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Big game tomorrow. Hibs are on a decent run of form and so are we, so I'm expecting a more competitive match than we're used to (domestically), with both teams trying to score. I think Roofe will be the main man again. The likes of Arfield, Aribo and Hagi will hopefully be starting and raring to go. 'Mon The Rangers! ??
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For decades psychologists have studied why humans are reluctant to accept randomness as simply part of life, instead are inclined to believe that we can, at least to some extent, predict, influence, and control the world around us. Of course there are many, many aspects of life we can influence and control, but there are just as many we can’t, so we create mechanisms to deal with these. For millennia different societies have reacted to low or reduced personal control by strongly endorsing a belief in the existence and influence of external controlling powers. These feelings manifest themselves in many ways. The Aztecs made human sacrifices in the hope they would prevent earthquakes. The ancient Greeks built shrines to their gods in their homes, convinced that their gods would be angry and punish them if they didn’t. Today, you probably know someone who believes 9/11 was staged or who is convinced Covid is a hoax and vaccines are a scam perpetrated by ‘big pharma’. Psychologists believe that when randomness imposes itself on our lives we react by reintroducing order as we best understand it. This can manifest itself as simple superstitions, rituals or global conspiracy theories that draw us in. For some it’s easier to believe they are being threatened by evil scientists than by a naturally mutating virus they can neither control nor see. This is called compensatory control. I’m guilty of this. My first thought on Wednesday evening as I saw the Rangers side enter the pitch at St Mirren was ‘we never play well in white socks’. I was right. Rangers should always wear black socks with red tops, everyone knows we play better in them, that’s a sacred cow in my belief system. I’ve had a few of these over the years. I own about 5 Rangers scarves, but only my white bar scarf is lucky. Like thousands of others when I leave the stadium I must touch the top of the exit with my left hand, it’s very bad luck not too. Also, I never, ever leave a match early, if I did it would create a karma cataclysm I’m not sure the club could withstand. In the past I’ve found myself wearing the exact same clothing to match after match as clearly that particular sartorial combination was contributing to our good run of form. I’m not alone in this. I once knew a Hamilton Accies season ticket holder who followed them home and away. He missed two matches in a row through illness and Hamilton won them both. They lost the next match he attended and he and his friends agreed he was bringing them bad luck and he didn’t attend another match that season. Following Hamilton was a huge part of his life, but he knew his presence was causing them their problems that season. The major flaw with compensatory control however is that it’s not based in reality. I hope Rangers are wearing black and red socks again against Motherwell this weekend, but let’s be honest that wasn’t the reason we lost to St Mirren and it won’t have any bearing on Saturday’s result either, no matter what my addled mind might tell me nearer the time. I’ve watched Rangers lose far more matches in perfect black and red socks than I have in white ones. There’s a helplessness that comes with being a Rangers supporter currently. Actually being present at a match provides some level of tangible contribution. I might not be able to control the midfield from a seat in the enclosure, but I can shout obscenities at the opposition right back that he can actually hear, so that’s almost the same thing, right? Watching all of our matches on TV just underlines how little control I actually have. The dog has learned to go to another room so she’s not startled by my random volcanic outbursts following a misplaced pass or over hit cross. My Rangers impotence is very real this season. Saturday’s match is a chance for our side to make amends. To show that Wednesday night was simply a slip, not a fall. Motherwell come to Ibrox in poor fettle, 3 straight losses and a draw in their last 4 matches is relegation form. Indeed, were it not for the awarding of Motherwell 6 points for two Covid postponed matches earlier in the season they’d be 3rd bottom, clearly the scientists behind the Covid conspiracy are based in post-industrial Lanarkshire. We last played them in late September when we ran out 5-1 winners. If you could pick opposition to play when you need to bounce back from a setback then this current Motherwell team is it. A struggling side, in poor form, at home; surely it’s just a question of how many we’ll score? But this is football and as we all know random, inexplicable things happen in football, things we can’t control or explain. How did last season’s Rangers side crumble in January after comprehensively beating Celtic at a full Parkhead at New Year? Why did we lose to St Mirren on Wednesday? Are Rangers mentally fragile, have sides finally figured out how to nullify our marauding style of play? Are we destined to become the Scottish version of Keegan’s Newcastle? I don’t think so. We learned on Wednesday that a 20 year old with only 4 first team starts in his entire career isn’t as effective as the first choice left back for Croatia. We also learned that Cedric Itten isn’t yet as good as Alfredo Morelos and that every Rangers starting 11 should have at least one of Jack, Davis or Kamara on the pitch. We also learned that lapses in concentration and weakly surrendering possession will see us punished. None of these things should come as a surprise to us though, we surely already knew this. Every manager in Scotland, including Motherwell’s, will be studying how St Mirren were able to frustrate us. As such I expect Barasic to return to left back and Kamara and Davis to the centre of our midfield. I’m not sure how badly injured Balogun is but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Helander make a return to the side either way. I think we’ll persevere with Itten, Kent and Roofe, but a start for Defoe wouldn’t be a big surprise either and Hagi must be due another chance soon too. Motherwell have two first choice picks for Scotland in their defence but will be without Hastie up front