The 2023/24 season is well and truly underway. After a summer of rebuilding the squad to his liking and a proper full pre-season under their belts, it is time for Michael Beale’s Rangers to perform. If he is to be judged, this is the season to do so. It is hard to assess his managerial career based on the brief stint in charge of QPR or his mid-season switch to Glasgow.
After taking over the Ibrox hot seat from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Beale inherited a squad in dire need of an overhaul. The Englishman managed to steady the ship and oversee an upturn in results as he guided Rangers to a second-place finish in the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership title. Moving forward, his side will be looking to build on the positives from last season.
So, what can we expect from The Gers this season?
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The Rebuild Project Continues
The club has adequately backed him in the transfer market this summer as he looks to build a squad to his taste. The arrival of Todd Cantwell in January has been followed by a flurry of arrivals in the off-season. Nine new signings have rocked up at the Ibrox this summer, with Beale focusing on the final third.
When you have outspent your bitter rivals and direct title challenger, signing nearly a new starting 11, you have very little in the way of excuses. With all the new faces around, it will take time for the side to gel and performances to peak. Results, however, cannot wait.
After a shock 1-0 defeat on the season’s opening day away at Kilmarnock, Rangers bounced back with a 4-0 win at home to Livingston and will be looking to build momentum from now on. Beale has invested heavily in the final third. From the glimpses we’ve seen so far, it is just a matter of time before his project clicks and roars to life.
Premiership Title Challenge
Beale’s brief this season is succinct: reassert domestic dominance that the club has lost over the last two seasons. By dominance, it means wrestling back the league title from rivals Celtic. Anything else above and beyond is a welcome bonus that any Rangers fan would gleefully take.
There are two domestic cup competitions up for the taking. Make no mistake, these cup competitions are important. Yet to anyone of a Rangers persuasion, clinching the league far outweighs winning both cup competitions. According to the current markets for outright SPL betting, Rangers are still expected to finish behind Celtic. However, Rangers’ new signings are expected to play a key role in the chase of title number 56, with Danilo Pereira and Sam Lammers expected to be near the top of the goalscoring charts. For so many reasons, another second-place finish this season is not an option. Such are the demands at the Ibrox.
Versatile Evolving Tactics
Since Beale’s arrival, Rangers have a definable on-pitch identity. You can expect the continuation of fluid football in the final third with the familiar sight of a narrow front three, attacking full-backs providing support, and a solid midfield that moves out wide to block the opposition wing play. With Beale at the helm, the club hierarchy is clearly planning for the future. The narrow pressing when out of possession and an emphasis on build-up play afford this side a greater level of control, allowing for more chance creation and more defensive stability.
Rangers spent the pre-season trying different off-ball shapes. Although his preferred lineup is a 4-3-3, Beale has also trialled a 4-3-2-1 formation. He also particularly likes hybrid players who can give his side the tactical flexibility to adjust their shape in-game. Tactical versatility is vital to break down multiple opponents playing the low-block system. Do not expect Rangers to start with the same shape every week.