So it’s cup semi-final day and Ibrox Noise are going to do our best at predicting the XI Rangers manager Philippe Clement will choose.
This is must-win, as always, and with form as bad as it’s been lately, Clement will be eager to get the side back to winning ways – after all, there’s a final v Celtic on the line.
So, with that said…
In goals Butland.
Back four could be the same as always. Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar and Sterling.
Midfield, Lundstram and the returning Diomande.
Front three, Sima, Cantwell and Silva.
And up front likely Dessers.
So, to decompress this… there’s no Ridvan still, at least, it’s very, very unlikely, and the manager seems to want to persist with Sterling who isn’t well-used at LB.
BUT, there’s actually a massive possibility Barisic will get the nod after what Sterling said midweek.
There will just not be change with Tav or Goldson, never going to happen.
Midfield Lunny is untouchable these days as well now, despite his middling form lately, and Dio is a Clement signing so he plays.
Front three?
Silva is also a Clement signing so he plays, and Sima has become firmly installed again on the wing, while Cantwell is likely to start ahead of the utterly ineffective Lawrence.
And Dessers is all we have up front, Roofe just can’t play the solo role at all.
So, your Ibrox Noise predicted XI:
Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Lundstram, Diomande; Sima, Cantwell, Silva; Dessers
Is it a good team?
Nope. But this manager doesn’t change the players who need to be dropped, so we predict a long afternoon and our hopes aren’t terribly high.
But we’d love to have both the XI and the potential performance/result completely wrong.