who is currently on loan from us. Motherwell will aim to frustrate us, close us down and try and prevent us playing our quick passing game. They’ll have taken heart from the St Mirren result, it’ll be interesting to see what we’ve taken from it. We can expect plenty of possession, we might need patience and resilience too. Rangers fans have been damaged by the events of the last few years. We got used to mentally preparing ourselves for the worst. It was easier that way when it inevitably happened. So the last 4 months of undiluted, high octane winning football were greedily enjoyed, momentarily quenching a burning desire to see Rangers return to the pinnacle of Scottish football. But I’m an addict and while I’ve greatly enjoyed my weekly hit of out-classing every opposition we’ve met, I need it to continue every week. I can’t go cold turkey, not at Christmas. In a year that’s carried more anxiety than any for decades football is not providing an escape, I find myself approaching a home match against a below average Motherwell side like it’s a cup final. When we last won the league, back in 2010/11, we lost 5 league matches, in 2008/09 we lost 4. Every side loses matches, it’s how they respond to them that matters. So far we’ve not lost a league match this season, yet the jitters have already set in with many in our support. One setback and we’re nervously watching through our fingers instead of sitting back and enjoying the ride. I suspect anything less than a victory on Saturday will cause psychological damage to the players and the support. While this side has a style and vim about it that Walter Smith’s sides could only dream of, it doesn’t yet have his side’s inner steel. It’s not a compensatory control to say we need that, every side that wants to win the league needs a strength and desire that’s greater than it’s opposition’s. Our manager knows better than most that one slip in the league can define a season, this weekend is not the weekend to make ours. Saturday will tell us if this side is on the road to greatness or not. To be on the safe side make sure you wear your lucky shirt and don’t use the same mug or glass you had on Wednesday evening, just in case.
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"It is a case of taking each game as it comes, there is no point trying to plan too far ahead than the next game at the moment." Sitting top of both the Scottish Premiership and our Europa League group, still unbeaten in all competitions and with a goal difference that is unmatched in world football, means many Rangers fans are rightly confident at the moment: as are the players and that assurance has been reflected on the pitch. However, the quote above from Rangers manager Steven Gerrard ahead of our return European match with Benfica on Thursday night was wise indeed. Nothing has been won yet, and, as we've seen at various clubs domestically and abroad, the global pandemic can quickly change matters at any club. That's not to be pessimistic or unduly negative. With Celtic struggling for form and their fans arguing amongst themselves regarding their board and manager, SPFL matters could barely be better for Rangers. Top of the table by 11 points and having only conceded three goals has us in a fantastic position and, despite a tough sequence of matches to come through December, this Rangers side shows no sign of buckling. Our European campaign has been similarly impressive. Again we currently sit top of the group - albeit on the same points as Thursday's opponents - and only two late goals in Portugal have stopped us from being further ahead. Yet, it was that late capitulation, against the ten men of Benfica, that shows positive situations can turn bad and quickly. The game in Lisbon was a strange one. Rangers couldn't have started any worse with a mistake from the usually reliable Helander gifting a goal after just 60secs. The following 15 minutes were also a struggle and it wasn't until Otamendi's 19th minute red card that the tide turned for us. A quick equaliser followed by taking the lead with a superb team goal just a minute later meant the team grew in confidence and played with a swagger you rarely see from Scottish teams away in Europe. A 51st minute third goal had us on easy street and right up until Benfica pulled one back in the 77th minute, Rangers played with an accomplished manner which took us back to the days of Dick Advocaat's expensively assembled team. Yet, incredibly (and it still hurts three weeks later) we contrived to throw what looked a comfortable win away. A lack of concentration, an over-confidence, positional errors - call it what you will, we succumbed to a third late goal and two points were dropped. Thankfully the reaction since has been impressive. Hamilton Acas were swatted aside before the international break and Aberdeen dismissed by four goals upon our return: 12 goals scored, zero conceded. That shows a team annoyed by events in Portugal and focussed on righting the wrongs from that night, alongside any other perceived weaknesses from previous campaigns. Let's hope the same mindset is used on Thursday night, especially with Benfica weakened by suspension, injury and Covid issues. The loss of Otamendi, Weigl, Taarabt and the first game changer Nunez means opportunity knocks once again... In terms of our team, the manager has pretty much a fully fit squad to choose from. Jack may have a late fitness test but only he and Zungu may be unavailable out of our European squad. That means two possible outlooks for the manager: does he continue with the more aggressive setup to his team that we've seen by and large domestically or a slightly more cautious strategy? For example, although Jack's availability may force Gerrard's hand somewhat, does he utilise Davis, Kamara and Arfield as his deeper three with Kent, Roofe and Morelos a very attacking front three. Or, as we seen in Lisbon, will Aribo be preferred to Roofe (or indeed Morelos) in one of the advanced roles? With other options such as Brandon Barker (no stranger to starting European games) and Ianis Hagi (who looked sharp in his late cameo against Aberdeen) the manager also has the element of surprise should he choose it. No selection shocks are likely defensively. Filip Helander had the proverbial nightmare in the first fixture but usually offers the kind of calm presence that is required in such fixtures. That will mean Balogun again dropping out but we're lucky to have the Nigerian international defender with his form