Daily Record journalist Mark Guidi could not understand Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s choice of setup for Rangers on Wednesday night.
The Gers travelled to Naples for their fifth of six Champions League group games.
They found themselves 2-0 down inside 16 minutes in what looked set to be another bleak evening in Europe.
However, a tweak in formation in the second half helped limit the score to three although it was a fifth straight defeat in Group A for van Bronckhorst’s side who sit pointless and with a -18 goal difference.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Guidi said:
“We spoke about it before the start of the game so we’re not saying this with the benefit of hindsight.
“I don’t get the manager’s starting lineup. I genuinely don’t. I don’t get his formation. It should have been tighter.
“But he’s gone open and they were picked off, so I don’t know what he was thinking. Underestimated Napoli? I’m not quite sure, but it’s painful reading at the end.
“Zero points on the board, one goal scored, 19 conceded, but there is still a chance to go out and finish off on a high.”
TIF Thoughts on Guidi’s comments…
Should Van Bronckhorst be sacked?Yes!
No!
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While Van Bronckhorst may well have just about saved himself some time with an improved performance in the second half it was still a bold decision to start with a 4-2-3-1 setup.
It threatened to get ugly inside a quarter of an hour but the Light Blues held on until the break when the Dutch coach introduced Fashion Sakala for Scott Wright and reverted to a back five.
Football Insider reported last month that Ibrox officials were considering the 47-year-old’s position but while Guidi was critical of the manager’s selection choice in Europe it will be domestically where he is ultimately judged.
An uninspiring 1-1 draw with Livingston last weekend has left the Light Blues four points off fierce rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership and failure to get a result against Aberdeen could spell the end for the one-time Feyenoord coach.