match thread (image) [FT] Villarreal 2 - 2 Rangers (Arfield 67; Lafferty 76)

[pete 2,494]

While Playing two games a week puts a strain on the players it is absolutely great for the supporters only having to wait three or four days for the chance to watch the famous. The games will be coming quick and fast up until Christmas due to the teams fantastic performances in the Europa league. After climbing the mountains of the qualifying stages as one of the few teams to go through to the group stages from the first qualifying round we now start the first round of the group stages against the Spanish Euro league giants Villareal. While we are not yet back where we want to be as that is in the Champions League the distance we have travelled to get this far is outstanding. Even just thinking about it, only a few years ago we were talking about playing Peterhead and Berwick Rangers and now we are playing Villareal in a Europa league group stage. How good does that sound? Villareal, Rapid Wien and Spartak Moscow and the famous Glasgow Rangers. Get in there!

 

So what do we know about Villareal? They have qualified from the group stages and scored more group stage goals in the Europa league than any other team.They have had a bad start to the season but won on Sunday against Leganes. It was valuable points for Villareal but as Leganes missed a penalty then their win was somewhat fortuitous. They set up in a 4-4-2\4-1-3-2 with attacking full backs and that line-up leaves room for hitting them on the break. The midfield battle will be oh so important. With Steven Gerrard setting his Rangers teams up in a 4-2-3-1 then the Gers will be placed to soak up pressure and hit Villareal on the break.

 

I believe Rangers will start with the 4-3-2-1 setup which with the injuries and bans we have, actually makes it easy to pick the team. We know that Ryan Jack, Ovie Ejaria are injured so that will leave the choice of Andy Halliday and Ross McCrorie for that second defensive midfield role. It has been clear over the last few weeks that Gerrard prefers the experienced Halliday over the teenage McCrorie so it is pretty certain our two holding midfielders will be Lassana Coulibaly and Andy Halliday. I doubt the boss will pick this game to make any changes in defence so with Jon Flanagan suspended, Gareth McAuley injured and Joe Worrall an untried commodity we will start with the tried and trusted defence of Tavernier Goldson Katic and thankfully Borna Barisic. Barisic is now available after being cup-tied for the qualifying rounds after having played for Osijek which included a game against the bears.

 

Alan McGregor since returning to the club has been a rock in the goal. Maybe rock is the wrong word because a rock is a pretty static object and Alan McGregor is anything but static. McGregor  pulls of reactionary saves that sometimes are beyond belief. McGregor gives the defence a lot of confidence as they know they can trust him if they play back to him and even if they make a mistake McGregor has the ability to pull them out the fire. Confidence in your keeper makes a huge difference to the confidence of defenders.

 

Gerrard Has already said that Kyle lafferty will lead the line as Alfredo Morelos is suspended for the game due to his red card against UFA. One thing is certain tonight, the players have to have the discipline to keep eleven players on the field. We are now in with the big boys and won't get away with playing with men short.

 

That only leaves an attacking midfield three. Eros Grezda was introduced against Dundee on Saturday but after missing most of the season until now through injury he is far from being match fit for a game as big as villareal and I doubt he will even show. Ovie Ejaria is injured so unless Gerrard throws a curve ball the midfield three will be Daniel Candeias, Scott Arfield and Ryan Kent. The work rate of Kent and Candeias in attacking and defending is second to none. Kent and Barisic on the left is still a work in progress but the partnership of Candeias and Tavernier has become a pretty well oiled machine.

Glenn Middleton will show at sometime but I doubt we will be starting with the 18 year old.

This is a great opportunity to see just how far we have really  come.

 

I think the team will be:

McGregor

Tavernier Goldson Katic Barisic

Halliday Coulibaly

Candeias Arfield Kent

Lafferty

So only one more thing to say. C'Mon the Gers get in tae them!!!

 

 

•  

[Gonzo79 13,549]

Sinking the 'Yellow Submarine' would be an excellent start to the group stages.  I'd be happy with a draw though.

 

We proved, particularly against Maribor, that we can play well.  There has been a dip since those two matches though, so I'm not holding out too much hope.

[buster. 4,808]

Two things about the press conference.

 

1. When SG talked about Lafferty/Morelos and their role within the squad, it was noticeable that Sadiq wasn't even mentioned.

 

2. SG wasn't laughing when he cracked the line about 'every time he mentions important to keep discipline, we get red cards'.

 

------------------

 

I doubt it will be but I'd like to see a cautious 3-5-2

 

- defend with a line of 5

- only one of Tav or Barisic allowed forward at any one time.

- if struggling to play through the middle, we have the long ball option to Lafferty, who will have support close by.

 

 

McGregor

Worrell.......Goldson......Katic

Tav...............................................Barisic

Coulibaly....Halliday

......Arfield

............................Kent

.........Lafferty

 

 

I'd like to see an reasonably aggressive start and look for a goal, rather than just park the bus.

[buster. 4,808]

Spanish sporting newspaper includes the Villareal managers line when asked about Rangers...."Se parece mucho al Leganés.....".......ie. they are very similar to Leganés.

http://www.marca.com/futbol/villarreal/2018/09/19/5ba22aa0e5fdeaa9488b46b4.html

 

Leganés are at the bottom of La Liga, so effectively he's calling us ....'the Leganés of Scotland'.

 

 

ps. Villareal's next fixture is against the once named....... Aberdeen of Spain

 

 

Edited September 20, 2018 by buster.

[compo 6,077]

Go out and do is proud .

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,470]

Feel the same way as I did prior going to Septic Park. I'm not expecting a result but looking more to see a good performance from the team. I hope we can braver on the ball, have a go and at least give them something to think about. Sitting back for 90 mins will get us nowhere fast IMO

[buster. 4,808]

8 minutes ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Feel the same way as I did prior going to Septic Park. I'm not expecting a result but looking more to see a good performance from the team. I hope we can braver on the ball, have a go and at least give them something to think about. Sitting back for 90 mins will get us nowhere fast IMO

Tonight will give an indication if that game has changed the way SG approaches this kind of challenge.

 

There should be more physical and mental energy to take on whatever way we go about things.....but again our midfield options are curtailed, noteably the absence of Jack and Ejaria (on top of the longer term injuries).

Edited September 20, 2018 by buster.

[stewarty 1,876]

Coullibally's energy and dig will be vital tonight.  I fancy us to get a goal, but it will need to be a really disciplined defensive performance for us to get any sort of result.  

 

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,470]

12 minutes ago, buster. said:

Tonight will give an indication if that game has changed the way SG approaches this kind of challenge.

 

There should be more physical and mental energy to take on whatever way we go about things.....but again our midfield options are curtailed, noteably the absence of Jack and Ejaria (on top of the longer term injuries).

Is Ejaria injured?

[pete 2,494]

Just now, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Is Ejaria injured?

Yes, Gerrard said it in the presser.