match thread (image) [FT] Shkupi 0 - 0 Rangers

[Frankie 8,145]

Having just returned from an extended family holiday in the unspoiled blue skies of the Ionian Sea, I know just how hot it is in Eastern Europe at the moment.  With temperatures well over 30degC, the heat will certainly be on the Rangers team that plays in Macedonia later this afternoon.  However, anything less than progression into the next Europa League qualifying round would only increase that heat further - both on the manager and his players, not to mention those that sanctioned all the summer changes. 

 

Fortunately, unlike last year, I'd expect Rangers to obtain a positive result this evening.  Yes, Shkupi showed themselves to be no mugs in the first leg and could easily have taken an away goal from Ibrox but, despite Rangers being inconsistent and heavy-legged at times, it really was 2-0 going on 6-0 and only poor finishing stopped what should have been a home rout. 

 

No matter, Rangers can ill-afford complacency later as it was only very late in the game, they grabbed that all-important second goal which should offer the kind of cushion we lacked this time last season.  This will enable Rangers - if not to sit in - but to retain a solid shape and look to make the most of any space on the counter against a Shkupi side that did leave gaps when we played at pace at Ibrox.  Although it will again be left to the recently misfiring Alfredo Morelos to be our main goal-scoring threat, the likes of Jamie Murphy and Josh Windass will support him from deeper, wider areas and they may be the key to making the tie safe.

 

Arguably the main positive from the first leg was how much stronger Rangers looked defensively.  Not only did Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic stroll through the game at centre-half, the more defensively-minded Jon Flanagan compliments the attacking James Tavernier nicely at left-back and that should offer us peace of mind in defence.  In turn, although losing Scott Arfield to injury is a short-term midfield blow, we still have several options in the engine room and a combination of McCrorie, Jack and Candeias might be favoured tonight, with Docherty and Ejaria equally keen to be involved at some point.

 

Although we're still short of 2-3 further signings (especially in attack), we do have depth in the squad and it will be interesting to see if Steven Gerrard changes his formation tonight with the opportunity to go to three at the back apparently interesting him giving the pursuit of Jake Cooper from Millwall.  Aidan Wilson and Kyle Bradley do offer that option via their inclusion in the squad.  Unfortunately, it seems this game has come too early for Umar Sadiq and Lassana Coulibaly who are a couple of weeks behind the rest of the team in their pre-season preparations.  As such, Zak Rudden may be asked to offer a goal threat from the bench this evening.  Meanwhile, left-sided players such as Declan John and Glenn Middleton will also want to make the team with the latter impressing a substitute last week.

 

In conclusion though, other than Ryan Jack for the injured Arfield, I'd expect the same XI that started the first leg to be asked to finish the job tonight.  It may well be the system is changed slightly to more of a 4-2-3-1 with Candeias moved back out to the right wing but, even if the 4-3-3 from last Thursday evening is retained, Rangers should have more than enough in their locker to be comfortable this afternoon.  No complacency and no excuses please.  Let's get the job done. 

 

 

[buster. 4,808]

The good thing about playing 6 players middle to front who were all with Rangers last season would be that it gives us a chance to see what effect the new management team are having on them as individuals and how any new style of play/tactics functions or not.

 

The other thing is how the management team adapt their approach in the second game against the same side and if it is successful.

 

 

Bottomline, this is about getting through to the next round and for players to get gametime/understanding with each other so they can be at a better level for a prospective second round.....because we'll need to be.

[Frankie 8,145]

4 minutes ago, buster. said:

The good thing about playing 6 players middle to front who were all with Rangers last season would be that it gives us a chance to see what effect the new management team are having on them as individuals and how any new style of play/tactics functions or not.

 

The other thing is how the management team adapt their approach in the second game against the same side and if it is successful.

 

 

Bottomline, this is about getting through to the next round and for players to get gametime/understanding with each other so they can be at a better level for a prospective second round.....because we'll need to be.

The team graphic is especially interesting.  It might be right, it might not but it shows where the manager has prioritised his signings so far.

 

Rightly he's completely changed the defence and it's good it's been done so quickly.  He's also made further changes in midfield and it's a pity they're not able to feature right now but they will.  Same goes for the final third where we really need competition for places - despite our impressive goals for tally last term.

 

To do that we need cash, so a win is vital this evening.

[buster. 4,808]

2 minutes ago, Frankie said:

The team graphic is especially interesting.  It might be right, it might not but it shows where the manager has prioritised his signings so far.

 

Rightly he's completely changed the defence and it's good it's been done so quickly.  He's also made further changes in midfield and it's a pity they're not able to feature right now but they will.  Same goes for the final third where we really need competition for places - despite our impressive goals for tally last term.

 

To do that we need cash, so a win is vital this evening.

The European qualifiers come so early that we really need some stability wrt football management and squad, not the annual wholesale change that are consuming large quantities of finance with little in the way of return.

 

Given signings thus far, if and when we go up against better teams perhaps it'd be better taking a leaf out of the Walter Smith book of European tactics.

[Gonzo79 13,579]

The defence looked a lot stronger than the previous season's after the 1-0 victory against Progres.

[Stevie - 4lads Blog 922]

John has a back injury, so not sure if he’s fit enough to start

[Frankie 8,145]

24 minutes ago, Stevie - 4lads Blog said:

John has a back injury, so not sure if he’s fit enough to start

Yeah, I didn't see him in the training photos so I guess Halliday might keep his place on the bench as cover.

 

John does seem rather injury prone which makes the Flanagan capture all the more prudent.

[der Berliner 3,231]

Hospital and other stuff as of now:

 

Dorrans - knee injury

Rossiter - ankle injury

Arfield - knee injury

Coulibaly - not available just yet

Sadiq - not available just yet

John - back injury

Wallace - rehab and suspension issues

 

We are 7 down from a full squad that still needs additions.

 

 

The one option we may try from the off is playing Middleton as a left-sided attacker and move either Murphy inside for Windass or have him on the bench. Hit them from the off with Middleton's pace and guile, then bring WIndass/Murphy on to counter attack them when they have to open up. This would be interesting, but the brain says that the line-up in the OP will be the one to kick the game off.

[Frankie 8,145]

I think Dorrans is training again but a couple of weeks away from a return.

[pete 2,494]

I am sure Sadiq said he was fit and ready to play. He may have been training with his mother club.

It may of course just have been a throw away statement.