Philippe Clement doubles down in act of defiance sure to enrange Rangers fans

11/03/2024 06:00 AM

Don't back down, double down. A well worn Scottish phrase that Philippe Clement is adopting as he clings to his job at Rangers. 

There have been complaints from elements of the support that the preferred 4-2-3-1 formation preferred by Clement simply isn't working with the players he has at his disposal in the squad. 

Against Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, the Rangers manager has refused to back down, even if the personnel mieght b slightly different.

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Philippe Clement refusing to budge with Rangers tactics

Clement lost Todd Cantwell in the summer and has only just seen Ianis Hagi return to action after settling a contract issue with the club.

What this has meant is that Tom Lawrence has been an ever-present in the all-important No.10 role that so much of Rangers success depends on.

In terms of personal numbers, the Wales international can point to five goals and two assists in 14 games as a more than respectable rate of return, however, as seen at Pittodrie, if he doesn’t score, he is almost a man down.

The signing of Nedim Bajrami – in Clement’s own words, as a No.10 – seemed set to change things, but a shortage of wingers and some fine performances mean that the Albanian international has had to be content with staying on the flank.

For all the reasons to point at a change in formation this season, the manager will point to the return to the top of the league, the league cup success, reaching the last 16 of the Europa League and a break of the ball/VAR intervention away from winning he Scottish Cup last year as a reason not to.

Plan B seems to be trying to do plan A better.

Why Clement is refusing to change Rangers shape

When asked if he is going to change it in his pre-match press conference ahead of Rangers clash with Motherwell, Philippe Clement said: 

“Changing a formation in this moment, I think it will only create more doubts. Also, how are you going to change the formation if you can train on that one time? 

“How you’re going to train on that in how you build, how you create chances, how you defend. Everything in a session of one hour. So those are also the things you can build on things.

“If you have some foundations, if you have something solid, you can build on the next step. We’re not that far yet with the group to do that in this moment. So it’s a difficult one to turn that around in one day with one training.”