Tav & McCausland start: predicted Rangers XI v Saints | OneFootball

So it’s a big one tonight (yet again) for Rangers – 8 points behind Celtic, Aberdeen likely to join Celtic on 21 points as well, and Rangers scraping by on 13 and hoping St Johnstone don’t get anything this evening.

So what starting XI is this manager likely to select to turn this ailing domestic season around?

Well, after what Jack Butland said midweek, we highly doubt the boss would have the balls to drop the ex-England keeper, but from a point of view of being ‘a man’ there’s no way any boss would select a player who had just openly criticised his tactics.

In defence, this is where the real decisions are made.

Will James Tavernier start again, after his poor showing and much-publicised subbing in midweek? Either Clement has balls, or he doesn’t, and we’d suggest the latter. But it is a 50/50.

It will probably be Souttar and Propper again at the heart of defence, but there is a slim chance Balogun might get this one. We’d hope Ridvan is ready, but Jefte is likely to continue after a good display v Hibs if a lesser one midweek.

Midfield is a tricky one. We have four midfielders (unless you count Kieran Dowell) in Barron, Diomande, Raskin, and Sterling, but Sterling is once more on the fringes while Raskin is likewise. Let’s face it, this manager will pick Barron and Dio again.

Attacking midfield is curious. We now have three options – Lawrence, Hagi and Bajrami, but this manager likes the Albanian on the left, while Lawrence seems to be his preferred 10. Hagi will probably be on the bench.

Wings, as said, Bajrami will be on the left again, but the right is trickier – will Cerny start again after his horror 10 days or so? Or is the nod going to Ross McCausland, who is a terrible starter but a good impact player later. There’s also Rabbi Matondo but we don’t know how fit he is. Cortes too.

Up front it’s Dessers clearly, Igamane isn’t ready to start.

So your Ibrox Noise predicted XI:

Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Barron, Diomande; Bajrami, Lawrence, McCausland; Dessers

We do think Cerny will be rested, but we think it’s going to be ‘as you were’ for the rest of the team.