Zappa

Thursday, 19 March 2015 17:00 High Standards For Hibs Written by Alice Hedworth STUART McCall has spent his first week in charge slamming home the Rangers standards to his players – according to Tom Walsh. The 18-year-old has been impressed by his new boss’ approach and believes the changes are helping improve things both on the training ground and in games. And with a crucial clash in the race for the play-offs coming up at Easter Road on Sunday the youngster is hoping all the pieces of the McCall jigsaw come together. Walsh said: “There has been a brightness since the manager has come in, which is probably normal but I think everybody is enjoying the new regime. “Demands and standards have been heightened and obviously this is Rangers and you have to have standards all the time, we all know that, but he is really drumming it into us. “If you make a mistake it is a case of five chest jumps or five press ups, so he is making sure that we are getting to the best standard we can, because that then filters through onto the pitch and we’ll start playing at a higher level. “He has tried to bring in a new style and we saw improvements against Alloa and I think the results will come with that. “We did better with the ball as a team than we have recently so I think if we can hold on to leads and take a few more chances when they come it will happen for us. “Things have been much the same off the pitch but on matchday as long as you’re in the changing room for an hour and a half before the game he is happy for you to have your own pre-match meal. “It is entirely up to you, it’s how you feel and all players are different and some still go for pre-match but it’s good he gives us the option.” With Hearts dominating the league, second place has now become the coveted spot in the table and Hibs currently sit there, six points ahead of Gers. Rangers trip to Edinburgh on Sunday will play a huge part in determining who finishes where come May 2. After starting McCall’s first two games in charge midfielder Walsh is hoping to retain his place in the side for such an important fixture. He said: “That is the kind of game you thrive on and want to be involved in and I’m sure there will be some atmosphere. “It’s a massive game, not just for the league but I think Scottish football will be watching on Sunday. “I think there is still a long way to go but I’m sure Sunday will be a big factor in the battle for second place. “But we just have to go into every game and do our best, try and perform and get the three points, which is what the fans want - it will be a huge game for both teams and we need to get the result. “You can see they have a lot of good players, especially in the middle of the park but we can’t worry about what they’ve got. “We need to play and try and create things and score and I’m sure the goals will come we just need to dig in.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/8853-high-standards-for-hibs

I don't think I'd use the word 'inexorable' to describe a couple of lucky prediction results.

Part time teams at the bottom of our league are giving everyone a battle MB. Hibs only narrowly defeated Livingston 2-1 at Easter Road last week with a last minute header to take all 3 points and a couple of weeks before that they only narrowly won 0-1 at Recreation Park thanks to a Scott Allan free-kick midway through the first half. Those two teams have managed a draw against us this week, but it's been a very fine line between dropping points and winning the games.

That's the predictions thread now up for our game at Easter Road on Sunday. Get your predictions in before kick-off which is at 12:45. Do it here - Predictions for Hibs v Rangers - SPFL Championship match 29 (GPL game 40)

It's a huge task and going to be very difficult to get promotion, but I like McCall's positivity because we can definitely still do it. His positivity will rub off on the players and and hopefully on the fans too because we have our part to play in encouraging the team to victories. Berating the players too much during and at the end of matches is counter-productive.

You're only 9 points off the top 10 and there's a long way to go!

Schedule updated..... We've still got plenty of free spaces on the schedule, so if anyone fancies writing a match preview just post to say what game you want to do and we'll put your name down! Upcoming: Mar 22 - Hibernian v Rangers - SPFL Championship - pete Mar 28 - Rangers v Cowdenbeath - SPFL Championship - Laudbertz Apr 05 - Rangers v Hearts - SPFL Championship - 26th of foot Apr 09 - QotS v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Pete Apr 12 - Rangers v Raith Rovers - SPFL Championship - ??? Apr 15 - Livingston v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Frankie Apr 18 - Dumbarton v Rangers - SPFL Championship - andy steel Apr 25 - Rangers v Falkirk - SPFL Championship - Laudbertz May 02 - Hearts v Rangers - SPFL Championship - ??? _____________________________________________________________ Completed: Aug 05 - Rangers v Hibernian - Challenge Cup - Zappa (done) Aug 10 - Rangers v Hearts - SPFL Championship - 26th of foot (done) Aug 15 - Falkirk v Rangers - SPFL Championship - shorerdbear (done) Aug 18 - Rangers v Clyde - Challenge Cup - Super Cooper (done) Aug 23 - Rangers v Dumbarton - SPFL Championship - Zappa (done) Aug 26 - Queen's Park v Rangers - League Cup R1 - forlanssister (done) Aug 30 - Rangers v Queen of the South - SPFL Championship - Frankie (done) Sep 12 - Raith Rovers v Rangers - SPFL Championship - shorerdbear (done) Sep 16 - Rangers v Inverness CT - League Cup R2 - BrahimHemdani (done) Sep 20 - Alloa Athletic v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Bearman (done) Sep 23 - Falkirk v Rangers - League Cup R3 - no volunteer (done by Zappa) Sep 29 - Rangers v Hibernian - SPFL Championship - Hildy (done) Oct 04 - Livingston v Rangers - SPFL Championship - blueflag (done) Oct 18 - Rangers v Raith Rovers - SPFL Championship - Super Cooper (done) Oct 21 - East Fife v Rangers - Challenge Cup QF - Little General (done) Oct 25 - Dumbarton v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Bearman (done) Oct 28 - Rangers v St Johnstone - League Cup QF - no volunteer Nov 01 - Dumbarton v Rangers - Scottish Cup R3 - no volunteer (done by Frankie) Nov 04 - Cowdenbeath v Rangers - SPFL Championship - SteveC (done) Nov 08 - Rangers v Falkirk - SPFL Championship - shorerdbear (done) Nov 15 - Rangers v Alloa Athletic - SPFL Championship - Zappa (done) Nov 22 - Hearts v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Hildy (done) Nov 30 - Rangers v Kilmarnock - Scottish Cup R4 - 26th of foot (done) Dec 03 - Alloa v Rangers - Challenge Cup SF - no volunteer Dec 06 - Rangers v Cowdenbeath - SPFL Championship - SteveC (done) Dec 12 - Queen of the South v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Hildy (done) Dec 20 - Rangers v Livingston - SPFL Championship - Frankie (done) Dec 27 - Hibernian v Rangers - SPFL Championship - JohnMc (done) Jan 03 - Rangers v Dumbarton - SPFL Championship - no volunteer (done by Andy Steel) Jan 10 - Alloa Athletic v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Zappa (done) Jan 16 - Rangers v Hearts - SPFL Championship - 26th of foot (done) Jan 24 - Cowdenbeath v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Frankie (done) Feb 01 - Rangers v Celtic - League Cup SF - JohnMc (done) Feb 08 - Rangers v Raith Rovers - Scottish Cup R5 - Pete (done) Feb 13 - Rangers v Hibernian - SPFL Championship - Laudbertz (done) Feb 20 - Raith Rovers v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Frankie (done) Feb 27 - Falkirk v Rangers - SPFL Championship - pete Mar 07 - Cowdenbeath v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Laudbertz (done) Mar 10 - Rangers v QotS - SPFL Championship - Stewarty Mar 14 - Rangers v Livingston - SPFL Championship - shorerdbear (done) Mar 17 - Rangers v Alloa Athletic - SPFL Championship - no volunteer (done by Zappa) _____________________________________________________________