impressive when called upon. At 'full-back', Barisic and Tavernier should provide their usual threat in wide areas but will need to stay switched on defensively when Benfica inevitably have periods on the ball and/or on the counter. Just like in Portugal, Aberdeen also showed in the first half on Sunday that we do leave gaps from time to time that can be exploited so care must be taken to provide cover. Nevertheless, thus far this season, Rangers have passed all tests with flying colours. Yes, mistakes have been made, daft goals conceded and points dropped. Yet, the overall picture has been that of obvious progress with obstacles that previously caused us issues hurdled with relative ease. Group stage qualification may not be certain with three points from Thursday's game but it will provide just one more indication that, although the bulk of this Rangers team remains familiar, there is a new belief within it; along with a desire and winning mentality that every successful team needs. Nothing has been won at this stage, and poor results will surely happen at some point, but this Rangers team have shown they can lead from the front and that must continue this week and into next month. So yes, as the manager says, let's take each match as it comes but, as other clubs question their challenge let's keep the pressure on home and away. Possible Starting XI:
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After yet another win, yet another clean sheet and yet another match without an opposition shot on target, it wasn't really a surprise to see Steven Gerrard get frustrated with one journalist in the post-Poznan presser when asked about Rangers managing to win despite not playing well in a supposed '7/10 performance'. The manager's sharp retort was understandable: yes, we may not always be at our very best in every game but that need not mean we played badly, just that the opposition can be of a standard to provide an actual contest where grit, hard work and patience can be just as important as composure, technique and wonder goals from the half-way line. In that respect, Rangers have not been found lacking this season. There has been an undoubted addition of quality into our play in general but industry and organisation have been just as important in several games which is why, so far at least, no-one has beaten us. Of course we've not been at our best in every game - that's impossible - but it's easy to forget we've played our nearest challengers of Celtic, Hibs and Aberdeen all away from home with only two points dropped out of the nine available and that, arguably was down to an avoidable error, compounded by an offside equaliser. Meanwhile, at Parkhead and Pittodrie, we controlled the games and again, without being fantastic, deservedly won both. There have also been some weak arguments that Rangers are a one-trick pony, capable of playing just the one way and struggling to adapt in certain situations. A 0-0 draw at Livingston in mid August could certainly provide evidence of such a point of view, as well as several games under Gerrard in previous seasons, but this campaign seems different. Rangers absolutely do have a game-plan of course but that's not to say we're predictable. For example, the manager clearly prefers a 4-3-3 but that can vary depending on the venue and the opposition. We sometimes prefer the 4-2-3-1 variation, often used in European games away from home to counter attack with a lower block but we're equally comfortable with a 4-3-2-1 which allows to push our wing backs much further up the park and look to dominate games with a higher press. Clearly, personnel choice within both systems can also affect our strategy and the acquisition of players like Roofe, Itten and Zungu - as well as an obvious difference in what has been asked of Alfredo Morelos - means the management team have put a lot of thought into tactical flexibility. With that in mind, as usual, a trip to Rugby Park will be a stern test of all our abilities. Killie will be well organised, physical, dangerous on the counter and eager to puncture our increasing morale. Does that mean we look to match them in midfield with the oft-criticised partnership of Jack and Kamara going toe to toe with Power and Dicker? Do we push our full-backs forward and leave gaps for the likes of Burke, Kiltie and Brophy? Which centre-half should deal with the physical presence of Nicke Kabamba? How best can we expose changes to their defence after their loss to injury of former Hearts centre-back Clevid Dikamona? What effect, if any, should the pitch and forecast stormy weather have on our selection? All these questions aren't easy to answer which demonstrates Rangers are flexible. And, our starting XIs from the last two games show the manager will make changes where necessary with five in the matches at Liege and against Livi as well. However, it could be argued our performances in those two games have been somewhat disjointed at times so, chances are there will be less for Sunday. Change one should see a return to the left side of central defence for Filip Helander whom has been rotated with Leon Balogun of late. Despite an injury keeping the big Swede out for the best part of nine months, he has featured twice on artificial surfaces this season so his aerial presence and calmness at the back may be preferred this weekend. The rest of the defence should be as expected, barring any knocks from the Lech Poznan win. Calvin Bassey is just one backup player who has done very well when called upon and his physical presence may well be used at some point this weekend. Midfield should see one further change with Ryan Jack a likely starter in what I'd expect to be a three on Sunday as part of a 4-3-2-1. I'd fancy Glen Kamara will be part of that trio with Scott Arfield retained to provide a threat running from deeper areas. Although new signing Bongani Zungu may well be looked to in such games going forward, his lack of match sharpness make him an unlikely starter this weekend. Steven Davis will most probably be rested after playing the last two full matches and I believe Joe Aribo will be used in one of the two number 10 roles this system utilises. That leaves two more roles to fill in the XI and most probably one further change with Alfredo Morelos, fresh off Thursday night's header winner, likely to lead the line backed up by the afore-mentioned Joe Aribo and the ever-reliable Ryan Kent. The latter hasn't quite been in the same top form he showed earlier in the season but