Excitement is building ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby; let’s hope it is better than the last!
When Glasgow’s big two most recently met in August, Russell Martin and Brendan Rodgers were in the respective dugouts, but both are now gone, meaning it’ll be new Rangers boss Danny Röhl against Martin O’Neill at the weekend.
The Irishman is more than double the German’s age, retiring as a player five years before Röhl was even born.
Well, under their new 36-year-old head coach, Rangers might just be on a roll, enjoying back-to-back Premiership victories for the first time this season, beating Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox and then Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road on Wednesday.
If Röhl is going to claim a statement victory in his first-ever Glasgow derby, he simply must unleash Rangers’ “creative” star at Hampden.
Connor Barron's absence vs Celtic explained
As was widely reported this week, Connor Barron will miss Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against Celtic due to suspension.
That’s because the midfielder has been booked during both League Cup fixtures this season, coincidentally cautioned in the 78th minute against Alloa Athletic and then Hibs, thereby serving a one-match ban.
Barron started for the first time under Röhl in Leith on Wednesday, actually giving away a late penalty, bringing down Junior Hoilett, but, thankfully for him, Jamie McGrath’s attempt from 12 yards was dramatically saved by Jack Butland.
Despite this, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Scott Allan asserted that Barron “had a fantastic game tonight… I thought he was excellent”, while Kris Boyd noted he was going to be awarded man of the match, prior to this almost costly foul.
So, Barron’s unavailability will be a blow, but Röhl has a more than able deputy waiting in reserve.
Rangers' creative star who must start vs Celtic
With Nicolas Raskin a guaranteed starter, the Belgian one of the first names on the team sheet, the question is who should partner him in midfield?
Well, there is surely only one man for the job, namely Mohamed Diomandé.
The Ivorian international has only featured in one of Röhl’s three matches in charge to date, suspended for the hammering at the hands of Brann, starting against Kilmarnock last Sunday before, surprisingly, remaining an unused substitute at Hibs.
The 24-year-old has had a bit of a stop-start season, albeit he’s not the only one, but last season’s statistics very much emphasise his importance.
Minutes
4,028
3rd
Goals
6
4th
Assists
9
3rd
Shots
61
5th
Big chances created
14
2nd
Key passes per 90
1.2
5th
Tackles per 90
1.6
6th
Interceptions per 90
0.9
6th
Average rating
7.19
6th
As the table documents, only captain James Tavernier and the departed Jefté played more minutes than Diomandé for Rangers across all competitions last season.
Meantime, all three players who scored more goals than him have also gone, namely Cyriel Dessers, Václav Černý and Hamza Igamane, twice on target against Celtic, netting in December’s League Cup Final and March’s memorable win at Parkhead.
On top of this, he ranked highly for assists, big chances created and key passes, as well as in the top six for tackles and interceptions, underlining that he is an all-round midfielder.
Upon his arrival in Glasgow from Nordsjælland, then director of recruitment Nils Koppen praised the Côte d’Ivoire international’s “creative play and strong defensive work”, adding that he would add a “high level of athleticism” to the Rangers team.
Meantime, Stefan Bienkowsk of Transfermarkt labels him one of the most ‘accomplished [young] central midfielders’ in European football, while Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review documents how he can cover a lot of ground, concluding that his best attribute is his ‘ability to receive between the lines’.
Against a Celtic team who will be equally up for this huge cup tie, Diomandé’s out-of-possession work rate and in-possession quality makes him a must in Röhl’s team.
This is especially the case given that Röhl is forecast to go with a 3-4-2-1 formation, up against Celtic’s midfield trio, giving the duo in there, likely to be Raskin and Diomandé, extra work and added responsibility.