, is unlikely to struggle for game-time in the near future, yet longer-term, it is unclear whether his style is compatible with Beale’s ideology.
The two domestic cup competitions offer Beale his best opportunity to attain silverware this season. The league title appears out of reach, but if the Englishman can oversee a winning run leading into the Old Firm game on January 2nd, he may be able to exert pressure on the leaders.
For much of the last 18 months, Rangers have lacked a clear identity. While positive results are never guaranteed, Beale's influence will be visible from the first whistle of his reign.
Rangers welcome Hibernian to Ibrox on Thursday evening as the Premiership returns.