continues to contribute in a defensive sense which will be important against a team like Killie who are comfortable on the counter. However, if the manager does fancy one more change then Brandon Barker or Jordan Jones could start with both doing decent jobs lately. Their selection may well depend on the system deployed and as much as I'm favouring the 4-3-2-1, our 5-1 win at Motherwell one month ago shows a 4-2-3-1 can be just as effective. All things considered, it's a big bonus for all connected with Rangers to have so many options available and the standard of the squad testament to how far we've come under Gerrard. Our form so far this season has shown further improvement and only the most churlish of supporters would be unhappy with where we sit right now. However, with a yellow Met Office warning for rain and wind, Rangers will need to weather another Killie storm on Sunday afternoon with the outcome being just one more indication of our chances of silverware on the SPFL pressure barometer. Will the dodgy 4G surface of Rugby Park display another artificial title challenge from Rangers or is this, finally, the real thing? Possible team (4-3-2-1):
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match thread (image) [FT] Rangers 1 (Morelos 68) - 0 Lech Poznan
ian1964 posted a topic in Rangers Chat
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The teenage "pitbull" who Rangers must muzzle to end Standard Liege's six year unbeaten home run in Europe RANGERS have been warned they will have to muzzle the teenage “pitbull” who has taken Belgian football by storm this season to stand any chance of ending Standard Liege’s remarkable 15 game unbeaten run at home in Europe. Steven Gerrard’s side play their opening Europa League group game against Philippe Montanier’s team in the Stade Maurice Dufrasne tomorrow evening and have high hopes of getting off to a winning start. The Ibrox club have done well away from home against foreign opposition in recent seasons and have recorded impressive results against the likes of Braga, Feyenoord, Legia Warsaw, Porto, Villarreal and Willem II. Yet, Liege, who drew 1-1 with Jupiler Pro League leaders Club Brugge at home on Saturday, promise to be as difficult to overcome as any outfit they have faced on their travels since returning to continental competition three years ago. The Reds last suffered a defeat in their Sclessin stadium in Europe way back in 2014 and in the last seven seasons they have beaten or drawn with rivals as renowned as Ajax, Arsenal, Celta Vigo, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sevilla. Arsenal, who drew 2-2 with Liege in the Europa League group stages last term, are the only side to have taken a point off them at their intimidating 27,670 capacity arena in their last nine outings. Whoever plays for the Glasgow club in midfield out of Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara looks set to have a particularly demanding evening. New manager Montanier, who has previously had spells in charge of Valenciennes, Real Sociedad, Rennes, Nottingham Forest and Lens, has shown he is unafraid to give youth a chance since being brought in back in June. Nicolas Raskin, a combative, creative, tough-tackling and industrious presence in the centre of the park, has repaid the faith the experienced French coach has shown in him and then some. “Standard are doing well this season,” said Bob Faesen of Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg. “They drew with Brugge, who are the best team in Belgium, after scoring a controversial late penalty at the weekend, but it was a fair result. They have got a new coach and a lot of good young players. “Raskin has come in to the side. He was at Gent before Liege and made his debut there as a 16-year-old. After that he didn’t push on and play. But he has been given his chance at Standard this season and he has taken it. “He is still only 19, but he has really shone. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can play in every position in the middle of the park. He is technically gifted, but he is also a bit of a pitbull. He can run a lot, is powerful and has a good shot. He has been one of the big surprises in Belgium football this season and will be a key player for Liege who Rangers will need to be wary of.” However, it isn’t just the Rangers midfielders who can expect a torrid 90 minutes in their opening Group D fixture – their striker will have his work cut out getting past a gifted young defender who has been tipped to become the next superstar of Belgian football. “The most important player for Liege is Zinho Vanheusden,” said Faesen. “He is only 21, but he is the Standard captain now. He is a real leader. He is one of the biggest talents in country. He won his first cap for the national team in a friendly against the Ivory Coast earlier this month. “He was bought from Inter Milan last year, but he will go back there next year. It is kind of a loan deal. He was brought in to help out with Inter’s financial fair play problems and so they could bring in Romelu Lukaka from Manchester United. “He was brought in to Standard for a €12.5m fee, a Belgian record, last year, but he will go back to Inter for €20m next year. He is seen by many people as the successor to Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen. Everybody expects him to be in the national team for a long time in the coming years.” Faesen added: “A lot of the time Liege set up with three at the back, in a 3-4-3 formation, but they have versatile, flexible players who are adaptable and they can change formation during the course of a match. Having an individual like Raskin, who can perform a number of roles, enables them to do that. “They are more attack-minded than defensive. They like to press teams high up the park. But they have conceded the fewest shots on goal in the Belgian league this season so that shows they are strong at the back as well.” Up front, however, Montanier doesn’t have quite the same quality at his disposal as he does elsewhere. Selim Amallah, the Moroccan midfielder who has netted six times in the 2020/21 campaign, is his leading scorer. But three of his strikes came from the penalty spot. “Liege’s problem is they don’t have a real goalscorer,” said Faesen. “Obbi Oulare, who played for Watford, has played up front, but he has had a lot of injury problems. The same is true of Felipe Avenatti, the Uruguayan. “On Saturday Liege played Mikel Ange Balikwisha, who is also quite young and is more of a winger. But