Rangers must change system v Aberdeen after Ridvan Yilmaz injury
Having only just got himself into the Rangers team, Ridvan Yilmaz suffered a major injury setback in the first half against Aberdeen.
The Turkish international went down clutching his hamstring and quickly signalled to the Light Blues’ bench that he needed to come off also he was replaced by Borna Barisic.
The Croatian is the natural replacement but Giovanni van Bronckhorst could have used this opportunity to try something new that could be the answer to unlocking this squad’s best form.
“And just as I say Ridvan has made a great start… he blocks Richardson’s cross but does his hamstring,” The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell said via his personal Twitter account. “He knows straight away that it was gone and signals for a change. When your luck is out…”
It wasn’t long after he hobbled off that the Gers went behind courtesy of Connor Barron and that should have been the signal to van Bronckhorst that he had to change the system.
James Sands was already on the pitch and a player who can naturally slot into central defence alongside Leon King and Ben Davies and offer a totally different angle of attack.
That would have allowed James Tavernier to bomb on even more as a right wing-back and maybe Ryan Kent could have then been utilised as a left wing-back on the other side.
Aberdeen are not going to come onto the Bears while they have a point in the bag so there is scope to move into a different system and allow the wing-backs to be permanent attackers.
van Bronckhorst could well be on the chopping block if he loses this game so when his options are non-existent, why not give it a go and see if the flame can be lit with a spark.
In other Rangers news, Yilmaz had to endure a very difficult period earlier this season as he was set an intense training programme at Auchenhowie.