Journalist shares ‘Mystery’ verdict on misfiring Rangers attack as Michael Beale sack pressure intensifies
Michael Beale has a real “mystery” to solve on who starts in up front with Cyriel Dessers as the Rangers attack continues to misfire ramping up the pressure at Ibrox, according to Ben Banks.
The Daily Record journalist, writing in his article (12 September) shared that the noise is growing louder surrounding Beale’s future at Ibrox after the Daily Record reported on 6 September, that chairman John Bennett and other Ibrox chiefs are “ready to stand behind” Beale for now despite disappointing results in the first weeks of the season.
And much of that pressure has been down to the misfiring attack as Beale continues to tinker with an attack he did “surgery” on during the summer transfer window, bringing in Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima to replace Fashion Sakala, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
And the Rangers boss has a “mystery” to solve if the club are to improve their inconsistent form, and that’s locating the perfect partner for Cyriel Dessers.
Banks wrote: “Out of the nine competitive matches so far this term, eight different Rangers forward lines have been put out.
“Only the front three pairing of Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo have had back-to-back matches as Beale tinkers in an area he has performed major surgery on.
“They might not have ended their Rangers careers in the best manner, but Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos certainly showed their worth in blue and Fashion Sakala who has also departed had his uses, too.
“Dessers has been used frequently as a focal point but who plays up either side of him is a mystery week to week at this stage.”
Solution needs to be found quickly
Rangers fans will certainly be incredibly disappointed at the manner of recent results at Ibrox especially after Beale was backed so heavily in the transfer market with as many as nine signings made.
Impressive additions such as Jose Cifuentes, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima certainly brought plenty of optimism around Ibrox that this was indeed the year that Rangers could not only fully challenge Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title but also successfully beat them to it.
However, after four games, Rangers look absolutely far from matching those ambitions with Beale’s new attacking quartet still trying to find their feat which is understandable, but the stats don’t make for good reading at all via FBref.
Rangers have had 80 shots in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, which is considerably 20 more than the next-highest in Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic. Beale’s men are creating chances but are worryingly aimless with their shooting.
They have scored only six times from those 80 shots – Celtic have eight from their 60 – which certainly shows how their Old Firm rivals are even toppling them in a small statistic. 31.3% of Rangers’ shots so far have found the target and that stat is again laid bare especially given the attacking signings Beale made and the controversial exits he sanctioned – most crucially, in Fashion Sakala.
A solution desperately needs to be found and fast, because should Beale take too long on this tactical decision then Rangers could find themselves severely lagging behind their rivals and Beale may be out of a job before he blinks.
In other Rangers news, one senior Ibrox star could be forced to empty his locker very soon after a decision had been made on Beale’s future.