Ferguson's first call to give Rangers aggressive edge must be to drop Tavernier against Dundee - opinion
03/28/2025 04:30 AM
Rangers return to domestic action with a trip to face Dundee at the Scot Foam Stadium, or Dens Park to you and I.
Philippe Clement saw the good and the bad of his side on their recent travels to Tayside, but Barry Ferguson will be hoping that his tenure as Rangers manager doesn't follow the same pattern.
Physicality has been an issue throughout the season with Ferguson complaining about his team being too nice.
With an almost fully fit Rangers squad, he has options, and one decision could be a controversial one, but with one eye on the future and for next season.
The last three games against Fenerbahce has seen a change of shape and formation with James Tavernier dropping into centre-half and Dujon Sterling playing at right wing-back, they have also rotated within games too.
Rangers could drop James Tavernier for Dujon Sterling
Ferguson is unlikely to set-up with a back three again, unless he adds an extra forward and goes 3-4-3, which means that it is one or the other.
The Gers boss has already given his thoughts on the subject, but before he was the man in the Ibrox hotseat:
"I'd go Sterling," Ferguson said about Tavernier or Sterling when Rangers faced Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic in the same week.
"The only issue you have with Sterling is he missed a couple of games there, he had a blocked nerve in his back, or his side, I can't remember exactly where it was.
"It's just the injuries that he picks up, but listen, he came on yesterday, he's certainly available and fit to play and there are big decisions to be made."
Ironically, Clement picked neither with Sterling suffering a stress fracture and Tavernier also being out which saw Ridvan Yilmaz deputise to good effect.
Why Ferguson could choose Sterling over Tavernier
What is certain, is that Sterling has looked impressive every time he has played in his preferred position and there is one attribute that he holds over his skipper – physicality.
Against Celtic, Sterling totally nullified Jota at Parkhead. Not only does his pace give him a head start, but his aggression when engaging wingers gives them no time to get their head up or make any sort of momentum.
He is, clearly, Rangers’ best one v one defender.
What he also possesses, as seen by his spectacular goal-line clearance against Celtic, is the ability to sniff out danger and has the pace to sweep up behind his teammates.
If Ferguson wants his team to have a more aggressive and physical edge, the first thing he should do is drop his captain.
