match thread (image) [FT] Rangers 1 (Hagi 52) - 0 St Johnstone

[ian1964 10,413]

 

[ian1964 10,413]

 

[DMAA 3,603]

29 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

 

Truly staggering stat

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,476]

I just saw that Liverpool lost again. I hope they don't need a new manager soon. C'mon TF Jurgen! ???

[DMAA 3,603]

I’ve only got the highlights to go on but it seems that Aribo had a big impact and Hagi and Jack were very good too. That goal from Hagi has been coming, he is the only players who really provides a goal threat from distance. It seemed from the highlights that Roofe was a bit off the pace, he is still regaining fitness of course. I think Kent featured in the highlights once and it was a bad miss at the beginning so although I’ve no doubt he worked hard as always it seems @der Berlinerwasn’t far wrong regarding him not having done much. Deep lying defences at Ibrox do not suit his style of play imo. 
 

Another game ticked off and crucial game time for Jack and Roofe so a very good night. 

Edited February 4, 2021 by DMAA

[MacK1950 2,231]

3 points not, a great showing,but still undefeated.

One thing I hope(?) Roofe isn't taking lesson from Alf in training.

[Frankie 8,150]

9 hours ago, DMAA said:

I’ve only got the highlights to go on but it seems that Aribo had a big impact and Hagi and Jack were very good too. That goal from Hagi has been coming, he is the only players who really provides a goal threat from distance. It seemed from the highlights that Roofe was a bit off the pace, he is still regaining fitness of course. I think Kent featured in the highlights once and it was a bad miss at the beginning so although I’ve no doubt he worked hard as always it seems @der Berlinerwasn’t far wrong regarding him not having done much. Deep lying defences at Ibrox do not suit his style of play imo. 
 

Another game ticked off and crucial game time for Jack and Roofe so a very good night. 

Like you say you watched highlights which often don't give an accurate reflection of whole games.  There's also a big difference between not 'doing much' or being a 'shadow' and actually doing what you're asked to do on a consistent basis game to game and for 90mins.  That's why he's picked and that's why he's seen as one of the manager's key players.

 

Kent should have scored for sure but was effective, as usual, in his contribution where he was the player usually asked to come a bit deeper and start moves from positions where those with a better touch/presence could then use the ball in and around the box from tighter areas.  He did this a few times including, for example, where Tav should have scored from Hagi's cross.  It's not all about direct assists in how we break down blocks and that's why all three 10s of Kent, Hagi and especially Aribo for me, for the first hour, all worked well together.  It's all about moving the ball, finding space and finding the right pass and we did that quite well for the most part.

 

Was Kent brilliant?  Far from it but he enabled us to control the game for the first hour just as much as anyone else.  It's worth noting that Roofe did struggle but, after he went off, Itten was just as poor (if not worse) and our attacking play decreased as Aribo initially dropped deeper to address Saints change of system.  That's why Hagi and Kent both fell out of it after the hour mark but, once again, Kent's fitness and mobility enabled us to see the game out as he did the unselfish work off the ball for the whole match.  Meanwhile, Hagi's goal was a thing of beauty and his shooting is a strength we're lucky to have when the interplay is resulting in poor finishing for whatever reason.  He doesn't quite have the pace of Kent but he also works hard defensively as well, despite not having the engine to do so for 90mins.  Do we criticise that or admire his other strengths?  Do we complain at his occasional heavy touches or wait for the next good one?  Should he have also scored just before he did last night?  Perhaps but he kept knocking on the door which won us the game.

 

As said last night, I don't get this bizarre need to find exaggerated fault in one player's performance.  I appreciate Kent is seen as a creative, attacking player who some think should be contributing assists and goals every single game.  Fair enough, I agree he could improve in such areas, but I also believe we have to acknowledge he actually does a bit more than that.  There's a reason the manager trusts him every week and it's not based on him being a shadow, that's for sure.  Let's criticise but let's be constructive...

[Frankie 8,150]

 

[the gunslinger 3,366]

24 minutes ago, Frankie said:

 

Excellent save as always, 

[the gunslinger 3,366]

10 hours ago, ian1964 said:

 

shows how hard we have had it as well. 

 

all the hard teams twice away before the split. 

 

will reverse next season or at least should.