So finally, under Derek McInnes, the real action begins tonight. Rangers host Saint-Étienne and, admittedly, while only a friendly, it is the first chance to put in place some of what pre-season has been all about. Even although the outcome is meaningless, Saint-Étienne will not be an easy foe. Of course, they are preparing for their Ligue 2 campaign next season. Any Ligue 2 side is going to have a bit about them, to say the very least. The likes of Nantes, Montpellier, and Nancy and Dijon all ply their trade at that level. It’s a strong second tier.
McInnes must establish a shape
But what is important is Derek McInnes and how he sets his Rangers team up. Obviously, we know that the outcome and performance are not crucial at this stage of the season. However, with time now running out till the season starts, we need to see a sense of shape. We also need to see something that makes some sense. Consequently, we do wonder what team will be selected tonight. As we say, it is only a friendly, so it is more about getting minutes at this point.
Shankland and Naderi await Ibrox bows
But there has been a lot of hype speaking to Shankland and indeed to Naderi about their maiden bows. It is a fresh new season at Ibrox. In Shankland’s case, of course, it will be his debut at Ibrox as a Rangers player. Naderi himself is also very excited about the season starting at Ibrox. This shows that the players are interested. They very much want to get underway. But how the manager sets them out, time will tell.
Questions surround the formation
The starting XI is not crucial. However, it does matter to show the sense of shape that McInnes might be going with overall this season. We already know that McInnes generally likes a 4-4-2. He is an old-school style of manager. He likes a duo up front, which is a refreshing change. However, time will tell how well that fits with the personnel that Rangers have.
As Ibrox Noise has preached many, many times, a good manager adapts his system around the players that he has. He does not fit the players into the system he wants. The best managers can do both. They can get the system they want and the players that they want to fit that. At the present moment, Rangers are distinctly lacking when it comes to wingers. So the 4-4-2 of having two wide men beside the midfield might not be as viable. We may also see some variation in midfield where it may be a midfield three. We just do not know exactly how McInnes will set his team out.
A special night for McInnes
But the arrival of Saint-Étienne on Wednesday night in sunny Govan will be a very, very interesting sight to behold. It will give us some sense of a pattern and a system that McInnes may be going with this season. There are no final answers, of course, in this one. But it will be intriguing. We will see in due course exactly how the team sets up for this one. We will also see how McInnes plans to play his football. But crucially, it is his debut as Rangers manager at Ibrox, and that is very, very special.