Oulare and Avenatti were unavailable so it was either him or nothing. Elsewhere, Jackson Muleka is also out injured.” Standard Liege were in real danger of being demoted to the fourth tier of Belgian football earlier this year due to serious financial problems which were exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak and football shutdown. They were denied their professional licence by their national federation due to outstanding payments to players and only won it back after appealing to the country’s court of sports arbitration. Multi-million euro loans from famous former players Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel as well as a substantial investment from local pharmaceutical magnate Francois Fornieri, who bought 50 per cent of the shares, saved them from oblivion. Rangers, despite their impressive showings in Europe since Steven Gerrard was appointed manager and fine recent form, can’t bank on a result in the Stade Maurice Dufrasne this week unless they perform at their very best. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18809407.teenage-pitbull-rangers-must-muzzle-end-standard-lieges-six-year-unbeaten-home-run-europe/
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match thread (image) [FT] Celtic 0 - 2 Rangers (Goldson 9, 54)
Frankie posted a topic in Rangers Chat
It's fair to say Rangers supporters' apathy to international breaks has been increasingly noticeable over the last ten years. The 'journey', including an obvious lack of quality players for several years since we were demoted to 2012, meant few Rangers players were involved at that level. Other than Lee Wallace on our return to the top league, few Rangers players stood out enough to be considered good enough to play for Scotland, whilst the other foreign players we recruited were hardly top of their country's class either. Fortunately, as the Rangers team progresses and evolves so does our squad's opportunities at that higher level. Ryan Jack has shown up well enough for Scotland of late to play regularly under Steve Clarke and the likes of Borna Barisic and Glen Kamara are considered first choice for their country. Add in the record-breaking NI internationalist Steven Davis and new signings such as Cedric Itten and Leon Balogun then there's no coincidence that our results are getting better as the squad improves. However, that good news does become worrisome in terms of increased injury risk and, nowadays, concerns related to Covid exposure whilst travelling. Indeed, if we add our other internationalists Morelos, Helander, Hagi, McLaughlin, Jones, Arfield and even youngsters such as Patterson and Middleton to that risk assessment then poking fun at Celtic's recent Covid issues soon becomes a bad idea. Nevertheless, their pandemic problems are relevant when it comes to discussing this weekend's first Old Firm game of the season and we can also consider ourselves fortunate to be playing at an empty Parkhead with fans still not permitted to attend games across Scotland and the UK. As it stands, their favoured striker Odsonne Eduoard is still self-isolating in France and won't arrive back until Friday at the earliest. Meanwhile, other first team players such as Ryan Christie, Nir Bitton, James Forrest and Hatem Abd Elhamed cannot play and top-scorer Albian Ajeti is also struggling with injury. Celtic do have a large squad though with several other decent options throughout their team. The likes of Griffiths, Jullien and Elyounoussi may not have been first choice this season but have caused Rangers problems in previous meetings. For our part, although we don't have any Covid-related issues (for now!) we do have some doubts as well. Last week, Filip Helander was sent back from the Sweden squad early due to a knock and Borna Barisic hasn't featured for Croatia either since going off injured against Ross County ten days ago. Moreover, although Kemar Roofe may well be available for Saturday's match, Joe Aribo is perhaps still a week or two away, Niko Katic remains a long term absentee and it's unlikely new loan signing Bongani Zungu will be ready to feature. Steven Gerrard will certainly be hoping Helander and Barisic both make it at the very least as, although Balogun and Calvin Bassey have shown up fairly well since arriving in the summer, it would be a slight concern to start with two Old Firm debutants on the left side of our back four this weekend. Even if this were to happen though, Rangers should be rightly confident ahead of the game. A solid 2-1 win at Parkhead pre-winter shutdown last season and a decent start across this campaign means morale is high amongst our supporters and one must think the manager and players also feel assured. Yes, it should be noted we were in a similar position this time last season (three league wins out of three and freshly qualified for the Europa League group stage) ahead of a home loss against Celtic but one would hope lessons have been learned in terms of that result. Interestingly, neither Helander, Barisic nor Morelos started in that defeat with Rangers also struggling tactically throughout. With that in mind, Gerrard's starting line up will be fascinating on Saturday. Will those with knocks make it? Will Morelos return in good time from international duty in Chile? Who will form the midfield with Davis, Jack and Kamara all in action for their countries? Who will the manager pick behind his striker: can we expect Barker, Hagi or Jones? What about the system: a 4-2-3-1 or our more familiar 4-3-3? Shall we sit deeper and look to hit on the counter ala our European style or take the game to a weakened Celtic (both personnel and support wise)? Although these questions may well be causing the manager some sleepless nights ahead of Saturday, it wouldn't be a proper preview without giving my own opinion and, in fact, as long as our most utilised players are available, then I think the team is fairly easy to pick. Our defence has been very good by and large this season so the back five picks itself with McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander and Barisic more than capable of offering a suitable protection to whatever Celtic threats are selected. The midfield is slightly less easy to predict but if, as seems likely, the manager opts for a 4-3-3 system, then Davis and Kamara should start leaving one of Ryan Jack or Scott Arfield as the third man. I'd expect the Canadian to be given the nod though depending on what part Jack plays for Scotland in their match with the