Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is going to “consider” working on playing with captain James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson in the side – but insists it is going to be something that will take time to get right.
They both play at right-back for Rangers but Tavernier was pushed further forward in yesterday’s friendly with Arsenal when the teenager came off the bench following his summer away with Scotland at Euro 2020.
Gerrard hailed both as “fantastic” players and confessed he simply can’t keep one of them on the bench all season as Rangers defend their Premiership title.
With three more friendlies before the league season gets underway against Livingston on July 31, Gerrard said he will “experiment” more with fitting both Tavernier and Patterson into the side at the same time.
“We’re going to consider it because they’re two really good players,” Gerrard told Rangers TV.
“But it’s not going to happen at the flick of a switch, it’s something we’re going to have to work on in training, we’ll have to get them used to it.
“They’re two fantastic players so I can’t have one of them on the bench for every game of the season that’s for sure.
“There will be times when it’ll suit us and times when I don’t need it but it is something that’s on my mind, and it is something we’re going to experiment with.
“It’s not a big strength of his, but what I will say is I didn’t want to change the system during the game today.
“We had too many changes so I didn’t want to go to a 4-1-4-1. If we use this system (with Tavernier and Patterson) it’ll maybe be more in a back-three or in a 4-1-4-1 where James is more out wide, where he’s more used to being when he plays right-back.
“I certainly won’t play him as a 10 with his back to goal, I can’t turn him into a 10 overnight. But what I didn’t want to do today was change the system because of where the scoreline was, and because we’d just made so many substitutions.
“So it’s a work in progress but it’s very early days.”
Patterson could make a better option in the more advance role
While it probably seems like the obvious idea to move Tavernier forward and put Patterson in at right-back, Patterson’s experience for Scotland under-21s could make him a better option.
The teen only made a handful of appearances for Scot Gemmill’s side but was used in a far more attacking position than he usually is for Rangers.
While the idea will be around getting Patterson more experience playing in what will be his long-term position, he could offer a lot if occasionally used further forward.
Making sure Patterson gets regular minutes this season is crucial though and his development into Tavernier’s successor needs to be key to any decisions.
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