der Berliner

Plan A going wrong again, hey-ho. Half-boiled stuff easily eaten up by well-drilled defending. Right flank virtually non-existing, despite Polster going forward ever so often. Second striker needed, quicker play from back to front and not endlessly passing across the midfield and in front of their defence.

Here we go again ... Plan A attempt 29 ... too consistent few goalscorers. At least Jones is on the bench and Polster starts.

I'd play ... McGregor Polster - Goldson/Edmundson - Katic Jack Stewart - Hagi - Aribo - Jones Morelos - Kamberi ... with Jack sweeping before the defence, who should more or less stay back. Hagi the creative force, Aribo both enforcer and creator, Stewart and Jones roving the wings and the strikers doing what strikers do.

Doubtful - Tavernier Possible - Polster Missing - Helander Referee - Willie Collum

A terrible line of events and - essentially - non-action. SG has assembled a team full of tacticians and former players ... and yet we continue with Plan A time and again with minimal changes to personnell when the wheels come off.

Methinks it is more the notion that Barasic "seemingly" sheds his blame and pointing at Goldson that causes some anger. Of course, Barasic never intended to hit that clearance off Davis, in essence, it was a nice line of misshaps and errors that led to their goal. Ill-luck that we did not receive on the other end.

While losing the odd game and playing rubbish, at least results-wise, our main problem remains that while still comfortably second, our benchmark is always Celtic. If anything, they have build a team - over essentially the last decade - that knows how to subdue any other Scottish team in the Premiership (refreeing and CO interventions aside). For the best part of 4 seasons we have failed to do that on a similar basis than they have. Obviously, they have spend millions more on that team than we did, players are settled and know what to do. If you take a step back, we have a manager that still builds a team out of a limited budget and limited market abilities - you have to remember that quality players won't be haring to Scotland to play against he likes of Ross County, Livingston and Co. fearing for health, reputation and loss in quality. Half a year ago "we" sneered at the mention of names like Scott Allan or Shankland, yet for all the guile of Aribo and the creativity of Hagi, we do need fighters that hold their own against the clobbers and diggers in Scotland. And that means fighters able to do it for Rangers, against whom every opposition team plays like they are in a cup final. (Again, refereeing standards aside, who are unbelievably sub-standard these days.) It is something we have failed to do, something that needs to be adressed. And in saying that, you would also have to question the non-selection of proven Premiership "fighters" like Stewart, Jones, Docherty and Co. ... while nigh always going Plan A with a "4-2-3-1" line-up against ANY opposition. Or indeed keeping players in the squad that did not deliver. What was that saying? Hard work will beat quality if quality does not work hard? One last thing, and it ain't an excuse, just a fact. The amount of chances we failed to take these last few month is sheer unbelievable. There were ridiculous saves from Morelos' attempts time and again, defenders getting a boot in or us hitting woodwark. Hagi had a couple of chances that any other day he might have scored and we would be on our knees hailing him like Football God incarnate. It has all come together to make up a fine recipe of disaster that leave us all dejected and frustrated. Not least when all silverware is Scumhut bound, despite the help of inept refereeing. Our time will come, as what happens right now won't go on forever. Never has and never will be. We've seen it all, have we not?

On a similar note: Stand up and be counted, if you can’t then get out of our club https://fourladshadadream.blog/2020/03/05/stand-up-and-be-counted-if-you-cant-then-get-out-of-our-club/

Voted for Hagi. Some sublime touches when receiving long balls and passes into the box, desperately unlucky not to score. Aribo put really a shift in too, fights for every ball and has some clever passes in him.

Well, in quite a few cases the goalies made some exceptional saves or some defender got a boot in. Refereeing blunders aside too. 3-5-2 at home against teams like Accies, St. Johnstone and even Hearts. Two wingers, one DM, one creating guy and one to run into spaces. McGregor Polster - Helander - Edmundson Jack / Kamara Stewart/Ojo/Hastie - Hagi/Davis/Arfield - Kent/Aribo - Jones/Hastie/Barasic/Barker Morelos - Kamberi / Defoe Once the game is settled, one can revert to different line ups or switch personnell. Obviously, the wingers would have to track back, but that would essentially be the same as fullbacks moving into midfield.

