AliousWhether Barry Ferguson’s adoption of a 3-4-2-1 formation at Rangers signals a lasting tactical shift or simply a short-term counter to the challenges posed by Celtic and Fenerbahce remains uncertain—only time will reveal his intentions.
The Ibrox icon stepped
back into the fray at his former club with a mission to jolt a team that seemed to be drifting toward yet another lackluster campaign.
Despite a managerial resume featuring stints at Kelty Hearts, Clyde, and Alloa Athletic, Ferguson has already proven his mettle, outsmarting heavyweights Brendan Rodgers and Jose Mourinho in impressive victories.
A tactical genius? It’s too soon to crown him as such. What’s undeniable, though, is that Ferguson brings more to the table than just fiery pep talks and a supportive presence.
Jose Mourinho himself conceded that Vaclav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers ran riot in Turkey, with both finding the net in Rangers’ commanding 3-1 first-leg triumph. Cerny, in particular, thrived with the added freedom of a more central role.
Mohamed Diomande, meanwhile, oscillated between impactful and invisible in Philippe Clement’s double-pivot midfield setup, though he too shone behind Dessers, notably scoring at Celtic Park.
Pundit Gordon Dalziel suggests the five-man backline allowed Ferguson to mask the vulnerabilities of Jefte, James Tavernier, and Ridvan Yilmaz.
Yet, there’s another player—Ross McCausland—who, despite just three minutes of action under Ferguson so far, could emerge as a beneficiary of this tactical pivot, assuming the interim boss sticks with it after the international break.
McCausland, now in a tricky second season with Rangers’ first team, has little ground to grumble about Vaclav Cerny usurping his spot.
The Wolfsburg loanee has bagged an astonishing 17 goals this term, earning praise as an “incredible” talent offering “amazing” lessons for McCausland to absorb.
The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international has managed just three Premiership starts since Cerny claimed the right-wing berth.
However, if Ferguson commits to the 3-4-2-1 for the long haul, there’s a pathway to field both McCausland and Cerny together, leveraging their distinct yet complementary strengths.
The two wingers are cut from different cloth.
Cerny, recently compared to Arjen Robben, excels at cutting inside and unleashing shots—a signature move. McCausland, by contrast, is a throwback winger: right-footed, hugging the touchline, and adept at stretching play, outpacing full-backs, and whipping crosses into the box or firing efforts across goal.
He’s not shy about using his weaker left foot either—his decisive strike with it against Malmo in the Europa League stands as proof, an aspect he’s actively refining in training.
If McCausland couldn’t dislodge Cerny from the right of Clement’s 4-3-3, Ferguson’s system offers a fresh opportunity. With Cerny shifting to a roving right-sided No. 10 role, McCausland could slot in as a right wing-back.
Modern wing-backs need stamina and dynamism to patrol the flank, the ability to maintain width, carry the ball forward, and chip in defensively—qualities McCausland flashed when he burst onto the scene in late 2023.
His standout cameo in recent months came as a substitute right-back in a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in January. Though not a born defender, he held his own. “Our right winger played right-back and delivered a superb performance,” Clement remarked post-match.
Ferguson himself may have already laid the groundwork for McCausland’s suitability in this role. After a 2-0 victory at Livingston in 2023, where McCausland featured as a traditional winger, Ferguson praised his attributes: “He brought real directness, taking on the full-back time and again.
He drove Rangers 30 or 40 yards up the pitch, exactly what you want from an attacking player. And he handled the defensive side brilliantly too, tracking back to help out repeatedly.” Those traits align seamlessly with the demands of a wing-back in Ferguson’s setup.
Stuck behind Cerny in Clement’s framework, McCausland might find Ferguson’s return marks not just a new chapter, but a new position to reignite his Rangers career.
Alious
