match thread (image) [FT] St Joseph's 0 - 4 Rangers (Jack 49; Ojo 55; Barisic 68; Morelos 76)

[Gribz 743]

Like Tannoch says we seem to be a team who need that first goal before taking absolute charge. But the scare is over and the second leg should be all about match fitness and hitting up a cricket score.

 

 

[buster. 4,808]

Very good second half and a result that makes the second leg into whatever SG wants it to be.

 

• Good to see Barasic make a couple of telling interventions that showed the quality we all know he has in his locker.
• Ojo and Jones were excellent.....(no need for Kent/spend the cash elsewhere)
• Aribo looks an excellent option for helping to break teams down.
• Good to see the centre backs hungry for goals.
• Morelos came on and showed the right attitude which is important.
• Negative was picking up two yellow cards. With quota of HomeGrown players limiting our European squad size and the inevitable injury or two to come we can do without any suspensions for the more difficult rounds

 

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by buster.

[Rousseau 9,381]

I don't really understand the 'we don't need three sitting midfielders' criticism. I think it misunderstands their role and position in the team. I would agree if it was the traditional destroyer-type defensive midfielder, where that's all he does, but our three-man midfield is the basis of our whole offensive structure. It provides the support and organisation for the front-three and full-backs. It's not as if they're sitting back and letting the others do the attacking, they're supporting them, providing a passing option. They also should be getting into the box when appropriate too -- see Jack yesterday. 

 

A loose example would be Guardiola's use of full-backs. At times they bomb forward, but mostly they stay back in a central midfield position. Guardiola likes a 2-3, or 3-2 set-up with his CBs, FBs and DM. They provide the support for the front players, and defend against counters. Walker does bomb forward on the overlap at times, but he's mostly playing as a right-sided CB. 

[Frankie 8,151]

8 hours ago, JFK-1 said:

Safely feel our way into it in our first competitive match of the season on a horror of a plastic pitch?

As simple as that. 

 

It's not as if Jack and Kamara weren't a threat in attacking areas. 

[JFK-1 1,675]

8 hours ago, Frankie said:

It's not as if Jack and Kamara weren't a threat in attacking areas. 

Yes indeed. And despite the shaky start in terms of breaking them down the vast gulf in quality was always pretty much on display. Did McGregor even make a save? And that arguably wasn't our strongest 11.

I can foresee a rout to put this one in the shade coming next week at Ibrox when we will have gained a bit more match fitness from a testing match against the quality of Marseille on Sunday. We may be looking at 4-0 by halftime.

It wouldn't matter what we fielded against them this tie is already done and dusted which is an opportunity to get as many as possible up to speed. Maybe give Aribo a run from the start to see what he can do. Though not at the expense of Ojo who should be given a sustained run at this point to see if he can maintain or even improve on his recent display.

[JFK-1 1,675]

23 hours ago, ian1964 said:

 

Whilst Rangers fans were celebrating a comfortable win and solid performance in Gibraltar, a BBC Scotland tweet suggested the broadcaster was in mourning.

 

Rangers were rampant in the second half scoring four goals in an energetic, powerful display which earned the adulation of the club’s supporters.

 

But according to the national broadcaster, Rangers “avoided a Europa League upset by beating St. Joseph’s in Gibraltar”. The tweet has since been deleted.

 

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