Speaking to OLBG and Ibrox Noise, former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton has discussed Philippe Clement’s tactical and managerial style while also touching upon potential January transfer window plans.
You’ve watched Rangers close up for quite some time..what are the key differences between Michael Beale and Philippe Clement in terms of the team tactics and managerial styles?
“I think from what I’ve seen, Michael Beale very much looked to score that perfect goal. The width came from the fullbacks. His attacking players were inside the pitch, close to the number nine, and everything was very ‘let’s score the perfect goal’. Let’s get it wide, let’s work it out, which worked to a certain extent, but it didn’t always. That was the main takeaway I had from Beale.”
“But Clement wants to be more aggressive with the ball. He wants to get it forward quicker. He’s not scared to go in behind and allow the likes of Abdallah Sima to run in behind the channels, especially if they are playing against a low block. Clement wants a lot of movement between the forward players, there are subtle changes between the two managers.”
“I think the difference in management is that Clement has got that aura about him, that aggressiveness, that nature that you need. If you need to give a player a rocket, you can go and get after him and get what he needs out of them. So far, so good. He’s just in the door. He’s unbeaten, which is obviously great so far, but we’ll wait and see how it develops. But I really like what I’ve seen so far.”
The January transfer window is just around the corner, are there any position or positions you think they should look to add? And do you feel many could leave?
“He’ll be analysing his squad daily. He’s given everybody a clean slate, a second chance to people that could have been kind of pushed out the door ever so slightly. At this moment in time, a place where have they struggled is number nine. I think Danilo’s came in and done well recently. There’s still a question mark with Lammers and Dessers.”
“On the right-hand side of their attack, there have been a lot of changes. Ross McCausland has played there, Cantwell’s played there, Lammers has played there. It’s a position clearly up for grabs. So does he like those players, or does he feel that he needs somebody else?”
“I think at this moment in time, he’ll have to analyse the full squad between now and January and depending on that we’ll then see who he goes for.”
I have seen some rumours, over the last week or so, that maybe Lawrence Shankland might be an option for them and he has just been called up to the Scotland squad. Is this a good chance for both the Scotland and Rangers bosses to take a look at him?
“I think for me personally, I think I’ve seen enough of him. I can’t really understand why they didn’t go and buy Lawrence Shankland in the summer under Michael Beale. He scored 21 league goals last season playing in a Hearts team, and I mean no disrespect to them, but I think playing in a Rangers team, he would get a lot more opportunities.”
“He’s become the Hearts captain, so he’s really grown into that leadership role and been rewarded with a Scotland call-up. So I think having a striker like that at Rangers is only going to make them stronger.”
Do you think Adam Devine needs to go out on loan in January from Rangers given his complete lack of game time? If so, where would suit?
“Adam Devine is a player who has come through the youth set-up and plays in the same position as me, so I keep a close eye on him.”
“He played a few games last season and I thought he’d played really well. His one problem is James Tavernier. Tavernier is the club captain, he’s a standout performer. He scored his 112th goal for the club at the weekend, which is quite incredible. So it’s always going to be difficult for him. That being said, he’s not going to be there forever.”
“So if Devine’s not playing at this moment in time, I think he has to go out and play football games, whether it be in the SPFL or down south in England. He has to get those minutes under his belt so he’s ready to come back and hopefully be ready to be a starter. I think he’s got what it takes, but he needs to go and learn and play football.”
Is there anybody better that he could learn from than James Tavernier?
“Not at the club that he’s at this moment in time. I think he’s perfect to learn from. Can you learn from different players? Of course, you can. Different leagues, different cultures, different ways of playing. I think that all adds to him as a player and he would come back a better player.”