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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Rangers’ pre-season preparations continue, with UEFA Europa League qualifiers set to kick off on July 11th.
The club have spent the last ten days or so on a training camp in Portugal, taking the opportunity to prepare in warm weather and bond as a group away from distractions in Glasgow.
Steven Gerrard put his players through their paces on Saturday with a closed door training ground game against English League Two outfit Mansfield, winning 2-0.
As reported by The Daily Record, the game consisted of three 30 minute periods, with different Rangers elevens in each third.
Can anything be gleamed from the teams Gerrard fielded?
Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…
On the chalkboard
The most curious tactical detail emerging from the fixture is Greg Stewart’s use as a central striker in the second of the three periods.
Stewart’s planned role in the Gers team has to this point been unknown, with the player featuring in a number of attacking positions last term, either on the wings, behind the striker, as a link to midfield or in the centre forward position itself.
The 29-year-old’s best form last term came when leading the line for Kilmarnock, netting eight goals and assisting seven times in half a season at Rugby Park. It was when he made the switch to Pittodrie and played in a variety of supporting positions under Derek McInnes that his direct goal contributions suffered.
It now appears the Gerrard will look to get the best out of him by utilising him in a similar manner to Alfredo Morelos or Jermain Defoe rather than in support of a central goalscorer.