Darthter

3 hours ago, der Berliner said:

We trialled a non-workable 4-3-3 for ages

What is sooooo special about the Scottish game that a tried & trusted formation the world over, doesn't work???

I think it's less about the system utilised, but more about the players on the park & the management behind the system.

We've seen it often where fans cry out for a 4-4-2.....they get it, but also get a poor performance.  Inevitably followed up with "why go 4-4-2.....4-5-1/4-3-3 is more attacking, or more suited to the modern game etc.  Or multiple systems tried, gets met with "why keep changing...players look lost & confused."

9 minutes ago, buster. said:

We aren't 5 players off Aberdeen, that's patent nonesense.

 

We are currently way off Celtic, that is an obvious fact.

In general, I'd agree with that....but time will tell.

On 17/07/2018 at 20:10, 26th of foot said:

Before the game, silly Billy stated, "in terms of catching both Aberdeen and Celtic, Rangers are five players off". At half-time, Chico slaughtered Morelos, "his decision making is that of a bad amatuer player", and Big Dick reminded the audience that last season we conceded more goals than the four teams below us. Of course, we scored more goals than all teams in the league but that was conveniently forgotten.

 

After the match finished, it was well done Jim Duffy, "Rangers did what they had to do, comfortably".  Further, I agree with his observation that we look lop-sided, everything going down the right. I suspect Flanagan's reliance on his right foot might be the basis of the observation?     

The part about catching Ceptic & Aberdeen is up for discussion, but not completely untrue.  The rest is on the money imho.....

28 minutes ago, pete said:

Mr Dornan knows exactly when polls are going to be brought out. Even if he didn't who would want anyone in office who can't read the date on a document.

totally unlike Dave Kings recent statement that was dated 2021....

12 hours ago, der Berliner said:

Forrester and Herrera updated. 17 players have left by now.

No mention of Carlos Pena....

14 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:

Some people just can't be happy away from where they grew up and there may be a bit of that going on with Morelos.

Morelos is from Columbia....yet was banging them in for fun in Finland!!!!

25 minutes ago, craig said:

You could see some of the frustration last night, which is no bad thing.

 

Windass played a pass just behind Murphy and Murphy let him know it wasn't good enough.

 

Murphy (or maybe McCrorie) did the same thing to Windass and he, likewise, let them know it wasn't good enough.

 

Last season there would be a shrug of the shoulders.  I think SG has improved the desire to be better - and that can only be a good thing.

I think there also needs to be a bit of focus on those supplying the passes/crosses as well.....maybe just not quite on the same page wrt ball delivery & striker positioning.

saw it a few times against Bury & Schkupi 1st leg, balls played into the box, just behind the striker or 1/2 foot too high/hard etc.  Makes it VERY difficult for ANYONE to accurately finish.

1 minute ago, buster. said:

I wouldn't read too much into clean sheets against Bury and a Macedonian pub team.

 

If we can get one in Coatia and Aberdeen then it's a much better indicator.

Clean sheets were something we struggled with against ANYONE last season, so regardless of who the opposition is, I'll take them.

We kept a clean sheet in 29% of our matches last season (11/38).  42% @ home, 16% away

I get the impression that SG's primary goal is to make us hard to beat (similar to WS...), especially away from home.  1st & foremost, he was players closed down quickly & for us to control the midfield (and the game).  We can then hopefully take chance when they appear.

It certainly didn't sound pretty or exciting last night, but we kept another clean sheet (3/3 so far) & seemed comfortably in control of the match.

I've said before, I think SG might have wanted to view a number of players in a "competitive" environment before making further changes.

It has been clearly evident that the defense has been lacking over the past couple of years.  However, we scored the most goals in the SPFL last season, so something was working up front.  Given how SG is setting up the team, he may have wanted to see how the existing forward line works with that setup.

Again, it might not mean wholesale changes upfront IF SG can instruct/guide the current forwards in a more effective way to operate.  What is clear now is that he has had 2 competitive & 1 friendly matches to see his "goal scorers" in action & clearly isn't overly impressed.

Just now, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

Armstrong is miles better than Windass. 

so good, that he struggled to get a game ahead of Forrest.....

Whereas Windass is a regular starter, who contributed 18 goals last season.

1 hour ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

Nobody in England is going to splash the cash on a guy who goes completely missing in at least half the games he plays in one of the worst leagues in European football. 

but they appear more than happy to shell out millions on a player who struggles to get into the 1st team @ Ceptic....

I think most teams would look at the benefits that a player like Windass DOES bring, rather than be put off by Gers fans perceptions of what he doesn't bring.....

WRT Windass.....I think his contribution would be missed, if he wasn't there.  I just don't get all the bad feeling towards him - he works hard & scores goals....what more are folk realistically wanting from him?

Plenty of examples of players over the years that have regularly "gone missing" during games, only to pop up & score or show a flash of brilliance.

Folk also need to take into account the manager/coaches instructions to a player - how does HE expect him to perform??  Certainly players may be told NOT to track back for example.

I think if Windass is played more in a central "free" role, folk mat see a different, more creative side.

On 11/07/2018 at 14:17, der Berliner said:

The GCC has to give the green light for refurbishments at Ibrox? Are there any road going to be blocked by cranes or the like?

Probably requires planning permission....

