If there has been one clear and absolute beneficiary of Danny Rohl’s new system, it is abundantly clear who that is. One player has absolutely stuck out as thriving on Rohl’s new formation. That formation, of course, is the 3-5-2, albeit adaptable, but fundamentally it’s three at the back and two up front. And the one man who has benefited, well his father, is absolutely delighted with life these days. Danilo thriving for Rangers.
Danilo Finds His Groove
Yes, Danilo up front with a partner is most certainly enjoying the new formation. It gets the best out of him because he is not a target man and never was. He did play as one at Feyenoord, but generally speaking Danilo is not a target man. He’s not big enough, he’s not strong enough, he’s not really quick enough, he’s not of the physique required to hold the ball up. He does have pace in the sense of making excellent movement. He has a great run on him and reads the game well, but a target man he isn’t.
The Right Partnership
Consequently, having a foil next to him is working for him, even if that foil in particular, Youssef Chermiti, is absolute mince. And we will get to him in another entry. But Danilo is absolutely enjoying life, 2 now in 2. We know the boy can score, he has an eye for goal. He actually reminds us of a younger Jermain Defoe, a clinical finisher and very good reader of the game. Excellent movement off the ball. His finish last night was excellent, clinical and exactly what we need from a man up front.
Building on Success
But he clearly thrives in a 2. He needs an opposition in command. He needs somebody who is contrasting him. And Youssef Chermiti may actually be the foil that does that, even if he himself is poor. So Danilo got his goal and Rangers got the win. And this is the second match in a row that Danilo has scored. We want more of that.