Here's a round-up of the GPL movers & shakers plus full results and standings tables following the 2-2 draw with Alloa at Ibrox on Tuesday night. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?69410-Predictions-for-Rangers-v-Alloa-SPFL-Championship-match-28-(GPL-game-39)&p=558254&viewfull=1#post558254

Another excellent report from you elfideldo, the Club should be speaking to you about doing them officially. Is Durrant mixing it up and trying to give everyone an opportunity or just evaluating them all do you think?

You would think so, but apparently not. Maybe we should start a nomination system where you put your name down on the rota and get to nominate a forum member to write a preview. :devil:

The keeper needs to be coming off his line to command his 6 yard box, yes, but when he comes further out he needs to be certain of getting there first.

Cammy Bell did have a close call in the last 15 or 20 minutes of the first half last night coming out of his box and almost getting chipped by the opposition player. In fact I was pretty close to the action on that occasion and it was a VERY close call. The reason I mention it, is that after that he might have considered being slightly more cautious on 50/50 balls.

Go for it then mate and thanks!

FT: Killie 1-1 Rangers

It's a shame that our own club can't provide live text updates/commentary on these games on the Rangers site or via twitter. They did it for a while, but it seems to have stopped since Andrew Dickson was made redundant.

Spoke to you via PM earlier mate, but I wanted to reply here too saying thanks for the offer, much appreciated! Just so that everyone else knows, we try not to have two previews in a row from one writer, so since Laudbertz is doing the Cowdenbeath game on the 28th we're still looking for a volunteer to write the preview for this weekend's game against Hibs! If you're interested, then please post here or PM me. The previews don't have to be fancy or 'high falutin' (as the Americans say) and can be anything from an analysis of player & team performances, possible team selection and tactics, to something based more on current affairs or simply a good old rant! It's all good!

Anyone here going along to this game in Kilmarnock tonight?

If McMurdo is talking about the Club having unpaid HMRC bills he'd do well to acknowledge that it's the fault of the previous boardroom regime and those previously controlling the Club who he championed. The previous Rangers boards have had the Club living on virtually nothing but crisis loans for over a year and now it's all Dave King's fault? Anyone who believes that sort of drivel from McMurdo needs a white coat and a padded cell.

Craig Halkett is fit as well because he started (and AFAIK finished) the U20's excellent 6-1 win against Ross County on Thursday. Halkett was also on our bench for the 1st team's recent trip to Falkirk and it's not the first time he's made the squad, so he's clearly highly regarded like Gasparotto who's been starting every game for Airdrie.

Agreed. It's less than 2 weeks since the EGM and I would expect them to have more important issues to deal with than the RFB. I want to see them dealing with the most important issues first and those will take time to work through.

That's an excellent article from Rousseau. Welcome to Gersnet!

In fairness, I think McCall's only had 2 or 3 full training sessions with the squad plus a couple of short sessions and chats, so it's very early days for him. The 2 results against Livi and Alloa haven't been good, but he's made some changes and there's some signs of improvement. Most of us will probably expect a defeat to Hibs, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if McCall manages to use the next 4 days to good effect.

Last call !!

Don't forget to post your Gers v Alloa predictions between now & tonight's kick-off!! Do it here - Predictions for Rangers v Alloa - SPFL Championship match 28 (GPL game 39)

I'll stand in then, since nobody's volunteered.