Rangers have had plenty of great striking partnerships down the years.
From Jimmy Millar and Ralph Brand to Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist – and even a certain Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd – the club have reaped the benefits of having two top strikers leading the attack. But for me, you can forget about adding a Morelos -Colak combo to that list.
It’s just not going to happen. I’ve seen plenty of talk over the last wee while about whether Alfie and Antonio could form an effective strike partnership. My old Scotland team-mate Charlie Miller thinks so, judging by his words in Record Sport this week – but I’ve got to disagree. That’s not to say I’m against playing two strikers. Far from it. I achieved so much playing for Rangers and Scotland with a partner and still believe there’s a place for it in the modern game. We’ve seen major clubs get success with a twin threat up top in the last few years.
Leicester won a Premier League title playing what was effectively a 4-4-2. Liverpool during Brendan Rodgers’ reign had two sparkling strikers in Luis Suarez and Dean Sturridge and sometimes went with a midfield diamond to ensure both started. I’m doing my Pro-Licence just now and one role-play scenario is how as a boss would you deal with a situation where you had two good strikers.
If you like to play 4-3-3, do you stick by your philosophy and leave one on the bench? Or do you squeeze both in, even if it compromises how you normally set up your team? That’s the question Ibrox boss Gio van Bronckhorst will be asking himself now. Alfredo has been the team’s talisman for the past five years but Colak has cost the club decent money and has started the season on fire.
It’s been suggested you could put Morelos on the right but forget about that! That’s round peg, square hole stuff. The wee man can look unhappy at the best of times – can you imagine the face on him if you shunted him out to the wing?
When I played with Boyd, we complemented each other. I remember when I first met the big man.
He had just broken into Scotland’s set-up and I was at Wolves. From that first moment we hit it off – on and off the park. And that
personal bond really helps. People think I did all his running for him while he stood in the box waiting for tap-ins but I see it in a different light.
We both had strengths that when put together formed a terrific partnership. I just don’t see Alfredo being the type of guy who sacrifices his own game to ensure Colak can score 25 goals a season. Alfredo wants to be the main man and he’s still the guy I’d turn to if both were fit and firing.
Remember, there’s been times in the past when managers have tried to play him in a front two. Pedro Caixinha tried playing him with both myself and Eduardo Herrera Graeme Murty gave it a go partnering him with Jason Cummings while Steven Gerrard tested it out on the odd occasion with Jermain Defoe.
But Alfredo never looked like he was comfortable. For me, Alfredo sees every game as a challenge – him against the two centre-backs, or even the entire back four. He’s capable of occupying a defence all by himself. While I’m not saying he couldn’t play with a partner, it would have to be in a system where it was all geared towards Alfredo and his strengths.
So if Gio was to go with two up top, the second striker would be there primarily to enhance Morelos’ game – and that’s not how I see Colak operating. He’s a great finisher but his game is about getting into the box and on the end of chances –not running channels to open up space for someone else.
The reality is that under Gio’s management, one will start, the other will come off the bench to finish the game and the order will depend on what’s needed in that particular match.
Celtic have two top operators in Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis but you don’t see them playing together. It’s one or the other. So let’s forget all this talk about a return to the big man/little man pairing.
Rangers need is to focus on getting back to the level that took them to Seville – and that goes for Alfredo especially. For the first time in his Rangers career he’s facing a serious challenge for his jersey. The question is, does he accept that challenge in the right way?
If he does, then show it. Get fit and step his game up. Do that and Rangers can pack enough punch with one striker.
