Rangers v Dundee match preview

[colinstein 294]

Teams that are set up just to defend must be one of the most frustrating experiences watching a match. It reminds me of European games at Ibrox before the rule of the away goal counting double. Despite the many good players we had, midfield and up front, we still couldn't penetrate them very often. It was always the call to get somebody with guile, to create the pass that would open the defence up, I think Krankjar was supposed to be that player.

 

Perhaps we will try for someone else in January.

 

Can anyone explain the substitution of Windass ?

 

Mark Warburton said they were working on Windass' fitness. Mark said he was a young player who had to be protected. He said the aim was to get Windass performing for 90 minutes...it was an interview on Radio Clyde

[der Berliner 3,351]

Once we get Windass on the same fitness and application levels as Holt, we sure have two fine attacking midfielders in our line up.

[der Berliner 3,351]

And now for something competely different ... a young chap being at Ibrox yesterday. Goal roundabout 8.20 mins in

 

[Rousseau 9,641]

A win's a win. We were OK but probably deserved the 3 points. It's difficult when Dundee play anti-football (Oh the irony!), with 5 at the back; they had no desire to get forward at all.

 

I'm a little surprised at the criticism of Holt (not here to be honest, but on Twitter): It reminds me of the criticism Zelalem received last season. Holt may not be the most conspicuous of players, but his influence is vital IMO.

 

We're not as far off 'clicking' as people think. I think we're only a couple (few) quality additions away. There's no doubt we need to be more courageous in the final third with the current team, though.

Edited November 20, 2016 by Rousseau

[ian1964 10,500]

Dundee lost out in the dying seconds at Ibrox this afternoon, going down 1-0 to Rangers through a Harry Forrester goal two minutes into injury time. The late goal was hard on a Dundee team that had fought tirelessly throughout to frustrate Rangers.

 

After the win against Motherwell the Dark Blues’ only change was the return of Scott Bain in goal. Rangers sent out the same side that drew at Ross County.

 

Rangers quickly settled into a passing game, controlling the midfield and building moves patiently. Joe Garner gave the Dee the first scare when he spun on Josh Windass’s pass and shaved the outside of the post with his shot. Garner had some rugged aerial battles with Darren O’Dea, and after winning one of them he sent a lob from 30 yards just over the bar.

 

Although they had far less of the play the Dundee strikers were causing problems for the Rangers’ defence. Marcus Haber had the beating of the central defenders in the air, while Craig Wighton’s pace and close control threatened to open up the home defence. However, Dundee couldn’t create any direct threat to Wes Foderingham’s goal from open play in the first half and the danger was all round Scott Bain’s goal.

 

Kenny Miller couldn’t quite reach Garner’s low cross at the far post. A similar low cross from the right seemed certain to bring a goal for Rangers, but Kevin Gomis’s superb challenge stopped Miller turning the ball in.

 

Dundee had a brief flurry midway through the half. Foderingham needed to stretch to turn Tom Hateley’s 35 yard free kick round the post. The corner found Haber unmarked beyond the far post, but his downward header was scrambled clear.

 

The play was soon flowing back toward the Dundee goal and Gomis put in another great challenge to stop Garner reaching Windass’s cutback. For all Rangers’ pressure and dangerous attacks Scott Bain had to make only one save in the first half, when he blocked at Windass’s feet at the end of a smart Rangers’ passing move.

 

As the first half wore on Dundee started to get to grips with Rangers in the middle of the park and the Dark Blues’ central midfield three stopped their hosts building moves so smoothly from the back.

 

The second half picked up where the first had left off. Rangers had ample possession but struggled to build moves that could open up Dundee. When they did get into promising positions they let themselves down too often with poor crosses and final balls.

 

Marcus Haber’s ability in the air and good first touch often provided a welcome outlet for Dundee when they broke out of defence. Craig Wighton also had some good runs that unsettled Rangers. After 65 minutes the skillful youngster was scythed down by Clint Hill, a foot outside the penalty area on the left. Tom Hateley’s curling free kick was tipped over the bar by Foderingham.

 

Andy Halliday might have seen worse than a yellow card after a dreadful foul to stop Wighton racing down the left. Kevin Gomis was first to reach the resulting free kick, but he got too much on his header when a glancing touch was required.

