Given that so many members of this underachieving Rangers squad worked with Mick Beale during his first spell at Ibrox, the 42-year-old’s return as head coach should not require a lengthy period of adaptation.
Ryan Kent, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Alfredo Morelos, to name but four, declined noticeably during the final, fraught months of the Giovanni van Bronckhorst era.
But it is not hard to imagine Beale, who some labelled the ‘brains’ of the operation during Rangers’ 2020/21 Invincibles season under Steven Gerrard, breathing fresh life into many an ailing Ibrox career.
Morelos has scored just three goals in 19 games across all competitions. Kamara has only started a handful of matches in 2022/23. And Kent looks a shadow of the player who struck fear into the hearts of defenders across all corners of the continent; an often-unstoppable blur of energy and incision both domestically and in European competition.
The return of a familiar face may be exactly what Morelos and co need.
Faces new and old
But Beale’s return (the BBC believe he could be appointed imminently) will also see him work with a number of players who arrived at Ibrox after he and Gerrard jumped ship to Villa Park. Antonio Colak, John Souttar, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo, Ridvan Yilmaz, Ben Davies and Malik Tillman are new faces, as far as Beale is concerned.
Of the aforementioned septet, Lawrence and Tillman, in particular, could benefit most from Beale’s appointment. At Queens Park Rangers, the one-time Liverpool coach got the best out of the mercurial Chris Willock and Ilias Chair – two of the most naturally talented footballers in the Championship – by deploying a fluid, forward-thinking 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 formation designed to give freedom QPR’s exciting attackers.
Tillman and Kent reborn?
Tillman, like Chair, could thrive in a role relatively free from defensive responsibilities; the energetic Jack, Kamara and/or John Lundstrom providing cover and support in behind.
The USA international is a wonderfully exciting footballer, superb technically and with an eye for goal. Questions marks have been asked, however, about his work rate and defensive awareness. Beale’s system could minimise Tillman’s weaknesses while maximising his strengths.
Beale also likes one of his midfielders to drop into the backline when in possession, allowing the full-backs to push high and wide. Lundstram did this impressively during Rangers run to the 2022 Europa League final, and the ability to shift from a flat-back four to a wing-back system in-play should give James Tavernier and Borna Barisic (two of Rangers’ most effective creators) the liberty to do what they do best.
The promising but raw Yilmaz should benefit too from a fresh start under a new manager.
Passing and pressing
Per the Daily Record, Beale’s QPR register the third-best pass completion rate in the Championship. They dribble more than any other team in the division. And their number of ‘offensive challenges won’ also ranks amongst the league’s best.
These statistics highlight Beale’s preference for dominant possession play and high pressing. It also betrays a refreshing willingness to let creative talent off the leash. Kent, in particular, could be a man re-born; running at defences in the way Chair and Willock have done to such great effect this term. Fashion Sakala and Rabbi Matondo could also be important. Especially given Beale’s admiration for players capable of carrying the ball over long and short distances.
Colak or Morelos?
Up front, the decision facing Beale is whether to go either Morelos or Colak. Two very different centre-forwards, with very different skill-sets. His number nine at QPR, the 6ft 2ins battering ram Lyndon Dykes, is not the most prolific. But the Australia-born Scot is strong, aggressive and excellent at bringing others into play. Morelos is far more effective with his back to goal than Colak, but the latter has 11 goals in 14 Premiership games.
Expect Beale to work with Colak, then, on his link-play and efficiency outside of the box, in an attempt to create a more fluid attack. Under his management, an attack of Colak, Kent, Tillman and perhaps Sakala could have that perfect blend of poise, speed and imagination.
“It would take me 15-20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach. So I let Mick be Mick. He’s the expert,” Gerrard graciously said of his long-time confidante last year, via the Scottish Sun.
Now, the time has come for Beale to prove that all those bright ideas can translate in a Rangers side who have lost so many of the principles that made them the best team in Scotland during his first spell in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.
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