Ibrox View: Five in midfield could be effective back-up plan for Rangers next term
For the vast majority of his time at Ibrox, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side have played a 4-3-3 formation.
According to Wyscout, the Gers have employed that shape for 77% of game time this past calendar year, generally playing with two out-and-out wingers and a lone central striker.
But given the considerable dip in form that the Gers suffered in form over the past few months, it seems reasonable to ask whether or not a different formation might be an idea that is worth pursuing.
The next most frequent plan of acton that we have seen Gerrard go with is a more crowded midfield.
Both 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-2-1 have been used by the manager over the past 12 months, making up a total of 12% of minutes.
And the stats would suggest that there are some merits to playing that way.
On average, when Gerrard goes with a five in the middle of the park, Rangers have 5% more possession and have a shot accuracy that is 6.3% higher, as per Wyscout.
Interestingly, there is also a higher percentage of successful crosses when Gerrard doesn’t play two of his supporting high and wide.
And the main takeaway from those numbers is that it seems as if the Gers are more willing to hold on to the ball and prioritise quality build-up play when they have the luxury of an extra body or two in the centre of the park.
Obviously, there are some downsides to sacrificing two forwards.
The Gers’ xG, for example, falls from 1.86, as pictured below, to 1.41 when Gerrard moves to a five in midfield.
And that alone would suggest that it’s not a tactic that he should employ all of the time.
But in certain situations and certain scenarios – like the 2-2 draw against St. Johnstone earlier this season when the Gers conceded inside the last 10 minutes – it might be an idea for Gerrard to switch to a system that allows his side to control the direction and tempo of a game with more ease.
Five in midfield would do that, and could add the element off resilience that Rangers were desperately lacking at times this season.
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