As we now all know, Derek McInnes’ Rangers career got off to a winning start with a comfortable friendly victory over Raith Rovers at Auchenhowie.
The hosts ran out 5-1 winners, but what was telling was the shape, the selection and formation.
As Ibrox Noise has reported, Rangers have a 29-man squad at present, with 6 players still to report in following the summer world cup. That means 23 for now going through their preseason paces.
We detailed who they all were. We did forget Jose Cifuentes because, well, who wouldn’t. We’ve not seen him at training though.
But the Raith friendly gave a big insight over who is currently in McInnes’ favour and who might not be. Who might be unfit to play and who is ready to go.
As we explained, there is no goalkeeper at Ibrox right now. So youth player Rydnn McGuire, who has been prominent in preseason training, was between the sticks.
Defence was a back four of Ben Godfrey, youth player Zander Hutton, Paul Nsio (RB) and of course Tuur Rommens. The Belgian scored in the first half.
Midfield was strong. Lyall Cameron (who scored), Dan Neil, Mohamed Diomande and winger Oliver Antman made up the four while in front of them was Bojan Miovski behind Youssef Chermiti.
Ryan Naderi, Ross McCrorie and Nedim Bajrami came on as second half subs and scored the next three goals. Other arrivals for the second included youngster Calum Adamson, Dujon Sterling, Djeidi Gassama and Tochi Chukwuani.
Simply put Rangers are actually ok for midfield and strikers in terms of numbers. But are desperately low in defence. Derek McInnes has just Emmanuel Fernandez and Ben Godfrey at the back, and we’re not sure Manny played any part against Raith. Cifu certainly didn’t.
So what does this all mean?
Not a lot. McInnes doesn’t have much of a squad to play with right now, and is waiting for players to return and players to be signed.
Defence is desperately poor and seriously requires bodies in. Nsio had to play RB v Raith, even if Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie are available.
Midfield has some useful numbers and is probably Rangers’ best-stocked area, while striker isn’t that bad either.
But this match, while just a training exercise, highlighted how much work needs done to get Rangers to anywhere close to where we need to be.