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Rangers: McFarlane slams Van Bronckhorst for midfield decision

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Image for Rangers: McFarlane slams Van Bronckhorst for midfield decision

After their embarrassing Champions League defeat, journalist Jonny McFarlane slammed Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst for his midfield tactics during the game. 

The Gers find themselves on the back of back-to-back 4-0 defeats, the first time since 1982, after their opening Champions League bout did not go to plan just days after their loss to their bitter rivals to the say scoreline.

As a result of this awful performance, which saw them 3-0 down before half-time, manager Van Bronckhorst has been slammed by McFarlane for his use of Malik Tillman and Glen Kamara in the midfield alongside John Lundstram.

McFarlane told the Rangers Review podcast, “I just could not believe the midfield set-up in that first half with John Lundstram and two basically effectively eights, one playing either side in Tillman and Kamara and I just felt the lack of dig and positional responsibility shown by those two. It was galling at times.

“You know, the second half Ryan Jack comes on and is much more disciplined and you see a big difference. Now, Malik Tillman’s a young lad, it’s important to remember I think he’s only had 13 performances in his full-time men’s football career.

“But I think you’ve got to look at the manager actually putting him in at that level. In a game when you know you’re up against a team who’s better than you, there has to be a level of pragmatism in your selection. And if there was ever a game that Rangers need two holding midfielders, to me, it has to be this one surely.”

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TIF Thoughts on McFarlane’s comments…

For Rangers to lose 4-0 in successive games is a terrible look for Van Bronckhorst, especially considering one was at the hands of Celtic who they are competing with for the SPL title and then again in Europe, where they have performed well recently.

While it is commendable that they went for it by playing an attacking lineup when you look at Tillman’s and Kamara’s stats from the game, playing these two was not the right decision.

Tillman finished with a 6.1 rating after having just 16 touches and 67% passing accuracy on just six attempts while losing possession six times before being subbed off at half-time. Kamara did not do much better as he only managed 25 touches in his 78 minutes on the pitch while failing to put up a key pass, cross, long ball, or dribble attempt at all.

Rangers now have to face both Liverpool and Napoli in their Champions League campaign, seeing as they were dominated by Ajax it is very difficult to see how they stand a chance to pick up points against either of their next games.

Is McFarlane right in his criticism?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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