Rangers forwards a ‘big issue’ for Michael Beale after Servette draw – Sky Sports pundit
Rangers are a “work in progress” but the forward areas are a “big issue” so far this season, according to Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit said on Sky Sports News on 16 August that there was “100%” a lot of work still to do to get the Gers team set up properly, after James Tavernier’s goal in Switzerland secured a 1-1 draw to send them through against Servette, with Danilo’s performance up front disappointing, although he said Nico Raskin and Jose Cifuentes in midfield were “excellent”.
Michael Beale has almost fully overhauled his front line this summer, with Cyriel Dessers, Danilo and Sam Lammers coming in for big money, plus Abdallah Sima on loan, with Antonio Colak, Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos all gone.
Boyd said: “There’s players in there that are still performing at a high level, but the forward areas, for me, it is an issue at this moment in time.
“Danilo played through the middle last night, but again, you obviously get the goals at the weekend and expect him to kick on.
“It’s not easy, European football, I get that but I would maybe play him again at the weekend because if there’s one thing you need to do it’s start finding the back of the net on a regular basis.”
Early judgement
Four games in, with two relatively tough European games navigated, the Rangers season has been up and down already.
But the 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock in the first outing of the campaign has already put a negative slant on many of the growing pains that might have otherwise been expected.
All four of the new attackers this summer have scored their first for the club, which is certainly a bonus, but some glaring misses and a periods of play that lacked fluency have increased concerns.
Without the late flurry of goals against Livingston matters might be looking even worse for Beale, and it is hard not to feel that the late departure of Sakala to Saudi Arabia is having an impact.
Integrating an entirely new front line, none of whom have played together or in Scotland before, at the same time is a tough task, and the lack of the Zambian as a speedy wildcard is showing.
Any familiarity only comes from Kemar Roofe currently, and he is just returning from months out, so clearly the forward unit isn’t fully clicking.
However, there have been flashes of quality and a couple more wins should increase their comfort levels, but with a crucial clash with Celtic already on the horizon there isn’t really time to ease their way in.
In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has admitted he would be “very surprised” by developments in the transfer market involving the Light Blues.