To be blunt: the current midfield shape isn't doing Rangers any favours. Raskin and Chuck as a pair leaves a yawning gap at the heart of the pitch, and with so many teams setting up with three in midfield we end up defending a two-man silo. That lack of control is why games get away from us so quickly.
Why the double pivot isn't working
You can see the problem in the way Raskin drops deep. It's understandable — he likes to get on the ball — but when he vacates the space the balance collapses. Chuck ends up isolated, facing two or three opponents while the rest of the team has to cover horizontally. A two against three in midfield is a gamble; a three against one is effectively suicide. We're getting played through with a couple of passes because the space between our two central midfielders is glaringly obvious.
What I'd change and why it might help
I'm all for getting a grasp on the middle. Put Barron or Chuck as the designated six — someone whose job is to sit, shield and recycle. Then play Raskin and Dio as the two eights ahead of him. Two natural eights can press higher, link with the front line and close the half-spaces without leaving the base exposed. It gives us numbers in the areas where games are won and helps us dominate possession rather than react to the opposition.
Consequences if we don't adjust
If we persist with the current two, we'll keep getting cut open and lose control of tempo. The opposition will continue to create because they find the easier angles between our lines. I want to see Rangers dictate games again, not chase them. It's not complicated — fixing the shape would go a long way.
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