Exactly what fans can expect Rangers to look like under Kevin Muscat as Ibrox move nears final stage
Kevin Muscat looks to be all but confirmed as the Rangers manager.
Muscat’s move to Rangers has gathered pace this week, but it hasn’t been a smooth process for Andrew Cavenagh and Co.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers move fell through, which meant the Gers needed to turn their attention elsewhere.
Danny Rohl emerged as a target for Rangers but soon backed out of the race, but all speculation is in the past as Rangers’ future seems to lie with Muscat.
Here, Ibrox News takes a look at how Rangers may set up under Muscat.
Rangers will most likely be a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 team under Kevin Muscat
Muscat has been hailed for his characteristics before speculation of the Rangers job even emerged.
He is set to see out his remaining four games of his current side, Shanghai Port’s league season.
Over the course of this season, the Australian has set his side up in various formations
Muscat’s formations at Shanghai Port:
- 4-1-4-1
- 4-3-3
- Muscat prefers 4-2-3-1
With Rangers’ current crop of players, it’s expected that Muscat will set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation at Ibrox.
Shanghai are seen as a high-pressing team under Muscat, as the Australian also demands aggressiveness and physicality, something that will suit Rangers.
His style of play will match what’s needed of the Scottish Premiership and more, but some Rangers players may be left behind due to other elements of Muscat’s philosophy.
- Read more: Ferguson shares date that could instantly change everything at Rangers as new appointment nears
Big question marks hang over James Tavernier and Kieran Dowell’s Rangers future
James Tavernier is a hero at Rangers, but with the Gers skipper now at 33, he will have questions to answer in Muscat’s style of play.
Muscat has a heavy emphasis on athletic fullbacks who don’t stop running, and while Tavernier can still do this, it’s uncertain how much he has left in his legs. The Australian coach may opt to use Max Aarons for a more athletic option at full-back.
When a new manager arrives, it opens new doors for some, but Kieran Dowell will almost certainly leave Rangers in January now.
Muscat prefers wide wingers, hence why Djeidi Gassama and Oliver Antman are expected to thrive soon, but Dowell is more of an inverted winger.
He’s struggled for game time since arriving at Rangers, and Muscat’s potential appointment won’t help him any further, as there could yet be further surprises at Ibrox in the coming months.
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