JohnMc 2,468 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Another opportunity for me to display my ignorance publicly on player availability and tactics! Here's your Rangers v Thistle match preview. (and apologies if the title gives you a Limahl earworm!) The Never Ending Journey The Inuit people have a word for it; shaktolik. It describes the feeling of going towards somewhere for so long it seems you’ll never get there. It describes us perfectly as once again we find ourselves regrouping following another set-back on the long road back to the top. The departure of Pedro Caixinho last week wasn’t universally popular with every Rangers supporter but it had an air of inevitability about it by the time it happened. Our visitors on Saturday are part of the reason why. It’s only six weeks since we visited Firhill on a Friday evening and twice threw away the lead in infuriating fashion. At that time Thistle were bottom of the league, today they sit 10th, a point off 8th but only two from bottom. We find ourselves in fourth place, having been leapfrogged by Hibs in mid-week who have now played a game more than us. Neither the top two, Aberdeen and Celtic, are out of sight either, something that makes the two points we dropped against Thistle last time even more frustrating. I was speaking with Thistle supporters after the match, they were naturally ecstatic, but they underlined something that had already dawned on me; they were no longer scared of Rangers. Thistle will visit Ibrox filled with confidence on the back of two victories and a draw in their last three matches and believing they can get a result against us, remember they don’t fear us anymore. Thistle should start with in-form striker Miles Storey who summed up this current Rangers side in a recent interview “You don’t know what you will get from Rangers but I think we should have beaten them in one of the two games at home so we will go there confident after a good week”. “You don’t know what you’ll get from Rangers”. Well you should know, you should get the hardest match of your season. You should be fearful of coming to Ibrox, you should be in awe of our players, their stamina, team spirit and ability, that’s what the end of this journey looks like. As for Rangers, well, unfortunately, we also don’t know what we’ll get, even the composition of the side is hard to predict. The manner of last week’s victory over Hearts lifted our spirits, but then he who expects very little is seldom disappointed. Expectations are higher this weekend and every player who started could rightly expect to start against Thistle. But with Alves available after suspension and Dorrans fit both can expect to be in contention. The polarising Kenny Miller must surely start along with Morelos, who he seems to bring the best out of, and Jason Holt was man of the match for me last weekend. It’s at centre-half we might see changes, if Cardosa is fit both he and Alves might return, however that would be hard on Wilson and McRorie who both played well last week. I expect Windass will retain his place as will Candeias with Tav and John at full back. That’s a side capable of winning, drawing or losing to Partick Thistle as all of us know. Rangers have struggled against physical, determined sides who close us down quickly and deny us space. We need to win the physical battles before we can play football; we’ve better players than Thistle, but have we a better team? The other interesting factor is the man who’ll pick our side on Saturday; Graeme Murty. He’s in the almost unique position of having no pressure on him. As the very dark horse for the permanent manager’s job he gets to audition in real time whilst everyone else looks at Aberdeen or down south. Murty’s standing was boosted by the Hearts result and his pragmatic, creditable draw at Parkhead last season. Is he a serious candidate for the manager’s job? Well he’s certainly an outside bet, but he’s got the job just now and another performance like last week won’t do his reputation any harm. The Inuit’s have another lovely saying; “If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance”. Murty has nothing to lose, an aggressive, committed performance that displays some remnants of team spirit and togetherness will easily impress our support, arguably more than beating Hamilton away might. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s match, that’s not a feeling I’ve had before every game this season, or last. Yes, we’re starting again, but we’re starting from a different place. We’re further on even if it might not feel like it. I hope the player’s dance on Saturday, after all what have they got to lose. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Cheers mate. A great read as normal. The funny thing is, if we can beat Thistle and Hamilton under Mutry he will have won 3 in a row something his predecessor couldn't achieve in all his time at the club. He still has to do it though. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny3k 500 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Cheers mate. A great read as normal. The funny thing is, if we can beat Thistle and Hamilton under Mutry he will have won 3 in a row something his predecessor couldn't achieve in all his time at the club. He still has to do it though. He has got a very favourable run of games to get morale up before handing over to the new manager, but, as you say, he still has to do it..... a task that is easier said than done 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,148 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 Interestingly we didn't have a presser yesterday or any training photos - though apparently these may happen today. In any case, barring any later injuries, I expect a team like you suggest John with, I suspect, only Alves being recalled. Dorrans may be fit but may only make the bench given Miller, Jack and Holt's contribution last week. There's no doubt Partick will give us a good game again but given they have several players missing then we really need to deliver a solid home win - not something we've been much of this season. Only once in fact which, despite our impressive away form, is completely unacceptable. I'll get the previous online in the next hour or so but here's the usual team graphic for now: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,148 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 PS: If Alves does indeed start the game, I do wonder who will be captain. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny3k 500 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 PS: If Alves does indeed start the game, I do wonder who will be captain. will be a big call and may be a small indicator of whats going on behind the scenes... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,717 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 PS: If Alves does indeed start the game, I do wonder who will be captain. The least controversial choice would be Alves ... until the new manager takes over, when a more permanent decision will be required. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,148 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 No sign of Dorrans in today's training photos but it seems Pena is definitely fit again. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 13,587 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 With Hibs going 3rd (albeit with a game in hand), we could really do with a good win tomorrow. Our home form has been problematic but hopefully Murty can do something about that. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted November 3, 2017 Share Posted November 3, 2017 No sign of Dorrans in today's training photos but it seems Pena is definitely fit again. That is interesting to see what Mutry thinks of him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.