Czech Republic. The fitness and freshness of our engine room will be vital given the bulk of Celtic's likely starters of Brown, Ntcham and McGregor have had a fortnight's break. Suffice to say we will need to match their energy across the whole 90mins to obtain a positive result and the manager must get the balance right between defensive cover and attacking support. Further forward will be equally important if we're to win the game. The impressive Ryan Kent is a certain starter in the free role we've seen him become accustomed to of late and the manager has plenty other options as well in attack. It may divide opinion but I'd expect Brandon Barker to make his first Old Firm start as the second number 10 and, despite his struggles for form so far this season, Alfredo Morelos arguably remains our first choice focal point. Ianis Hagi will also been keen to make his Old Firm debut and his level of assists this season and guile in key areas could see him given the nod over Barker. Again, the Romanian's inclusion against Austria tonight may well determine his status. Jordan Jones was sent off as a late sub this time last year and is an outside chance to start unless the manager fancies more of a 4-2-3-1. We do have other attacking options in Jermain Defoe, Cedric Itten and, possibly, Kemar Roofe but despite Defoe contributing to two Old Firm wins at Ibrox in 2018/19, it's unlikely he'll start. Itten looked sharp and healthy in a late cameo for Switzerland against Germany on Tuesday night but would be a gamble to make the XI on his Old Firm debut. And, as much as Kemar Roofe's generic experience of big games will be useful going forward this season, no games in a month means a place on the bench is surely the best he can hope for? All in all, I think the main thread from this preview we should take is one of progress. Rangers are still not the finished article under Steven Gerrard but, despite our fans continued apathy when it comes to international football, our players' involvement in such games is an indicator of our squad's overall quality. It's also a positive that the manager can draw from an improved pool of players as we look to compete on four fronts again this season. In conclusion though, the biggest barometer of all remains how we fare against Celtic. Despite a superb win at Parkhead last season and largely dominating in the League Cup Final at Hampden, where it counted it was Celtic that came through: firstly at Ibrox last September then winning the Cup Final despite going down to ten men for the final 30mins (offside winner or not) and again after that New Year loss when we lost all momentum. Therefore the onus remains on us to demonstrate we can be successful and offer a title challenge: not just at this stage of the season or before the winter break but right through until next May. Ultimately, Celtic were handed the league trophy last season on a Covid technicality but we still had it all to do to turn things around then. Seven months later, it's Celtic that are suffering from pandemic negativity so we must take advantage. A win on Saturday could be the first step to tangible success on what has been a long road to redemption. This Rangers team are capable and now must deliver. Possible team (4-3-3): -
Introduction Dubbed by some Rangers fans Willem II vs William's 11, although Thursday's game will be the first ever meeting of the two historic clubs there is a strange feeling of familiarity about this early season Europa League clash. Again, Rangers’ opening Europa League fixture involved a trip to Gibraltar to play on the same plastic pitch, with almost the exact same result. Coincidentally, our Dutch opponents met our 2nd round opponents of last year, Progrès Niederkorn, and dispatched of them with the same 5-0 scoreline. And whilst it was later in the competition we met a Dutch side last season, pundits will draw strong comparisons between Willem II and last season’s 3rd round opponents, FC Midtjylland. As another young, up-and-coming side await, Steven Gerrard will be hoping for a similar outcome and a chance to set up a tasty tie with Turkish giants Galatasaray, almost 20 years to the day from their last visit to Ibrox in September 2000 when they were the holders of this cup (in its previous incarnation). The Opposition Whereas our potential opponents in the next round have gone from being a European powerhouse to something of a relic of a bygone era, Willem II have gone from seemingly permanent mediocrity to being the rising star of Dutch football. Barring a couple of short-lived purple patches, including a solitary appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2000, Willem II have historically been a bottom half to mid-table side. But since the appointment of World Cup finalist Joris Mathijsen to the position of Technical Director, they have gradually worked their way up the table from 16th to 5th, their highest finish since 2000 and 3rd highest finish in 65 years. Remarkably, this was achieved with a team of kids, and this is the secret to Joris Mathijsen’s success. What propelled Willem II from bottom-half mediocrity to the top table of Dutch football was primarily a very high success rate in the transfer market, picking up very young talent for small fees and giving them a platform to succeed in a free-flowing, attacking side. But if it wasn’t for the sale of Champions League finalist Frenkie De Jong from Ajax to Barcelona for £66m last summer, their steady progress wouldn’t have accelerated as much as it did last season. Counter intuitively, Willem II let the crown jewel of their youth academy join the top side in Holland for 1 Euro in 2015. In a sign of the times, Willem II resigned themselves to losing a future star to a bigger club for nothing. But only on one condition, a 10% sell on clause was inserted into his contract. The resulting windfall allowed Willem II to rebuild, and only 4 players from the 18/19 season kept their place in the starting 11. What resulted was an energetic, young side who took everyone by surprise by establishing themselves as a serious threat even to the top 4. Last season, Ajax had annihilated everyone who visited the Johan Cruiff Arena until, in a masterclass of counter-attacking football, Willem II shocked the league with a 2-0 win there in December 2019. 2nd place AZ Alkmaar wouldn’t be laughing for long though as the following month they would suffer the same fate at their home ground, with Willem II running out with a 3-1 win. The Tilburg side may be very young and inexperienced, but on their day they have shown that they can beat anyone. The Dangermen Willem II’s youthful front line carries a lot of threat. 