Flanagan ... actually we might go 3 at the back with him, ordering them to stay back and clear the lines. Just watched their goal again and that wicked deflection had Goldson inbetween two Accies people haring at him. Split second decision by him that went wrong and as per usual, we suffered. Accies were pooring forward at that time and it should have been order of the day to boot the ball anywhere ... long before it ended up with Goldson.

... when Barisic hit some lovely crosses into the box which were barely cleared, no-one was patroling the area around the penalty spot looking for scraps. Happened a number of occasions last night and Accies - given their numbers in there - quickly cleared that situations. Been a problem all season. Likewise, even with Defoe, Barker and Morelos on, too many folk were lingering in the same area, rather than covering different space. Biggest point of bother was the lack of wing-play. Why we insist that our fullbacks provide that is beyond me. Not least when one of our fullbacks is better suited to rugby-style passes these days. Was thinking back to the days when Candeias and Tavernier were roving down that flank and you may argue that they lived from one another and Tavernier hardly has a similar partner these days. Which should not excuse his woeful attempts at crossing the ball. As has been said, it can`t get any worse now and hard as it may sound, we should trial and test players now for next season. I don`t know what happened with Jones (there is very little information coming from the club here), Stewart - after half a dozen cameos was thrown in at the deep end and cynically (IMHO) dropped yesterday. Ojo vanished into the periphery, Barker has yet to show anything that convinces me he`s got it. Leaves us with Hastie, who will sure have enthusiasm to burn. If Polster and Helander are fit, they should be contenders for longer spells in the side, even though Helander would be the manager`s preferred choice anyway. That said, Ross County away will be tough going again. I reckon they will dig in and be physical as usual, so we might have to look after Hagi et al, as he will be needed against Bayer.

IMHO, Jones played well enough, then we got Kent and he never get a foothold again. Kent is no left winger, Jones has pace, is direct and will shoot at goal. Barker ... haven't seen anything from him that validates his place on the bench. Why we signed him and Jones and Kent when we had Murphy ... all vbying for on slot is beyond me. Murphy was back from injury and needs competitive footy. He was not going to get it while we had Kent (and Jones), all fit and running. At the time, they were ahead of him. Docherty runs a bit hot and cold at Hibs, as does McCrory. Both do show some grit the current folk lack though. What sent us even more down the mire was not having Morelos, Defoe, Helander and Polster ready to step in after the break, for one reason or another. IMHO, the main reason remains the wrong tactics time and again ... Can't for the love of the game understand why we tried to play that "modern game" against people who sussed it out ging back to MW days. It is as much a luxury as is the European run.

Exclude Kamara. He at least tried. But we had far too many also rans in midfield that effectively created nothing.

I think of opening the Summer Transfer Window Thread soon, so we get some excitement for the remainder of the season.

31-7 goal shot, Adrian Sprott greets from the distant past. Tonight we made the relegation battle more interesting again, the Scum almost last at Livingston, but we buried the title race once and for all. Hand these fuckers the title here and now. Sickening stuff. HOPEFULLY* Tav gets a wee break on the sidelines now, as he seemed undroppable and was deplorable all round again. IF someone wants to mention fullback, speak of Barasic. SG tactics again bit us hard. Yes, we were terribly unlucky again in front of goal and should have had 4 pr 5. But we did not. How on earth we started witzh no wingers is totally beyond me. Kamara was almost a revelation, being rather offensive for his standard, but in front of goal everyone was far too shy to hit a shot, playing passes rather than trying their luck. Which is the hallmark for midfielders. Steawart dumped after being thrown in at the deep end, Jones dumped for whatever reason. Barker showed no threat whatsoever. Bah ... Pedro and Mark would have been drawn and quarter for such stuff ... and were. *Sorry, but I'm far beyond any compassion now.

20-3 shots on goal and we mess it up.

BTW, it is 0-0 at HT. Huffing and puffing but hardly a real end product. Kamberi and Morelos linking up well, Aribo works hard, Hagi clever. The latter two unlucky with some attempts, goalie in inspired form again. Tav ... at his average best. Hardly any cross or corner or flank worthy of its name, Goldson's headers all wayward. Coud well be a long night again and I suddenly remembered the name Adrian Sprott ...

