Gordon Strachan in awe of ‘very clever’ Gerrard plan for Rangers ace
For Rangers to go to Parkhead and win is one thing. For Rangers to go to Parkhead and win in the manner they did on Sunday is quite another.
The Gers looked relentless and relatively comfortable from the very first whistle, and even when things looked as if they might be going against the Gers – like when they conceded a soft penalty or were pegged back by a goal that clearly struck a hand – you couldn’t help feeling that it was misfortune rather than being bested by Celtic.
And that tactical masterclass from Steven Gerrard bodes well for the future because it suggests there is a serious foundation to be built on here.
It’s something that Gordon Strachan picked up on too.
Reflecting back on the Old Firm in his column for Paddy Power, the ex-Scotland manager picked out the example of Ryan Kent to illustrate just how well Gerrard is preparing his side for the big clashes.
He said: “The way Steven and Gary McAllister have set Rangers up is very clever.
“When they signed Ryan Kent, most of us were assuming that he’d be played as a left winger.
“Instead, he’s in a Sadio Mane role, as an old fashioned inside forward, with Joe Aribo on the other side. Like Liverpool, the width comes from the full backs. It’s a lovely system, as it means that you have five players in the centre of the field – which determines that you win most of the ball.”
Certainly, Kent is starting to come into his own again in a Rangers shirt after a fairly slow start to his second spell in Glasgow.
His goal on Sunday showed a player who is becoming increasingly intelligent and composed, and the decision to allow him to wander with more freedom, as Gerrard has given him, looks to be a fantastically acute piece of management.
In other news, ‘Masterstroke’ – Hutton raves about ‘standout’ Rangers performer v Celtic.