Rangers fans have been widely praising former club right back Maurice Ross over his contributions on Rangers TV in recent times. Many would like to see him brought into the coaching setup. Ibrox Noise caught up with the ex-Ibrox youth graduate and Scotland international and quizzed him on a few matters regarding events in Govan and where he sees the club these days.
Rohl
IN: What’s your take on Danny Rohl as manager. Just 36, hadn’t won anything prior to Rangers, and still in the realm of an inexperienced EFL-level coach. It’s hard to argue with his superior record to Russell Martin, but at the same time is he enough for what we need?
I like his relaxed, respectful manner. He has done a good job thus far. The January window was a positive one and I think he certainly deserves time to bolster this squad with four maybe five starters added this Summer to make sure Rangers have a very, very strong squad from day one in Preseason. The manager clearly likes the identity of the signing to be tall and athletic. Most elite clubs are building squads with players that are physically superior. Managing a big club like Sheffield Wednesday still doesn’t quite prepare you to manage this club. It’s special and it envelops your whole life. So far he has taken it in his stride.
System
IN: What system do you believe best suits the players Rohl has? It’s said the best coaches mould a system around the players they have, rather than shoehorning their squad into a system of their own choosing, regardless of player suitability. What do you think is Rohl’s ideal setup for the players he has?
This squad has been put together and it screams a 442 side. Only time I would avoid 442 would be against MFC and CFC. Due to the numbers centrally of the opponent. Many wingers, many number 9s and we have attacking full backs. That would be my reasoning for that. Systems are spoken about to death on podcasts and Monday night football. Whats important for me are the principles of whatever your system may be!
If you want to press in a 442 that effectively means you have 4 players in the front line to engage with their back four. Now flip that and say you’re in a 433 then you naturally have 3 up top to engage their back 4. So there’s a moment when you force opponent wide then you have “halved the pitch” now you can hunt with your 3 as the opposite side of pitch isn’t an issue now. So it’s the understanding of your principles that’s key for me.
Positions
IN: You suggested we’re about 3 or 4 players off being a top side, what positions do you think most need replaced/amended?
Whenever you sign players in the Summer, these signing must immediately replace a “starter” from the previous season. So the starting squad is stronger and the bench naturally is too and the guys who were squad players are unfortunately phased out. “It’s tough at the top!” Areas to strengthen would be GK, RFB, RW and depending on Mikey Moore’s situation if he was to return to Spurs then a LW.
There is a certain case for a “fox in the box” type striker but that would mean we would have to let go one of the 9s we have in the building. I would like to see Rangers go back to our old ways and pickpocket the best Scottish talent and have that identity! We have done that with big John Souttar and Connor Barron. Neil McCann, Andy Goram, Richard Gough, John Brown, all these guys were taken from Scottish clubs. I think it’s important.
Staff
IN: A lot of fans are very much in favour of your addition to the staff at Ibrox, including ourselves here at Ibrox Noise. What do you believe would be your route in and is that a path you want to take?
That’s nice to hear. I do enjoy expressing my views on RTV, however my real passion is making players better from an understanding point of view. Muscle memory and execution are what the player owns. My job is to improve their knowledge tactically and also push their minds to the limit. Provide sessions that test them mentally, emotionally, physically all within a tactical framework. Playing for Rangers means when you cross that line you are in “flight or flight” mode so why don’t we put that into training sessions! Make it harder for them in training so when they come up against teams at Ibrox they are prepared for it because it’s already in their daily behaviours!
Helping players develop
All I need is twenty players and twenty balls and I can help make each and every individual better. Thats my vocation in life in my opinion. I care so much about educating players! I’ve been coaching for 14 years, educating myself to the maximum with all the necessary licenses.
However having a license doesn’t make you a good coach, (my mum has same license as Lewis Hamilton and she can’t reverse park) the education I have from the gaffer Walter Smith, Hoddle, Advocaat, McLeish, and lastly Berti Vogts world cup winner is what gives me confidence to educate players the way I do. I’m just fortunate I had front row seats with the elite managers. I believe I can help players understand what it takes to have a heightened chance to play at Rangers. I stress heightened chance because talent and mindset isn’t enough. You need a bit of luck too!
Lewis Hamilton’s license won’t help him at Ibrox either.
IN: Richard Gough once told me that he used to discuss with Davie Weir the distance defenders would keep from each other in order to retain an understanding at the back to never lose sight of one another, and that he was struggling to understand the gaps there were these days. Do you think Manny and Djiga have a good enough understanding at the rearguard to keep the goals out, or has Danny not found his best defensive pairing yet?
I believe that is the strongest pairing yes! Thats one thing I have noticed that has improved since Danny Röhl has come in. The “ball side control” is way tighter. I allude to it most times on co comms. If the ball is at opponent’s left back the Rangers should have minimum 7 players on that side of the pitch! That has improved but I believe it can still be better if the ball pressure is more intense! When we press with intensity we are better. If you amble to the ball you get “picked off” and are easier to play against.
Shooting
IN: You were saying that our midfielders just don’t shoot from outside the box any more. What do we put that down to? Coaching? The game in general evolving? Or declining?!
I think it is to do with a bit of everything. Teams typically flood that area of the pitch and make a shot less likely. There are coaches that want that ball recycled and played out wide again to make it a sustained attack and make it a better chance. It’s difficult to know quite what it is. It’s all very subjective.
Team mates
IN: You were a dependable and reliable young RB back in the day, how much did you learn from the likes of Numan, Amo and Moore at the back to help your own game? What were they like as team mates?
Arthur and “Oz” were great for me. Very good in training coaching they gave me. This may sound weird but the best eduction you can get isn’t necessarily from your defensive team mate. Playing against Cannigia, Kanchelskis and Neil McCann every day soon makes you work on your footwork, your timing, the angles you need to close……..etc etc etc Thats the past and I’m very grateful for those players helping me but now my focus is only on helping Rangers and if I’m entrusted with it then educating players and staff to become the very best they can be! I WAKE UP EVERYDAY IMAGINING THAT PHONE CALL.
Rangers’ coaching staff could do an awful lot worse than Maurice Ross, and we thank him for his time in this big interview.