21 year old Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis leads the line. He is technically very good, links up very well with the attacking midfielders and carries the ball well too. He has had a good start to the season and grabbed a brace against Progres and then Heracles a few days later. Directly behind him, you have arguably the star of the team in 21 year old Trésor Ndayishimiye. The Belgian youth international is technically excellent and very dangerous dribbling with the ball, playing through balls and shooting from the edge of the box with both feet. His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, with reports that Leeds and Wolves are considering making offers. The other significant threat in the Willem II side comes from former Ajax youth player Che Nunnely, who plays as the right sided attacking midfielder. The 21 year old is known for his blistering pace, which will be a danger on the counter attack, but his double in the 2-1 win over PSV last season showed he can finish too. Rangers The set back at Easter Road will be a distant memory for Gerrard as he refocuses his team on the hugely important task of replicating the remarkable feat of previous seasons and reaching the group stages of this tournament. Gerrard has rightly earned a reputation as a European specialist and Rangers fans have every reason to trust him to deliver again in the Netherlands. Injuries to key players Joe Aribo, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack are a big blow at this crucial stage of the season, but largely take away the selection headache Gerrard might have otherwise had. Arfield has relished the opportunity to get back into the starting 11 and his performances against Midtjylland last season won’t have been forgotten by the gaffer. And although Hagi’s creativity is often key to creating chances, Kent’s relentlessness in closing players down and winning the ball back could be even more important against opposition who aren’t used to much aggression. Midtjylland struggled with the aggressive press of Rangers and it ultimately played a large part in their undoing, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gerrard tried to do the same here Verdict Midtjylland were a side who were known for their technical ability and attacking flair, but whose defensive frailties were quite shocking to a Rangers support who are used to facing sides with no attacking flair whatsoever but whose defensive discipline would make Tony Pulis jealous. Willem II’s centre backs are decent, Swedish international Holmen in particular, but their full backs will be targeted and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Rangers finding some joy down the flanks. And whilst they carry a lot of threat, this Tilburg side are very young, inexperienced and will likely struggle with the physical side of the game. Without being complacent, Gerrard will have a gameplan which, if executed properly, will teach another young attacking side a lesson in European football. Predicted Score Willem II 1-3 Rangers Predicted Starting 11
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Gun pointed at his sitting target, McCauley demands “look at me.” Waingro sniffles and blubbers, terrified to look up. McCauley growls. “Look at me.” Waingro slowly raises his head just as everything falls out his arse and his lights are switched off. That, McCauley thinks, will teach him to wear a fu**ing Craig Whyte mask to a Scottish Cup tie (or something similar – I haven’t memorised the lines). Last time Dundee United were at Ibrox they brought the biggest support they’ve ever had in our place, split evenly as a neutral venue, and it was one of those few times I’ve seen Rangers play above themselves domestically, post-Souness, and lose. No. Sorry. Scrub that. As of 5pm last Saturday, the last time Dundee United played at Ibrox there were no fans of either club present, locked out because of Covid-19, and the 4-0 doing they escaped with flattered them almost as much as the gloating attention we as a support granted their relegation from the top flight - at Dens Park by Dundee (sat helpless on your sofa in your bathrobe) - and their subsequent promotion play-off failures against Hamilton, Livingston and, on penalties, St Mirren (two to the chest; one to the skull) over four of the last five years. Four goals, but it should have been five-nil. Four injuries, but it should have been five-nil. Ryan Kent maintains his goal-every-second-game ratio of this season and Tav, in the armband, maintains his goal-every-five-games ratio in the 250th appearance of his five year Rangers career, and it’s all over by half-time. Kemar Roofe brilliantly poaches a Scotty Arfield drive and then Scotty needs no poachers as he finishes off a sublime team drive: Goldson picking, Ryan twisting and flicking, Hagi slicking his way down whatever avenue hurts them most, again; what a counter-attack – what a goal - Four-nil: Look at me. Look. At. Me. A regal Stevie G, a studious Neil McCann, a freezing Emma Dodds and the world’s only balding, retired 12-year-old, Alan Hutton, can estimate all they like, on a Tyldesley-less Rangers TV, how many more we should have scored on Saturday. I can confirm we were just one shy. It might be a dish best served cold but by the time Rangers get round to serving up some revenge, it’s usually freezing and it’s usually by five clear goals. It was nice winning 3-0 at Pittodrie under Pedro. But we were under the cosh for most of that game and it amounted to little more than paying off some of the interest still being accumulated. The 5-0 we did them by at Ibrox last September felt like the moment we put the sheepish types back in their pen for putting us out both cups, simply by being organised, and the concomitant McInnes embarrassment. That five-goal trouncing began taking chunks out the principal sum they’re owed. That was young Vito Corleone/Andolini, carving up his parents’ murderer, Don Ciccio, in Godfather II. Hearts continue to give us problems at Tynecastle. But by the time they put us out the Scottish Cup this February, their annoyances were already heading inexorably back to “crumbs from the master’s table” category. We’d just progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League and, after beating them in all four league fixtures in Gerrard’s first season, at Ibrox last