Rangers have been attempting to jam Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos into the side.
Ex-Scotland and Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has told The Debate that he thinks Rangers boss Steven Gerrrard should stick to a 4-3-3 system at Ibrox.
The Gers have played that system for much of Gerrard’s stint as manager, but the arrival of Jermain Defoe from Bournemouth last month has led to some experimenting.
Gerrard has recently moved away from that setup in order to play a 4-3-1-2, pairing Defoe with Alfredo Morelos in attack whilst offering a free role to Ryan Kent.
The formation hasn’t really worked for Rangers, but moving away from that system means it’s difficult to fit Defoe and Morelos into the same team.
Whilst Gerrard has added major firepower by signing Defoe, he has also given himself a little bit of a headache in jamming them both into the side.
With Morelos now suspended, Defoe should be able to play up front on his own, but the veteran may have to be used as an impact substitute in some games.
Now, Strachan has suggested that Rangers are at their best when using a 4-3-3, suggesting that Gerrard should abandon the recent 4-3-1-2 setup.
Strachan noted that 4-3-3 is best for the Rangers players, as the 4-3-1-2 is asking too many players to play in roles they don’t like – even if it means Defoe has to be a substitute.
“They’re at their best where they have one main striker, two off the side and three in midfield,” said Strachan. “They tried to do it with the two of them, but it didn’t work as well.”
“I think the one striker is best for the rest of the Rangers. I think if you have them two playing, you have to move people into different positions that they don’t like playing; the wider men don’t like playing in a four, you have to narrow that…I think that three in midfield, the two wider ones and one up the middle, if you look at Rangers’ results, it’s what they like doing,” he added.
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