 

Dundee were having their best spell of the match and nearly scored when Haber drilled a low cross into the goalmouth only for Holt to save Rangers with a great challenge to prevent James Vincent forcing the ball in at the far post.

 

That burst of pressure was the last we saw of the Dee as an attacking force. For the remainder of the match they were forced back to defend in depth. Rangers continued to waste possession with poor crosses and some unnecessarily elaborate build up play around the penalty area. Dundee meanwhile were defending heroically, keeping their shape chasing everything and making life difficult for Rangers.

 

Rangers did go close when Jason Holt won the ball from Hateley and hit a low 18 yard shot that Bain did well to reach at full stretch. A cross from substitute Joe Dodoo then flashed low through the goalmouth with players from both sides lunging at the ball and missing.

 

Craig Wighton had an excellent game, but after 78 minutes he was replaced by Faissal El Bakhtaoui to provide some fresh legs in a tiring team. By that time Rangers had used all their substitutes as they strived to break Dundee down. The final substitution was Harry Forrester replacing Kenny Miller, and that proved to be the vital one.

 

The last 10 minutes were spent almost entirely in the Dundee half. However, the Dee defended superbly and looked like taking a deserved point until their concentration slipped two minutes into the four minutes of injury time. FORRESTER was allowed space in the penalty area, and from 12 yards he glanced Dodoo’s cross past Bain. There was no time for the Dee to respond and frustratingly a valuable point was lost.

 

The defeat might have sent Dundee back to the bottom of the table but this defeat should not leave the fans despondent. The Dark Blues were organised, hard-working and determined. There were huge gaps in the home stands by the time the goal arrived as the home fans had given up hope that their side might break Dundee down.

 

Today’s performance continued the improvement of recent weeks. The defence did very well in the 90 minutes of regulation time; the midfield and forwards left the pitch exhausted after all their hard running, chasing and tackling. If Dundee can maintain this performance they will not be at the bottom for long and it is important that the players focus on the positive side of today’s match and believe that they can maintain the standard they have set over the last three games.

 

http://dundeefc.co.uk/match/rangers-vs-dundee-19th-nov-2016/

[Tannochsidebear 2,322]

Miller has been arguably our best player this season so far,Waghorn hasn't really kicked a ball yet!,and Miller was one of our best players again today

 

I quite simply dont know what you were watching Ian if you can defend that Miller performance yesterday. Absolutely honking he was, not one shot at goal he attempted, not one creative pass he made. He was a total passenger, and not for the first time this season either.

 

16-17 stats - Miller has started 13 games and came on as sub in another 6, so 19 appearances, 3 goals. (Waghorn has 8 goals in far fewer games BTW) One goal less than Clint Hill. He is our number 9 FFS. About as much of a goal threat as me or you. I dont think it is entirely coincidental that we look totally toothless up front when Miller is in our front 3.

 

Granted the other strikers have been honking as well, but the praise this guy is getting this season on a return of 3 goals in 19 games for a forward is completely ignoring the facts. Last game at Dingwall at 1-0 he is clean through for an easy finish and fumbled and stumbled that much he didnt even get a shot off, yet some were saying he had a good game. That could have sealed the game and he blew it. Again.

 

How many bad games can this guy have before he gets dropped for good? Waghorn, Garner, Dodoo, McKay, Forrester, MOH all get dropped after a few bad performances, but not the bold Kenny boy. For all he may be a fantastic guy to have around the dressing room, and great with passing on his experience to the younger ones, it is performances on the pitch that matter and he has been a total failure this season.

 

All I hear around me is "unlucky Kenny" as yet another pass is just too soft or too hard or is intercepted, or his control lets him down. At what stage does it become obvious it is not luck but lack of talent that is the reason the passes dont find their man, that he doesnt find the target, that he isnt in the right spot to receive, that he just misses the header.

 

3 goals in 19 games says it all - Miller is a failure. In some cases you can make stats say anything you want. Not in this case - they say it all.

[ian1964 10,500]

I quite simply dont know what you were watching Ian if you can defend that Miller performance yesterday. Absolutely honking he was, not one shot at goal he attempted, not one creative pass he made. He was a total passenger, and not for the first time this season either.

