Space indicates why Moussa scores so many against Newco

I read Kenny Shiels’ comments that Newco’s Barrie McKay was better than James Forrest and Patrick Roberts, making me curious about McKay’s contract. The midfielder’s deal expires in 18 months, but when announcing his contract signing, Newco were unusually frank about their newco status:

“The winger has played a total of 78 times for Rangers, after making his first start in July 2012 against Brechin City at the age of 17.”

Before going onto explain in the same article that “The pacey winger made his Rangers debut against St Johnstone in the Light Blues’ last game of the 2011/12 season.”

If you count, that’s two debuts.  For two Rangers.

McKay was clearly Newco’s best player against Celtic, causing problems from the first minute until their challenge ran out of steam. Tying him into a long-term contract will be a priority (or selling him will be).

Yesterday I noted how Kiernan yelled abuse towards Tavernier at Scott Sinclair’s goal at Ibrox, but as this still shows, the entire Newco defence have questions to answer.

There are five defender goal-side of Stuart Armstrong (not counting one on the wing). As the world was about to find out, Sinclair was unattended, but look at the space Moussa Dembele is in! The two central defenders, who will soon claim to be covering him, are five yards away from him. The defensive line isn’t so much a line as a horseshoe.

This is what Moussa scores so many goals against that lot, he doesn’t get this kind of space against any other opponent.