match thread (image) [FT] Rangers 1 - 1 Hibs (Morelos 25)

[buster. 4,808]

The games keep coming thick and fast and the latest has Hibs visiting Ibrox on Boxing Day with a 3pm KO (UK time). Like the previous game and the one to follow, this sees another hugely important and significant 3 points at stake. After our crucial and notable late comeback at St. Johnstone, it would be typical of this December if we were to drop points in the next match because we don't seem able to do consistency. This game is where that needs to change if we want to harbour any hopes of providing a title challenge.

 

The first half of the season has seen a gruelling but welcome non-stop timetable of games, with 3 International breaks providing some respite for some in the squad. It is now ending with a particularly heavy block of fixtures and it's therefore no surprise to see an extensive injury list going into the final two games of 2018.

 

In short, over the next 2 games Steven Gerrard & Co need to get more out of a squad of bare bones than they previously have from a fuller squad.

 

- Tav is looking tired but gives 100% and still provides creativity.

- Central defence has become an issue and just when we seem to settle on a partnership, McAuley gets injured.

- The Barisic injury is a huge blow IMO and you now have Boyle and Forrest licking their lips.

 

The midfield and wide areas have taken a real hit.

 

On top of the long term injuries and departures, we have at least question marks over Arfield, Jack, Kent, Rossiter, Grezda and Coulibaly for either injury, poor form or a lack of gametime.

 

It's just as well that we have Morelos and Lafferty up front. Any debate over formation/playing them both may be decided due to lack of midfield options. For all the criticism Alfredo gets regards his discipline, you have to marvel at how over a heavy season and a half at Ibrox he doesn't seem to pick up injuries; the guy is a machine.

 

Steven Gerrard mentioned an adaptable approach and one option is to play Lafferty and being able to switch between a deeper role and one closer to Morelos (only an option if the Ulster Gazelle is fully fit). If Jack is fit then he'll surely start and that may in turn push Halliday back to LB. 

 

McGregor

 

Tavernier - Goldson - Worral - Wallace

 

Candeias - McCrorie - Halliday - Middleton

 

Lafferty

 

Morelos

 

 

Hibs haven't been playing that well of late and we should have taken all 3 points from Easter Road last week. However they often raise their game at Ibrox and I'd expect them to again. Recent history has seen this fixture providing goals (except for last week) and no team with a clear upper hand regards wins.

 

In my opinion, it's one of those games that could go any way, but if we can up our conversion rate then I think we win.

 

Prior to the 2 goals in 25 minutes on Sunday, we'd scored 2 in 550 minutes; hopefully, we have turned a corner.

 

Certainly Lafferty is due a goal. Am I right thinking he's started to celebrate goals in the last three matches, only to be halted by a bad offside decision at Dundee, a great save by the Hibs keeper and a somewhat unfortunate deflection and save at St. Johnstone? I call upon the footballing gods to give big Laff a deserved break!

[compo 6,070]

We know a wins a must , I would pair Lafferty and Morelos up front .

But will we be making defensive changes yet again the manager must know his best defensive formation by now .

[buster. 4,808]

3 minutes ago, compo said:

We know a wins a must , I would pair Lafferty and Morelos up front .

But will we be making defensive changes yet again the manager must know his best defensive formation by now .

SG knows who he'd like to have playing but injuries mean he can't.

Formation wise, it'll be the usual four.

 

Edited December 25, 2018 by buster.

[26th of foot 5,825]

I think this is our 37th competitive game?

 

It's been two games a week for five months, there are injuries, niggles, and fatigue.

 

We must win against Hibs. 

 

I want a true Rangers performance, hopefully we take the game to them. I have never been much for bugle blowing charges, but if that is what it takes to get this one over the line. We need momentum before ................. 

 

Just do it Bears, please!

[Rousseau 9,291]

Tavernier is a frustrating one. I don't think he's Captain material, and he's been really poor of late -- how many times does he lose the ball when trying to take on his man? He then pops up with a crucial assist -- and I'd always back him to tuck away a penalty. 

[buster. 4,808]

10 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Tavernier is a frustrating one. I don't think he's Captain material, and he's been really poor of late -- how many times does he lose the ball when trying to take on his man? He then pops up with a crucial assist -- and I'd always back him to tuck away a penalty. 

Give the guy a break, I think he's played more minutes than anyone.

 

His only game off was the Ayr United League Cup tie

He's played in all of the League matches (the full 90 minutes in 17 of them plus a combined 84mins of the other two)

He's played every minute of the European campaign

 

....and despite running on fumes,.... he still gets up the pitch in the last minute to swing in an excellent ball for Morelos to score at St.Johnstone.

 

ie. he deserves plaudits, not stick.

 

 

Maybe Eck was right.

Perhaps defenders (opposed to strikers) prefer a 'dead ball'.

Free-kick or penalty spot, Tav has proven to be excellent but he couldn't even make contact with the moving ball (within a metre of penalty spot) last week at Easter Road.

The one penalty I recall him missing was after extra time in our triumph over Celtic in 2016. It looked a tired strike, hitting it over the bar.

 

 

 

[Whosthedado 1,479]

I am buzzing for this game already - stuff Christmas  

 

Two massive home games coming up. Two wins and  we'll be flying going into the New year after the break ?

[JFK-1 1,665]

At home hubz tried to play us and after a slow start by us were pretty much thrashed 0-0. Surely they can't get so lucky again. If they come to play we will find space and score. If they decide to play the small team strategy it may be more of a struggle.

[DMAA 3,598]

I’m delighted to have Wallace back, albeit due to damaging losses to injury. He’s easily our 2nd best left back and he needs game time to be ready for Celtic. 

 

McCrorie, Halliday & Coulibaly simply isn’t a talented or attacking enough triplet to go 3 in the middle. Where are the goals coming from there? We absolutely need to start games with more attacking players than we have of late. 

 

Could do that with Grezda in a CAM position but given his disappointing form Lafferty is the better option for me in a 4-4-2 style formation, whether that’s a traditional 2 strikers up top or with Lafferty dropping back slightly in a 4-2-3-1 style formation. The former my preference because it’s more suited to Lafferty’s strengths. 

[Gribz 743]

My viewing of games is very restricted as overseas viewers will appreciate but can someone explain to me why Katic is not first pick? Every game I watched in the early part of the season he was hands down the best centre half.