25 minutes ago, craig said:

Sure, he was our top scorer last season, but how many were goals that you thought "wow, that was fantastic finishing from there" ?  I'd guess at not many.

 

Personally, I don't care HOW they are scored - 30yd screamer or 1yd off someone's arse - they all count.

McCoist or Boyd were rarely scorers of outstanding goals, they were 6yd box players pouncing on chances for the most part.  They also missed a helluva lot of chances and were regularly slated for it.

I'd be more concerned if out forward line weren't getting into the positions to miss chances.....some times all it takes is for 1 or 2 of those chances to start going in for the flood gates to open.  I also thought last night, the some of the deliveries could have been a bit better - more accurate ie. balls being slightly over hit, & crossing the goal mouth just a bit too high. Or low balls being put into crowded 6yd box, when a high ball would have been more successful.

Over all, I was quite happy with the performance.  I though the team looked calm, solid & confident.  They worked hard to get the ball back when lost & passed/moved position well.  I certainly can remember ANY worrying moments from Shkupi, other than their long range effort off the bar.  They were difficult to break down, but we remained calm and worked away at them.

9 minutes ago, Gaffer said:

I don't care about the other

That's correct Bill.  Whilst we don't care about what these other clubs' fans think or say, we do need the boardrooms in the other clubs to be discussing these points and supporting us where appropriate.  I'd like to think that SR is working the other SPFL members quietly.  If he is, that's good and it's quite correct that those discussions remain private and confidential.  His ability to do that role effectively will hopefully make be proven when other clubs start to support the request for an enquiry or a resignation.  If no such support is forthcoming, I'd then question SR's influence and in which case his value to us.  Let's give the time to do this because I'd imagine no club can move without discussing and agreeing at their own board meetings first.  I'd hope to hear something within the next couple of weeks though because by then most will have had the opportunity to take this through their own governance.  This is a test for SR, but I think DK has positioned this for him quite nicely.

Even then, we may not hear anything in the media/publicly....In the grand scheme of things, it makes sense for the other clubs to keep their heads down - prevents probably fan backlash.  Where it is important though is in the SPFL boardroom....That is when they need to make their voice heard via a vote etc.

16 hours ago, craig said:

Hindsight is all too easy, as you say, but a sign of success for Gerrard in his first season shouldn't, IMO, be silverware - it should be progress, getting closer to Celtic physically, mentally and in terms of points.  Also finishing second but, just as importantly, for me at least, would be a clear visual impression of how his team will look to play with each player busting a gut to be successful.

 

For me, SG would be making a mistake to focus on Ceptic.....he should be focusing more on all the other teams & rather than getting closer to Ceptic, his main aim should be putting significant distance between us & everyone else.

We lost too many points to other teams last season....rectify that, and straight away we're closer to them.  Focus too much on one team, may mean taking your eye off the others.

1 hour ago, DMAA said:

It was encouraging to see the Evening Times join the Daily Record this morning in effectively supporting Rangers here though.

 

It's absolutely extraordinary that the other clubs and so far everyone else are still denying the absolute obvious though, that you can't work for both the SPFL and Celtic's majority shareholder at the same time!!

 

I've never been a conspiracy theorist but this whole episode has given infinitely more weight to accusations of institutional bias against Rangers than any number of dodgy decisions or fixture lists could.

The problem with the other clubs is that they are not being "targeted" by the governing bodies - they have no fight to fight.  As such, putting their head above the parapet does nothing (good or bad) for them, so why get involved at all.

3 minutes ago, Bill said:

Thanks - I didn't realise that was still the case but I still don't think it's entirely fair to go around advertising things that have ruined the lives of many Rangers fans.

I just find it completely ironic, that gambling within the sport is frowned upon, but many of the major sponsors/investors are gambling companies....

51 minutes ago, Bill said:

You're right, sometimes having principles does cost money. It's not something I expect to happen, only a personal preference not to have our children running around advertising things they're not actually allowed to participate in because ... well it's obvious isn't it. 

Child/youth strips don't have the sponsor on them though....

19 minutes ago, Gaffer said:

I thought you'd rather have a drink with a Celtic supporting tory voter than a Rangers supporting SNP voter.  ? 

Is Bill buying???

As I said before, I think transfer activity will easy off for the next week (maybe) until SG can really get a feel for how the players perform in a match situation - I think tomorrows game @ Ibrox will play a big part in his future acquisitions.  I also think that some of the existing players will have been told as much - it is their opportunity to stake a claim for a jersey going forward.

21 minutes ago, Malangsob said:

How much do you guys seriously think we will get for Alves?  We got em for free, he is 36 and is playing like dog shit. I would think the club should just be happy to be rid of the salary.

I say 1M tops.

It was an undisclosed wee, according to Wikipedia.

4 minutes ago, 26th of foot said:

You know, the club could head a lot of the fulmination, off at the pass. Just say it's a homage to the difficult journey being undertaken by Fernando Ricksen. Or, say it's a statement of empathy for the turmoil being experienced by Jum Spence.

nope...best saying nothing.  It's an orange coloured strip, end of story.

If folk want to link it to anything, then that's their business....

2 minutes ago, 26th of foot said:

The Rangers orange kit will have all the usual suspects foaming at the mouth, caustic comments will ensue.

While I can understand (& generally agree) why many folk didn't wan't the orange strip, due to obvious connotations.....it does look an absolute belter of a top.