Glasgow Rangers have an opportunity to instantly bounce again from their Europa League woes as they put together to host St Johnstone at Ibrox within the Scottish Premiership this night.
The Mild Blues head into this recreation off the again of a 4-1 defeat to French facet Lyon in Glasgow on Thursday evening, because of braces from Malick Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette.
Philippe Clement’s facet had gained their final 4 matches in all competitions and had crushed Malmo 2-0 of their first match of the league part within the Europa League, however have been unable to construct on that sturdy type in opposition to the Ligue 1 outfit.
The Gers discovered themselves 3-1 down by half-time and infrequently performed themselves into bother, as a lot because the likes of Fofana, Rayan Cherki, and Lacazette confirmed their high quality.
After Tom Lawrence made it 1-1 within the 14th minute, Connor Barron performed a poor ball again to John Souttar that despatched Fofana away to tee up Lacazette for a straightforward end within the nineteenth minute, and it was all downhill after that.
Clement might look to make some adjustments from the beginning XI that was simply crushed by Lyon and one participant who needs to be dropped is winger Vaclav Cerny.
Why Vaclav Cerny needs to be dropped
The Wolfsburg loanee, as soon as once more, didn’t justify his place within the line-up. It was one other disappointing efficiency from the Czechia worldwide, who didn’t make any constructive affect within the remaining third.
Cerny had an enormous likelihood to seek out the again of the web with the rating at 0-0 contained in the opening ten minutes. Tom Lawrence’s shot was parried straight to the left-footed ahead on his favoured foot and he blazed his effort over the bar, with an open objective in entrance of him, from six yards out.
The 26-year-old dud has now gone 5 matches and not using a single objective or an help for the Mild Blues, and has solely made two key passes in that point.
|
24/25 Europa League |
Vaclav Cerny |
|---|---|
|
Begins |
2 |
|
Targets |
0 |
|
Massive possibilities missed |
2 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Massive possibilities created |
0 |
|
Duel success fee |
33% |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
|
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Cerny has struggled badly within the two Europa League video games thus far, lacking two ‘massive possibilities’ and shedding 67% of his duels.
The previous Eredivisie star has scored one objective and supplied one help in 5 Premiership matches and must do much more within the remaining third to show that he needs to be beginning week-in-week-out for the Gers, which is why Clement should ditch him from the XI for this match.
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Alongside Cerny, the Belgian head coach ought to change up the entire right-hand facet for Rangers and boldly drop captain James Tavernier from the line-up tonight.
Why James Tavernier needs to be dropped
The Rangers skipper was withdrawn from the conflict with Lyon within the 61st minute, after a tough hour at Ibrox, and may now be positioned on the bench in opposition to St Johnstone.
Tavernier, who was handed a dismal participant score of three/10 by Glasgow World, struggled out and in of possession in opposition to the French outfit on Thursday.
On the ball, the Englishman misplaced possession 12 occasions and solely accomplished 70% of his tried passes, which reveals that he gave it again to the away facet too usually.
The skilled defender additionally gained simply two duels in 61 minutes, additionally shedding two, and was caught out for the fourth objective for Lyon as he didn’t cope with a ball to the again put up and allowed Fofana to sneak in and rating from shut vary.
Tavernier, who’s but to attain in six appearances within the Premiership this season, has recorded two assists within the league however shouldn’t be proof against being dropped, significantly after a poor displaying in opposition to Lyon.
His defensive capabilities have been questioned previously. Former Rangers right-back Steven Whittaker claimed that it’s an space of his recreation that he “has to have a look at” final 12 months.
Dropping Tavernier from the facet, because the captain, could possibly be seen as an enormous assertion by Clement however it will additionally present all the gamers that nobody is proof against being taken out of the facet. Poor performances ought to have penalties and that’s the reason the Belgian boss should ruthlessly ditch him from the XI for this conflict with St Johnstone.
The participant who ought to change James Tavernier
Neraysho Kasanwirjo got here off the bench in opposition to Lyon and caught the attention with a powerful show in his 29 minutes on the pitch, wherein time Rangers didn’t concede a objective.
The Feyenoord loanee made one clearance, one block, one interception, one sort out, and one clearance off the road in his quick time in opposition to the French facet. Whereas, Tavernier solely made one interception and was dribbled previous as soon as in his 61 minutes, with zero clearances, zero tackles, and nil blocks.
These defensive statistics, and the respective scores with every of them on the pitch, counsel that the Dutch teen outperformed the captain at right-back at Ibrox on Thursday evening.
After all, Kasanwirjo got here on with Lyon already 4-1 up and, maybe, not as motivated to go and rating extra objectives, however he nonetheless received caught in to make very important interventions, which is one thing that Tavernier didn’t do throughout his efficiency.
The 22-year-old ace, who joined on mortgage from Feyenoord in the summertime switch window, is but to start out a Premiership match however was within the XI at left-back in opposition to Malmo final week.
|
Neraysho Kasanwirjo |
Vs Malmo |
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
90 |
|
Duels gained |
2/3 |
|
Dribbled previous |
0x |
|
Cross accuracy |
89% |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
|
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Kasanwirjo gained the vast majority of his duels and was not dribbled previous a single time in opposition to the Swedish outfit, while he was additionally composed in possession with a cross success fee of 89%.
The 22-year-old starlet, who made 20 appearances within the Eredivisie through the 2023/24 marketing campaign, ought to now be handed a chance to shine from the beginning for the primary time within the Premiership this night.
A robust efficiency from the Dutch ace might hold Tavernier on his toes transferring ahead, and inspire the skipper to bounce again after the worldwide break.
