The Sean Goss problem?

There was so much to chew over in yesterday’s draw at Fir Park, but one of Ibrox Noise’s favourite players, Sean Goss, was certainly on the agenda for being benched as much as anything else.

There is no denying his form was slightly below par against Celtic and Kilmarnock, but this could apply to any number of players yet Goss was the one ditched to accommodate Graham Dorrans?

We have a number of issues with this:

First off, other players who go through leans spells seem immune to the chop. Think Alfredo Morelos, who has had a couple of barren periods yet only once was ever dropped. Also Josh Windass, if not scoring or assisting, is a passenger, plain and simple.

But these guys remain ever-present. And yet Goss, who had been one of our stand out performers, is sacrificed to fit in Dorrans in a position the ex-Scottish international is not suited for?

It’s a curious situation. We are all for trying new things, but taking out a deep-lying playmaker with defensive capabilities and replacing him with an attacking midfielder while not changing the shape was a gamble.

And one which didn’t pay off. It also cost Greg Docherty who, instead of concentrating on his own game and being able to rely on a steady partner behind and beside him, had to try and pick up double the defensive duties, and simply put, that didn’t work and wasn’t fair on him.

For his own part, Dorrans looked the same as he always has for Rangers – other than one good drive at the byline with a nifty nutmeg, he didn’t impose his game – we are still waiting for the Graham Dorrans we believe we signed, but in this case, he can get a free pass because he shouldn’t have been playing so deep.

Which leaves Goss. Graeme Murty has completely fixated himself, Warburton style, on one formation. In his case, the 4-2-3-1.

That forces a double pivot in front of defence – two defensive minded midfielders – one with the eye for a pass, the other with ‘grunt’ capabilities. Goss and Docherty fulfilled that well, even if the former hadn’t played so well recently.

Many questions were asked if Goss had to be dropped, and we’re not convinced about that, why Ross McCrorie didn’t start. And it’s a fair point. He’s impressed more in midfield than Dorrans has, and would have been more suitable for DM too.

As for Dorrans – he is best played in the three behind the striker – we have to accept Murty isn’t going to deviate from that formation so we have to assume it’s the skeletal structure of the team. Ergo, if he earns his start, one of the front three should make way, not a DM.

As it so happens, the problem may in fact have solved itself, with Josh Windass’ unfortunate injury – that gives Dorrans a foothold into the best position for him. And it would be up to him to prove he deserves to keep it.

As for DM? It seems Rangers now have five fit options there – Goss, Docherty, McCrorie, Rossiter and Holt.

At least there are options, but nevertheless, Goss must feel a little shortchanged at how he was been cast aside.