That Rangers struggled against deep-lying defences - the low-block in the coaching jargon of the day - is not a new observation.
The lack of attacking invention required to break teams down was a feature of Steven Gerrard 's first season and although it seemed to have been put to bed before the break, it reared its head as a burning issue once again after the return from Dubai.
Rangers coaching staff, from the manager through to coach Michael Beale and skipper James Tavernier, have admitted the unusual tactical question posed by Scottish football has often left them vexed.
Where most European leagues feature games with ebb and flow, Rangers and indeed Celtic often face packed defences every week as the gulf in size of clubs means every game is a cup final for the smaller side.
Opponents raise their game when facing the big two knowing it's their chance in the shop window and players must be prepared to win both the fight as well as the technical battle.
Gerrard has been aware of this for some time and knowing he has re-established the club as a respected force in Europe who are more than capable of matching Celtic in a derby, this issue will have surely taken up much of his lockdown head-scratching.
And it appears from the games so far his musings have provoked a solution.
While some expected the boss to roll out a new formation, there appears to have been a significant tactical tweak to how the Ibrox men attack. Think evolution rather than revolution.
While last season the midfield three for Rangers were often industrious and hard-working, providing key cover for the rampaging full-backs that are at the centre of the Gerrard system, it appears Joe Aribo has been given more licence to get forward and join the attack.
You can see James Tavernier bursting forward with the ball and the key to the impact of the attack is the number of bodies pushing forward to support their captian.
Ianis Hagi, one of Gerrard's two no.10s, has been consistently moving to get close to the striker in central areas. He seems a lot more connected to the action so it's been no surprise to see him nab an assist and two goals in the games so far.
The image also shows Morelos taking up position on the left, with Hagi central and Kent wide on the right.
There appears to be a fluidity and variation to the players are encouraged to take up new roles with each having the intelligence to fill the space vacated by a colleague.
With Hagi looking to move into space in central areas where he can be most effective with his accurate shooting and ability to pick out a defence-splitting pass, there might be a concern that the wide areas will be left vacant. This has been addressed with the continued focus on Rangers' attacking full-backs to get forward and provide width, a feature of the Gerrard era since the beginning. Their constant bombing on adds to the attacking options of the Ibrox men and often leads to significant overloads in the final third.
The wide positioning of Tavernier and Barisic clearly allows Hagi the licence to drift inside where he is more suited.
But there also appears to be an adjustment to allow Kent to stay wide when the situation allows.
Unlike the Romanian he's a natural winger and has the pace to leave defenders for dead.
In attacking situations where one full-back is pushed up high, the ex-Liverpool man has filled in on the other side, giving the team balance, and Hagi the run of central areas.
Hagi's headed goal against Motherwell last night was a perfect example of the creative star's more advanced positioning.
Pushing into the box alongside Morelos he was found six yards from goal by Barisic's pinpoint cross. Last season there would have only been the Colombian to aim for but this time there was another option.
And Hagi isn't the only one. Aribo is making later runs and can use his quick feet to tailor superb situations in and around the box like he did for Rangers' third last night.
And if the game against Nice proved anything, it's that encouragement for one of the midfielders to break forward is a team plan rather than about the maverick Nigerian international as an individual.
You can see in the above example that Scott Arfield has moved into the space vacated by Kent dropping deep to collect the ball and is making a strong froward run.
Once again, this clever rotation of players into space has been a feature of the three friendlies that have taken place so far this pre-season.