December the maroon buffoons got done 5-0. In that game it was almost like the Hearts died but Rangers did far more than survive. Wouldn’t you agree, my ingrate Jambo friends whose team we applauded round the Parkhead pitch after they left us trophy-less in 1997-98 and whose club we kept alive for decades by packing their death trap open terracing off Gorgie Road? That was Heat again; McCauley executing Roger van Zant for trying to kill him and his crew when all they wanted to do was sell him back his bearer bonds to everyone’s profit. And, of course, this very midweek, we avenged the most embarrassing European result in the history of our fellow Glasgow giants. We didn’t just beat Lincoln Red Imps for the sake of making it through to next week’s qualifier versus Willem II. No. We did it for the collective pride of the SPFL, we did it for the reputation of Scottish football and – most of all – we did it to provide some peace and comfort to our separated brethren across our beloved city. And, of course, we did it by five clear goals (although the fifth goal was pretty unclear and the fourth was a complete mystery – I watched it on Premier Sports). By the end of Taxi Driver, the world thinks Travis Bickle’s an avenging angel but, really, he just hated everyone in his immediate vicinity and wanted to shoot stuff up. I doubt this will be the season we beat Celtic by five clear goals in a game. We’ll do that as a celebration of our newly redoubled confidence after we’re league champions. They – the only side I have ever seen score five at Ibrox or see, on live telly as it was, beat us by five in a domestic game - will be getting theirs soon enough. However, in fairness, that 2016 Scottish Cup semi makes us the last side to have beaten Celtic in any domestic competition; last season’s Europa League makes us the last Scottish side to have gone past them in any competition and, since we’ve arrived back in the top flight, Rangers stopped their 22-game winning run of 2016-17 - becoming the first Scottish side to take league points from them at Parkhead that season - and last December became the first Scottish side in over five years to beat them in a meaningful league home game. And, tell me now, how does it feel? Now that the Arabs of Tannadice have been given that first-person pasting we craved so bad for so long, do you feel like the Highlander at The Quickening? Do you feel like Michael watching Al Neri shoot Fredo in the middle of his Hail Mary? Do you feel avenged? Do you feel sated? Do you feel like a big man? Well, do ya? No, me neither. It was nice. It’s always nice to skelp someone who’s annoying you. But there’s nothing like getting what you want to remind you what you actually need. Re-reading my little list, above, of our recent “achievements” against Celtic, it’s actually a list of Celtic achievements. There’s a difference between occasionally annoying someone specific and utterly dominating everyone. I didn’t crack open the champers on Saturday night or sit in front of Pointless Celebrities feeling smugly vindicated. All it takes is one good pasting of one of these rivals we’ve boycotted or cursed or swore revenge upon since 2012 to make you realise they’re as worthy of our ire as gonky big Richard Osman’s snidey barbs are deserving of a retort from urbane co-host Alexander Armstrong, and about as capable of overhauling us long-term on the football pitch as any member of Bucks Fizz is capable of naming the most obscure elements of the periodic table not ending in “-ium”. I want every opponent crushed and I need to see some crushed more than others. But, really, it’s all emotional displacement. Slaughtering the biggest opponents Scotland has to offer outside Glasgow is just a corollary of Rangers being back on top – of Rangers being back where we belong. It’s not revenge on isolated clubs we crave – it’s revenge on the Banter Years. And you get that via Glory Years. Live Podcast this Sunday This Sunday at 9.30pm we'll have another Gersnet Podcast live on Youtube. Don't miss it and remember you can take part via the chat facility! VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL On Sunday we visit a club whose fans are busily trying to overtake Aberdeen’s in hating Rangers as a badge of honour and, historically, have given us the occasional bloody nose. The ill-will’s underpinned by their name versus our demographic. That they’re Scotland’s fifth-biggest club and, “alongside” Rangers, one of only five to have been Scottish champions more than twice, makes it inevitable we’ll have a tense relationship, that they’ll have their moments against us. Revenge? Vengeance? It’s rarely more than a dramatic device. We have to remember Neil McCauley made an arse of killing Waingro earlier in Heat and it’s his inability to let it go which leads to his own death, pretty much outside Waingro’s hotel, just as he should have been sailing off into the sunset with the love of his life. The laws of drama right now say either blunt-edged Rangers are about to give someone Scottish a terrible doing or the first goal especially parsimonious Rangers concede this season will be an opposition winner rather than a mere consolation. Both those screenplays are realistic at Easter Road. It largely depends on the actors. Roofe and Tavernier went off in Gibraltar to add to the three we haven’t seen again from last Saturday. Precautionary or not, our understudies are good but, as always, motivation is key. We only played Hibs three times last season but we won in every possible pain-inflicting way; a late comeback win midweek at Ibrox; a Christmas three-going-on-ten-nil exhibition at Easter Road: But the 6-1 home win last August was the first proper payback for the Hampden atrocities of May 2016. Six-one. Five clear goals. Godfather II again: Don Fanucci, who threatened his business, in the face and chest as Vito’s home-made silencer ignites more brightly than the flickering hallway bulb outside his apartment door. We’ve done Hibs revenge. Beating them in cup finals or relegating them cannot adequately pain a support so used to both. Invading the pitch to attack their players would only make us animals. No. They’ve been dealt with on the Revenge front. Now it’s just about finishing off any pretensions they had to the title. Let’s do that the way Jake LaMotta does to Tony Janiro in Raging Bull: It’s not revenge. We just want to make sure no-one can ever again say they’re looking good. We merely want to beat them to a bloody pulp. Possible team (4-2-3-1):