match thread (image) [FT] Rangers 1 (Jack 38) - 0 Kilmarnock

[compo 6,129]

I noticed Antwerp drew with Standard earlier today if we play well we should beat them 

[CammyF 6,781]

Good article detailing just how much we've improved our (and Scotlands) European coefficient 

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No team on the continent can match the rise of the Ibrox club since they returned to the Europa League.

Rangers are the most improved team in Europe, it can be revealed.
And the Ibrox club stand just one point from returning an automatic place in the Champions League group stage.

Rangers face Royal Antwerp in the first leg of their Europa League last 32 tie on Thursday as they return to continental action, and domestically they're on the verge of being back in the big time.

One more point will guarantee them a place in the Champions League for next season, while winning the title could yet bring an automatic group stage spot depending on how far Steven Gerrard 's side go in Europe this term.

However they do though, the improvement since the Liverpool legend arrived has been unparalleled in European football.
UEFA ranks clubs according to their performances in the Champions League and Europa League, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Juventus currently making up the top three.


The coefficients are calculated over a five-year average, meaning Rangers didn't have a coefficient of their own when they returned to European football in 2017.

Instead they were seeded according to the coefficient of the Premiership as a whole, which at the time stood at just 3.785.
That put Rangers in a notional place of 308th, sandwiched between FK Baku and Shirak Gyumri.
Their exploits since then have Steven Gerrard's side currently sitting in 61st with 26.250 and progression against Antwerp would see that rise still further.
That's an incredible rise of 247 places over the past four seasons - and the first of those ended with an ignominious defeat to Progres Niederkorn.
Of the teams in the top 100 not many can even come close, though Serie A outfit Atalanta can tell a similar tale.

They too returned to Europe in 2017 without a coefficient score and Gian Piero Gasperini's side sit in 26th with 50.500 points.
The Orobici have reached the Champions League knockout stages in each of the past two seasons.
But the Bergamo outfit were starting with the Serie A coefficient which, unsurprisingly was streets ahead of the Scottish top flight in 2017.

Atalanta began from a notional position of 131st with 14.666 points, so while their 105 place rise is impressive it doesn't match Rangers.
Other impressive rises include Slavia Prague going from 180th to 40th over that period, and LASK of Austria moving up 188 places to 67th.
But none can come close to matching the rise of Rangers, who will hope to climb even further by progressing to the last 16.

[Ted McMinnime 341]

2 hours ago, CammyF said:

Nothing, but we need a whipping boy(s). Been same for years, fans always need someone to decry and at the moment it's Kent, Aribo and Itten

Seems all 3 deserve a damn good thrashing in some quarters. "Can't cut it - Won't make at Ibrox"  Shame that. All 3 have provided me with memorable moments of sublime footballing quality, worked their socks off for the team and weighed in with some fantastic goals this season. I for one value all 3. I'm fairly certain the manager does as well. Can't we all just get behind them? The finishing line is in sight!

[MacK1950 2,231]

4 minutes ago, Ted McMinnime said:

Seems all 3 deserve a damn good thrashing in some quarters. "Can't cut it - Won't make at Ibrox"  Shame that. All 3 have provided me with memorable moments of sublime footballing quality, worked their socks off for the team and weighed in with some fantastic goals this season. I for one value all 3. I'm fairly certain the manager does as well. Can't we all just get behind them? The finishing line is in sight!

I admit I do criticise some of their play but more than accept that all three along with "everyone"have played their part in our progress/success so far.

What I can't accept is a player being played ahead of others whilst he is not,IMO,performing,hence my criticism of Aribo who seems to be to Gerrard what Namouchi was to McLiesh,that's all.

 

[ian1964 10,413]

4 hours ago, RANGERRAB said:

Unfortunately we saw yesterday that Itten won’t make it at Rangers

It's clear we all see players different! Itten looks a great prospect to me, he looks the more he plays the better he will get! unfortunately that won't happen this season as we need to play our best players, best team in every match, which is the way it should be IMO, and right now the young guy isn't part of our best team yet! will he become that player? who knows, but it's way too early to write him off, there is a player there.

[Bill 13,717]

1 hour ago, ian1964 said:

It's clear we all see players different! Itten looks a great prospect to me, he looks the more he plays the better he will get! unfortunately that won't happen this season as we need to play our best players, best team in every match, which is the way it should be IMO, and right now the young guy isn't part of our best team yet! will he become that player? who knows, but it's way too early to write him off, there is a player there.

I think Cedric Itten will be just fine. I've lost count over the years how many written off duds went on to become heroes we couldn't do without. 

[Rousseau 9,370]

I think Aribo has been fine. 

 

For me, he's not quite looking himself because he's playing deeper. His close control, strength on the ball, shielding, ability to beat a man is sublime. And, he won the ball back several times against Kilmarnock, beautifully - another particular strength.  

 

He still does all those things, regularly, it's just that in a deeper position, a ball given away is a bit more dangerous. 

 

If Arfield was fit, then Aribo would be rested for the odd game -- as he was earlier in the season. But, yesterday, the option was him or Kamara - and we all repeatedly said Kamara-Jack-Davis is too defensive, or doesn't work. 

 

Before we start sharpening the pitchforks, we need to try to be a little more objective. 

 

I criticised Itten first half, because I didn't think he was doing enough. Then I praised his second half, because I thought he worked hard. Nevertheless, I still don't think the service helped him, though - he needs different service from Morelos and Roofe, IMO. 

[Bluedell 5,329]

16 hours ago, der Berliner said:

 As I said before, I wouldn`t mind sending Roofe, Morelos and Itten out on the park, as they all do a similar workload if placed into Aribo`s and/or Kent`s boots. They can all play in the front row in a 4-3-3 or with a 4-2-3-1.

I don't believe that front 3 would work as well, as they lack Kent's pace and trickery and it would allow the defence to remain more compact and would result in less space for the team. 

 

Kent's presence is integral to the success of the team, even when he's not on top form.

[compo 6,129]

Wouldn't it be nice if we had two proper wingers two wee bandy legged wingers two wee tanner baw players that can run rings round an opponent wingers that will leave their opponents bewildered scared to come out for the second half and a big centre furrit to bang in their crosses,  but the games changed so we will have to settle for what weve got 

[der Berliner 3,245]

16 hours ago, CammyF said:

Nothing, but we need a whipping boy(s). Been same for years, fans always need someone to decry and at the moment it's Kent, Aribo and Itten

That`s neatly out of the black & white box. As if you are "forbidden" to make a remark when you feel a player is not at the height of his game and/or can do better. If you think Kent has been fine, fair enough. If others disagree, I would suggest stop dismissing their concerns as "the need for a whipping boy." I in turn refrain, and usually always have refrained, from calling those disagreeing as belonging to the head-in-sand brigade or the like. It is all about opinions. For someone who starts regularly in a certain attacking slot, I would like to see more countable results. There comes a point when workrate and application is no longer enough. As should be the case with every position on the field.