The Reigning Champs, Rebranded
Rangers are the reigning SWPL Cup champions but after a rebrand in the summer it is a new look side that take to Tynecastle in March. Will Jo Potter's tactical revolution earn its first title?
Last season saw Rangers run out 2-0 winners in this competition. A third placed finish in the SWPL and losing in the Scottish Cup final to Celtic taking the shine off of that achievement and ultimately ending Malky Thompson’s tenure. On the 24th of March they have the opportunity to at least match last season’s medal count.
Highs and Lows
In 2020 Rangers were undergoing a huge round of changes, the squad were moving to full-time contracts, space had been made for them at Rangers new training facility in Milngavie, and Malky Thomson was appointed co-manager with Gregory Vignal. Within six months he would take total control over the team with Vignal departing during the 2020 season that was voided due to the pandemic.
The league was restructured to return to a winter schedule and the 2020-21 season would be the first chance Rangers fans had to see his team in action. With no cup competitions as the effects of COVID-19 were still being felt, Rangers struggled for consistency. Glasgow City would take top spot from them on matchday 10 and Rangers would have a fight with Celtic for Champions League football as their only goal for the season. A third place finish was disappointing but there were green blue shoots ahead of the 21-22 season.
With three full time teams, Hibernian and Hearts transitioning to full-time, Spartans adding part-time contracts, and the continued progression of the league’s professionalism, the 21-22 season was slated to be the most competitive yet. Naturally then, Rangers would go unbeaten winning 25 of their 27 league fixtures. The cups eluded them but they did get their hands on the SWPL trophy after dominant performances from the likes of then captain Brianna Westrup, Chantelle Swaby, and Sam Kerr.
In a fairly straightforward 4-2-3-1 his side were disciplined and organised, it may have been basic but his influence over the team shouldn’t be understated. He was in charge for their first two trophies and a number of players developed a different side to their game under his leadership.
It all came to a halt in 22-23, Celtic and Glasgow City had made tactical leaps that Rangers hadn’t seen and being more organised was no longer enough. An SWPL Cup victory over Hibernian at Tynecastle the highlight of a long season. Despite only finishing a point off second and being in with a shot of the title until the last kick, it always felt like they were the outside chance. Thomson announced he would step back into an academy role before the Scottish Cup final, a loss to Celtic on the day, and Rangers looked to a new head coach. Someone to lead change in how they play, to bring some excitement to the organisation.
Tactics Tactics Revolution
We aren’t exaggerating when we say that Jo Potter may be one of the most tactically innovative managers in the world. When she arrived in the summer she was an unknown quantity, formerly an assistant at Birmingham the Rangers job was her opportunity to take charge for the first time. No one knew what to expect and with pre-season friendlies typically played behind closed doors in the SWPL we were taking every little bit of information we could get to figure out what was going on. How was she going to take to the role? How was she going to breathe new life into a team many felt had become stale?
A 1-0 win over Liga F’s Levante brought with it whispers of a tactical revolution, a revolution that even then we would underestimate the full extent of. That game also marking the youthful focus that Potter was implementing, Laura Berry (now on-loan at Motherwell) scored the goal, Jodi McLeary and Kirsty MacLean played the full 90, Mia MacAulay came on at half time. Jo Potter was assessing her squad and the kids were being given centre stage to audition for key roles come matchday one.
Since then we have seen the tactics flourish with Rangers galloping into the SWPL with tactics that would make Emma Hayes’ head spin and Jonatan Giraldez faint. Three at the back, two of whom are usually natural wing backs and spend more time than most would be comfortable with in the opposition half, with either Kathy Hill or Tessel Middag in the middle as a one-woman-wall. Extremely advanced wing backs, utilising the natural wingers in Rangers’ squad, flank a midfield pair that usually provide the playmaking stability such attacking force requires. They get forward when they can but in early possession form a triangle with the central centre back to progress the ball forward. A final triangle forming the front three, usually made up of two strikers and an attacking midfielder. It is overwhelming, it is devastating, and it is Rangers’ new identity.
As the season has gone on, it has continued to grow and evolve as a tactical shape. Players have formed a deeper understanding of their role, young players have gained experience beyond their years. It has barely been 10 months but Jo Potter has breathed life into this team in a way that we have not seen before in SWPL. It is hard not to fall into the hype and excitement that she has brought to her first coaching role, especially while so many teenage Scots are being given the platform to perform.
It’s not just the kids, the experienced heads of Rachel Rowe, Nicola Docherty, Kathy Hill, Lizzie Arnot and Jane Ross are finding new life in their roles. Potter has utilised the experience of her squad in positions that they may not have played in before but that make so much sense now they’ve been doing it for two thirds of a season. Nic Doc as a wide centre back (and briefly as a defensive midfielder) would have been a crazy suggestion 12 months ago but now it feels so obvious.
A Third Title
Last time these two sides met was a 0-0 draw at Petershill Park, despite Rangers having the majority of the ball it was Partick Thistle that walked away feeling hard done by to only earn a point. A controversial decision to chalk off their goal following a Liv McLoughlin mistake saving Rangers blushes.
In that one Rangers’ wide play was nullified and they struggled to extract any creativity from midfield with MacLean injured and Rowe tightly watched by her opposite number. This time out they’ll be looking to overpower their opponents and get their devastating attack involved with more space. Quicker passing, more variety in passing distance, and a bit of imagination from their talented youth core will be key.
Kirsty Howat returned to training ahead of the Old Firm last weekend, however, it is still unknown whether Kirsty MacLean or Rachel McLauchlan will be available for the cup final clash. Lisa Martinez and Jane Ross have both returned to the squad this year after long term absences recovering from ACL injuries.
A brief “blip” has seen Rangers drop points in three of their last five games, losing for the first time this season. Their two wins coming against Hibernian in games where the score line really flattered them. It doesn’t need to be all alarms blaring, panic stations, quite yet for Jo Potter. But, it is perhaps a sign that her tactical revolution has met it’s first hurdle as teams begin to learn how to counter it. It may just be that injuries to key specialist players have seen them become less effective, and losing the best striker in the league (Howat) has hampered their finishing.
They are the holders, and they have only lost once in all competitions under Jo Potter. They are certainly the favourites.
The SWPL Cup final will be played at Tynecastle on the 24th of March, kicking off at 1:30pm. Tickets can be bought here. There will be no formal segregation, however, Rangers supporters that want to sit with their fellow fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in sections N, P, and Q.