Beale sets out Rangers blueprint: A front two, Kent’s central role and talking up Tillman

It may only have been a friendly against a Bayer Leverkusen side several weeks away from their own return to competitive action, but it was clear that Michael Beale had restored some of the pillars that had defined Rangers’ Steven Gerrard era.

As expected, given that Gerrard’s Aston Villa and his own Queens Park Rangers side used similar 4-3-2-1 systems, the familiar sights of a narrow front three, attacking full-backs and a solid midfield shape that shuffles wide to block the opposition were all there.

But this is Beale’s ship to steer now, as his captain James Tavernier put it on Wednesday, and with that autonomy there ought to be visible differences from the setup under predecessor Giovanni van Bronckhorst when Rangers resume their season following the World Cup break with his first game in charge tonight (Thursday) at home to Hibernian.

“The fans will see a team close in style really to what they were used to when I was here under Steven, in terms of the way we want to play, close together and front-foot attacking football,” Beale said.

“Certainly, there’ll be elements of Gio and his staff as well within that, and you’ll see over time that evolving. My ideas haven’t changed too much since I was here previously and it’s just about freeing one or two players up. That always happens when a new coach comes in.

“That’s nothing against the previous management team but it almost shuffles the pack when a new coach comes in and changes the system a little bit. I’m hoping to see that renewed energy in one or two. It’s important for them that they show that as well.”

Beale admits he has the advantage of knowing the bulk of the squad he’s inherited well after spending 600 sessions and 200 games with them in his previous spell at the club, which lasted over three years until moving to Villa with Gerrard last November.

He is aware that the season being on pause for the World Cup means he has been able to put across more ideas in his first few weeks than other managers coming in at mid-season may have and that a gradual change in style may be accelerated.

But who could benefit most from Beale’s desire to “shake the tree”?

Morelos and Colak together?

The most obvious has to be Alfredo Morelos. The Colombia international had shown before that he can lift his game during the honeymoon period of new managerial reigns, and Rangers need him back firing.

Antonio Colak has 14 goals in 24 games since signing from Greek side PAOK in the summer but under Van Bronckhorst it was always either him or Morelos in the team as the Dutchman did not countenance a change of shape to play with two strikers.

That looks like it could be about to change though, as Rabbi Matondo started alongside Colak against Leverkusen with Ryan Kent playing a free role behind them.

“I want to put more strikers on the pitch, more goalscorers, and I want to play up and around the other team’s box — I’ve given away a little bit to you there,” Beale said.

It was a clear message that Rangers simply have not looked threatening enough in the early months of this season.

As Gerrard’s side evolved it became commonplace for there to be two strikers in the front three, with Kemar Roofe operating as the right No 10.

It may be that Beale favours Matondo or Fashion Sakala as the partner of Morelos or Colak, given they have the pace to offer a different threat and won’t imbalance the defensive shape.

Kent and Tillman given license to roam

Beale has been quick to praise the attacking talent of Malik Tillman, stating that he would like the club to take up the option in his loan deal to make the move from Bayern Munich permanent. The American is only 20 and has split opinion but his two goals against Leverkusen saw Beale compare his ability to run from deep to that of former Germany international Michael Ballack.

Tillman started on the right of a midfield three in the friendly but he was used in a similarly detached way to how Joe Aribo was from his second season onwards at Ibrox. Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara played deep to help build possession but Tillman was allowed to roam and find space rather than being stymied by structure.

He has shown he has a real awareness and is the type of player Beale loves working with as he can receive on the half turn and play forward.

Tillman may now have the coach who can make his game more efficient too, if Beale can find a way of fitting him into a system which retains the solid structure he looks for off the ball.

It could be that he settles into one of the No 10 roles which Beale carved out for Kent and Ianis Hagi to minimise the amount of running they had to do and keep them high so they could spring counter-attacks.

Kent central

With the intention to have two goalscorers on the pitch, Kent’s role may change.

Van Bronckhorst returned him to life as a traditional winger, hugging the touchline. But teams were increasingly ganging up on him as they identified Kent as the main thrust and someone they could limit if they showed him down the outside.

Under Gerrard, he spent the vast majority of his games in a hybrid role where he was able to go wide at times but mostly he was receiving the ball inside so he could open up holes and be closer to goal.

Beale may go back to using Kent as the left-side No 10 in a 4-3-2-1 or may stick with the 4-3-1-2 that he trialled against Leverkusen and was seen under Gerrard in games towards the end of the 2019-20 season.

It may be what is needed to rejuvenate Kent’s game as coming up against the same full-backs and wingers every season can lead to a player going stale.

Lowry and three 10s?

Beale talked up 20-year-old Alex Lowry but how does he fit him, Kent and Tillman into one XI?

Lowry has not kicked on as hoped from his impressive showings last season, after suffering two injury setbacks and failing to make his way back into the squad under Van Bronckhorst.

“Young Alex is ripe now. He’s right there at the stage where he can make a breakthrough,” Beale says.

“With that comes a lot of responsibility because he’s got to dislodge someone that’s obviously a little bit older, a little bit more streetwise if you like, and a little bit more experienced in the league, but he’s ready. He’ll be very close to being in the team tomorrow.”

Could there be a system that caters for all three of his most creative outlets?

Pep Guardiola had Manchestre City playing with three No 10s on occasion last season and while that may be advanced thinking in his first few weeks in the job, it is clear Beale wants as many creative players in the centre of the pitch as he can squeeze in there.

The anticipated returns of Hagi and Tom Lawrence in January will give him more choice but over the next few weeks it is those three who he will look to work the ball to most often.

Compactness and counter-pressing

Out of possession, Rangers should fall back into their old shape fairly quickly, given it had become like second nature to many of these players under Beale’s coaching while Gerrard was manager.

Van Bronckhorst would have his wingers tracking all the back when defending and it could lead to long periods without the ball for Rangers against better opposition. Even domestically, there were times when the shape could look disjointed as the press wasn’t always in sync.

Against Leverkusen, it was clear how compact the team was from midfield to front at all times, forcing the ball wide before applying pressure.

They will have the majority of possession at Ibrox tonight so the key to dominating will be how they counter-press — that suffocating feeling they created in the title-winning season came from how aggressive the midfielders and centre-backs were in stopping the opposition from getting out and having time to breathe.

(Top photo: Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)