Rangers go into today’s semi final in a surreal place. It’s the first time for a long spell where, albeit for one match, the team doesn’t have a manager.

GVB rightly decided that taking charge the days before a semifinal was a dumb move, and a potential hiding to nothing, so David McCallum and Jermain Defoe will lead the side for this once-off match.

But who would we start for this one?

Well, given all bets are off and Gio will put his own stamp on the side in the coming weeks and months, we doubt there’ll be too much upheaval today, but a lot of Rangers fans would love to see a few changes anyway.

And could one of them finally see the Patterson Tavernier combo that the majority of Rangers fans clearly want?

Rangers have no defined right-winger with Joe Aribo, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi taking turns to fill that slot, but the Tavernier option is very much on the table.

Would we go with that for a semi? In truth, yes, why not. Patterson is the best RB we have, and Tavernier is the best we have at what he does, so why not put him out there and unleash him on Hibs’ rearguard without his having to worry about defending?

There’s also the key question of Ryan Jack. The lad is fit, but do we take a huge risk and throw him in at the deep end?

He surely won’t last the full 90 but it would be great to see him start.

So what would we go with what we have (dispensation for those away on loan):

McCrorie; Patterson, Goldson, Balogun, Bassey; Jack, Lundstram, Aribo; Tavernier, Sakala, Kent.

We have no option over Goldson, no one else is available and it’s too big an occasion to throw a youth graduate in. As for the rest, why not.

Now, the last time we put up an article like this the majority roundly slaughtered us and thanked God we weren’t the manager.

Not sure it’ll be the same this time.

COME ON RANGERS!