The way I see it, Rangers are starting to look pretty well balanced across the pitch, especially in the wide areas. But there’s still one nagging issue that keeps popping up when you write the squad down position by position: we’re a striker short.
Wingers: stop forcing square pegs into roles
The wide roles feel fairly clear-cut. Moore and Gassama look like left-sided players first and foremost, and that matters because you want your wingers taking the ball on the half-turn and playing naturally. On the other side, Skov-Olsen and Antman are right-wingers by trade. That’s not just a label either, it affects how Rangers build attacks, where the full-back overlaps, and how quickly we can get shots away.
Matondo is the interesting one. He can play either flank and, as noted, he was actually a right winger when Gio signed him before being used more on the left later. Still, it’s hard to see him being a big part of things under Danny Röhl, which then makes the “two-per-position” depth chart feel a bit more important.
Loans and recruitment: you can’t plan around maybes
Curtis and Danilo being out on loan means they can’t be treated as squad solutions right now. Unless there’s a recall clause, and even then unless it’s realistic to use it, they’re basically off the board for this season. That’s just the reality when you’re trying to keep momentum and chase trophies.
There’s also the frustration around Bajrami. The feeling is he’s been a waste of money and hasn’t produced in a Rangers jersey, and it’s hard not to compare that to keeping someone like Cortes around as a flexible third option across LW, RW and CAM. In a long season, versatility isn’t a luxury, it’s points dropped or points won.
The big gap: another centre-forward needed
When you list it out, there’s cover at goalkeeper, full-back, centre-half, midfield and the wings. But the centre-forward line still looks like it needs one more body. If Rangers are serious about fighting on multiple fronts, you need options through the middle. Not just “a striker”, but someone who can change the picture: press when we’re on the front foot, run the channels when we’re direct, and still be a penalty-box threat when teams sit in.
Fitness plays into it too. Yes, some players are carrying knocks, but if Barron is the only one definitely out until the final month then that’s manageable. It just underlines the point: with decent availability, this squad is close. Add a proper extra CF and it looks even more like a title-winning group.
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