Oh look, no wingers and 3 and a half attacking players against 8 to 10 defenders. Hope Tav has his game of the season on the right wing ... Call me cynical. Jones not even on the bench. ?

Similar to seasons before, of late we mainly rely on our centre-halfs to provide the creative passes and crosses, rather than handing that role to Davis or Jack. Our 4-3-3 is more or less a 4-2-3-1 which becomes a 2-2-5-1, i.e. our CHs usually stay behind, Jack, Kamara, and/or Davis in front of them, while the full-backs push up into a wingback role. Our main problem - in addition to the above - this year has been that wing-service from the fullbacks has been minimal, while being regularly overran by counter-attacking opposition. There seemingly is no real cohesion between Arfield, Aribo, and Kent, whoever is up top is usually surrounded by opposition defenders and thus meanders across the front-line. All in all, against packed defenses we seemingly have no distinct plan, everything happens on the spot and "by accident". Kent is IMHO no real left winger and usually lacks the space he needs to make use of his rapid trickery and running. Neither Aribo nor Hagi are right-sided attackers, nor is Arfield. The last three look shoe-horned into that 3-man attack role not made for them. Against Accies (or any other team of the brickwall brigade, I'd simply revert to a 3-man defense, one DM in front of them to cover any runners, two real wingers, Hagi as the creative force, and two strikers keeping the opposition's centre half on constant alert levels. That would leave 2 slots in MF open, which could be filled with Aribo or Kent, or workers like Jack, Davis and Arfield. The wingers would be required to step back somewhat if we lose the ball, but I have seen Stewart and Jones doing it before.

4-3-3 will serve us well in Europe and has done so in games that we have nearly won. It is of no use against packed defenses, as MW learned the hard way and we seemingly not for 2 seasons running. Having better players and a lethal striker helped us thus far, but those wheels have come off now and there need to be adjustments. It's not like we'll dump 4-3-3 forever, just adapt tactics and players to the requirements of the day.

LOL ... when you pray Polster being fit to give Tav a rest, he`s injured. I doubt SG will put Flanagan into the frame ahead of Tav, unless he says 3 at the back and Kamara the destroyer in front of them. That would leave us with a midfield of Stewart - Hagi - Kent - Jones plus Kamberi and Morelos up front. Easy ?

Thing is quite simple: if he is the main striker, he has to score goals now (sic!), even though he had his fair share of ill-luck and abysmal refereeing. If he ain`t scoring, others should take that role if they do score. Methinks he was only absent when banned, not because any poor scoring form? IMHO, hand him another striker and themtwo will hammer the opposition. Right now he has to do most of the work alone.

Under substitutes? ?

Next game, next 3-0 win ... Docherty: Patience Will Be Key NICOLA Docherty believes Rangers Women will need to show patience on Sunday as they travel to Hamilton in the SWPL Cup. The left-back is hoping for more of the same from the Gers after 3-0 victories over Hearts and Queen’s Park so far this week. https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/docherty-patience-will-be-key/ SWPL Cup: Accies 0-3 Rangers RANGERS Women made it two wins out of two in the SWPL Cup with a 3-0 victory over Hamilton this afternoon. Goals from Lisa Martinez and Megan Bell had the Gers 2-0 ahead at the break, with centre-back Martinez netting again in the second 45. Rangers: Fife, Brownlie, Martinez (Girasoli, 73), Vance, O’Neill, Reilly (Gemmell, 69), Cornet, Docherty, Bell, Bourma, Hay (Devi, 69). Subs: Cunningham, McQuillan, Macdonald. More: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/swpl-cup-accies-0-3-rangers/ Malky: I Can See Progression MALKY Thomson is delighted Rangers Women are reaping the rewards on the pitch for their hard work in training. The Gers joint head coach praised his side as a 3-0 victory over Hamilton this afternoon saw them win their third game in a row, with three clean sheets. https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/malky-girls-got-their-rewards/ Gallery: Hamilton 0-3 Rangers https://rangers.co.uk/news/galleries/gallery-hamilton-0-3-rangers/ Megan Bell Miss Martinez