 

16-17 stats - Miller has started 13 games and came on as sub in another 6, so 19 appearances, 3 goals. (Waghorn has 8 goals in far fewer games BTW) One goal less than Clint Hill. He is our number 9 FFS. About as much of a goal threat as me or you. I dont think it is entirely coincidental that we look totally toothless up front when Miller is in our front 3.

 

Granted the other strikers have been honking as well, but the praise this guy is getting this season on a return of 3 goals in 19 games for a forward is completely ignoring the facts. Last game at Dingwall at 1-0 he is clean through for an easy finish and fumbled and stumbled that much he didnt even get a shot off, yet some were saying he had a good game. That could have sealed the game and he blew it. Again.

 

How many bad games can this guy have before he gets dropped for good? Waghorn, Garner, Dodoo, McKay, Forrester, MOH all get dropped after a few bad performances, but not the bold Kenny boy. For all he may be a fantastic guy to have around the dressing room, and great with passing on his experience to the younger ones, it is performances on the pitch that matter and he has been a total failure this season.

 

All I hear around me is "unlucky Kenny" as yet another pass is just too soft or too hard or is intercepted, or his control lets him down. At what stage does it become obvious it is not luck but lack of talent that is the reason the passes dont find their man, that he doesnt find the target, that he isnt in the right spot to receive, that he just misses the header.

 

3 goals in 19 games says it all - Miller is a failure. In some cases you can make stats say anything you want. Not in this case - they say it all.

 

I would have to ask you the same question mate!,I watched the whole game rerun last night,I suggest you watch the match again,however no matter what you see your dislike of him as player will always cloud your judgment on him!.

[Tannochsidebear 2,322]

That game was so bad there is absolutely no way I will be re-watching any of it!

 

I know I see every bad thing he does as I see no value in him as a player, but I thought yesterday was nothing short of utter dross from him. Some weeks I can see he wasnt the worst, but yesterday i thought worst player of the match was a toss up between him and Halliday who had a stinker, with MOH not far behind them.

 

Perhaps you can remind me of the influential moments he brought to the game? A couple of good passes? A couple of shots on target? A couple of good runs past a player? I dont want you to have to watch this awful spectacle a third time just to prove me wrong mate, I will take your word if you can recall any positive impact he had on this match!

 

Im not saying you do this as I find you very fair on most players, but some just defend Miller to "prove" they are not bigots as he played for celtic. I dont care who he played for, in my view he has always been a rotten player. I was delighted when he signed for celtic as I knew he was rubbish, and one OF game apart, this was proven correct over the period.

[ian1964 10,500]

That game was so bad there is absolutely no way I will be re-watching any of it!

 

I know I see every bad thing he does as I see no value in him as a player, but I thought yesterday was nothing short of utter dross from him. Some weeks I can see he wasnt the worst, but yesterday i thought worst player of the match was a toss up between him and Halliday who had a stinker, with MOH not far behind them.

 

Perhaps you can remind me of the influential moments he brought to the game? A couple of good passes? A couple of shots on target? A couple of good runs past a player? I dont want you to have to watch this awful spectacle a third time just to prove me wrong mate, I will take your word if you can recall any positive impact he had on this match!

 

Im not saying you do this as I find you very fair on most players, but some just defend Miller to "prove" they are not bigots as he played for celtic. I dont care who he played for, in my view he has always been a rotten player. I was delighted when he signed for celtic as I knew he was rubbish, and one OF game apart, this was proven correct over the period.

 

No point in debating Miller!,if you're not prepared to watch the match again then don't expect me to pick out any good points or bad points,I am not trying to defend him either and don't care what team he has played for,or any other player for that matter,I call it as I see it,which doesn't mean I am correct,It's all about opnions and we all see different things,thankfully!.

If I didn't enjoy going to Ibrox I wouldn't go!

Edited November 20, 2016 by ian1964

[RANGERRAB 3,353]

Miller is an out and out central striker. Nothing else.

 

But Garner is now occupying that role and Miller is being asked to play either side of him in wider areas. He's not suited to that role & should now be replaced in that position IMO.

 

I thought he was really poor yesterday & should have been taken off long before he was