It is safe to say that no defensive combination, either two or three, has been particularly useful for Rangers this past calendar year. Especially in the new era of John Souttar, Nasser Djiga and Derek Cornelius, not to mention ex Peterborough man Emmanuel Fernandez. None of these players have really worked that well together. In fact the reality is that despite spending a fortune and getting some marquee players on loan in that position Rangers are no better off at the back than they were. Emmanuel Fernandez for Rangers.
Defensive collapse after the break
However one curious plot twist has surfaced after the international break which sees Rangers losing almost all of the established defence. Souttar is out and Cornelius is out. That is a lot of ‘out’. It does however open the door to one of the biggest puzzles at Rangers. One Ibrox Noise has discussed before in the form of Fernandez.
Fernandez the forgotten man
This lad signed from Peterborough for around £5M has basically vanished completely from the first team scene. He came in under Martin and played once or twice competitively before disappearing. With this defensive crisis Fernandez might get the golden chance he has probably been waiting for.
A signing that baffled many
We were against the signing in the first place. He had a market value of £300K and Rangers spent between £3M-£5M. £5M total including add ons. Barry Fry of Peterborough was laughing all the way to the bank. He was after all only a League One player who was not that impressive in that division.
A left footed solution
However one thing he has in his favour is that he is a lefty. He is a left footed centre back. John Souttar cannot play with Nasser Djiga because both are right and both are similar. They do not complement each other and there is no understanding.
A soft centre that needs fixed
Derek Cornelius has not quite clicked with the other two either and overall defence wise Rangers are a soft centre. Enter Fernandez. He is a lefty. Could he complement Djiga? It is possible. Something surely has to click at the back at some point. Danny Rohl has brought in the three at the back. It has been hit and miss overall.
What next for the defence
Three wins and three losses. He may still stick with that same system. It has been mainly on the continent he has used that trio. But in the league time will tell what system he sticks with. In fairness Rangers have scored and conceded very few goals domestically.
Time for Fernandez to step up
But that said is this Fernandez’s chance to finally show why Rangers signed him? That remains a bit of a puzzle. As a lefty he could go alongside Djiga the former Wolves man quite well. We will see if that is what Rohl goes for. There is also the further possibility of Rohl using James Tavernier as a centre back.
Other defensive options
It has been done before under various managers where Tavernier has not been too bad in that position. On his right we could have Max Aarons who has certainly been a bit of a flop signing. If he was to find some form we could see the old Premier League Max Aarons again. That might be too long a shot.
Sterling’s position debate
There is also the returning Dujon Sterling but that is one Ibrox Noise is against. Sterling is best used in midfield and we feel it would be a waste to have him at right back even though it is a possibility. If we were to keep everybody in position Tavernier stays at right back. Djiga would be inside him. On his left would be Emmanuel Fernandez for Rangers. Then at left the only choice really is Jayden Meghoma. Time will tell what Rohl goes with.