Balogun & Dio start; predicted Rangers XI v Nice | OneFootball

Rangers face Nice in France (yes, there was a typo in the last headline, sue us) this evening, and Ibrox Noise’s Derek has already suggested the Ligue 1 side lack motivation and cohesion, and are overpaid primadonnas. We’ll find out how accurate our man is later today, but Rangers’ Midas Touch always seems to be there in this competition and it’s time to look at who is likely to start on the continent.

In goals it’s Butland. He’s absolutely untouchable and will be till he leaves.

Defence is interesting. James Tavernier no longer has his immunity to being dropped, and there’s a question in every slot. Stunningly, the only undroppable here is now John Souttar, who’s in great form this season.

Alongside him? Sterling, Balogun and Jefte. But there are massive openings for Tavernier himself, Propper and Ridvan.

In midfield it’ll be this manager’s go-to pairing of Connor Barron and Nico Raskin, with likely Diomande in front of them again, despite his being utter mince in the 10.

Left wing? Bajrami, and right wing Cerny. These two seem to be a go-to as well now, even if one of them is out of position.

Up front Dessers.

So your Ibrox Noise predicted XI:

Butland; Sterling, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Diomande; Bajrami, Cerny; Dessers.

It’s by no means a vintage Rangers team, in fact it’s so far below a vintage Rangers team it’s not even funny.

It’s a miserably average XI which looks more at home at a midtable SPL team than Rangers. We count so few players in there who scream of Rangers class but them’s what this manager and his Belgian comrade Nils Koppen brought to our club so that’s that.

Can it get the result in France?

As Derek says it only needs to work hard and give us a Thursday Rangers, and that should be enough. But who knows what Rangers will turn up.