Match Thread [FT] Rangers 1 (Dessers 24') - 0 Motherwell

[der Berliner 3,279]

Well, in the cold light of day, we managed similar dire results for decades, even with the likes of Gazza and Co.. I would assume the pubs in Scotland after the game were similarly downbeat. What I can't tell - for obvious reasons - is whether we managed to perform as dire as the results suggest, which I doubt for most cases.

 

In that same cold light of the day after, having acquired so many IMHO quality players, it was still a crime to let both Hagi and Lowry leave on loan with but one creative player left, and most of the other attackers un-tried in the Premiership. As per usual, that one creative player got hacked down (by a Yahoo at that) and soon after, Raskin followed, who is probably the most prominent one of our midfielders who can do a part-time job in that department.

 

Roofe has been what we expect him to be, a top penalty box predator. Let's hope he stays fit for the best part of the season. Dessers is more that Hateley type of a robust striker, and I would combine these two from now on up top.

Lammers is more the Laudrup type, but like Cantwell, the "always thinks forward" and ain't shy to have a shot. He would be my central creative player behind the strikers, at least in the absence of Cantwell. Sima, Matondo, and Wright should be used as wingers (sided-attackers) and told to stay there too.

 

For what we see is people running about with seemingly no cohesion whatsoever, flanks left unoccupied, so defenders have it not that difficult to get out of trouble that way.

 

I was hopeful that, going back to a 3-at-the-back, we'd throw on more attackers to put the nail in Motherwell's coffin for that game. Obviously, I forgot that for one reason or another, Beale will never sub Tavernier and hardly ever Borna (unless injured), which saw us playing with de facto 5 defenders. People will argue that both are more WINGbacks than fullbacks, but TBH, while Borna whips in most crosses (unless he plays the ball back) with success, Tavernier was rather terrible yesterday. And once we switch to 3ATB, we don't need a "right midfielder" who can't do anything useful with the ball. Once people have a bad day, sub them. Not least when we needed width. Too bad we don't have a right-sided Ridvan.

 

The ultimate shock came around the 70 min mark, as Beale decided to go into the shell and essentially defend a 1-goal lead at home. 5 defenders, 2 DMs, 1 CM and but 2 attackers. While it was brutal before, it was shocking thereafter.

 

We are closing in on the end of September, and while MD 10 is some weeks away, this does not augur well for the next few months. I am not sure whether Beale can get his players to work in a decent manner, especially tactic- and position-wise. Well, well ...

[der Berliner 3,279]

Available coaches ... at TM

[Rousseau 9,480]

26 minutes ago, RANGERRAB said:

Was Dessers offside when he got brought down by the Motherwell keeper in the second half yesterday? It didn’t go to VAR IIRC

It did.

 

It was quite clear.

[Rousseau 9,480]

Bring in Conte! He'll kill them!

[Gonzo79 13,743]

5 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Dessers is more that Hateley type

 

Lammers is more the Laudrup type

[Bill 13,717]

12 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Roofe has been what we expect him to be, a top penalty box predator. Let's hope he stays fit for the best part of the season. Dessers is more that Hateley type of a robust striker, and I would combine these two from now on up top.

Lammers is more the Laudrup type, but like Cantwell, the "always thinks forward" and ain't shy to have a shot. He would be my central creative player behind the strikers, at least in the absence of Cantwell. Sima, Matondo, and Wright should be used as wingers (sided-attackers) and told to stay there too.

Question: These "sided-attackers" - what do you suggest they do with the ball when it's passed to them?

[stewarty 1,877]

Missed the game yesterday and given the reaction, it seems my blood pressure is the better for it.

 

Domestic games after a European midweeks have always been tougher than they would otherwise be.  We got the result, but reading this thread, my concern is growing.

 

I haven't supported sacking Beale to this point, but I'm struggling to see if he's able to inspire/motivate players to run through brick walls.   This soft underbelly just isn't going away, right at the time when we need to show a nasty streak.

[RANGERRAB 3,293]

What concerned me yesterday was the players seemed bemused by the tactics/game plan if there was one.

Matondo being replaced by Souttar was incredible 

[Sutton_blows_goats 4,318]

4 hours ago, RANGERRAB said:

Was Dessers offside when he got brought down by the Motherwell keeper in the second half yesterday? It didn’t go to VAR IIRC

Usual hard to tell from the Poundland SPFL var setup

[Sutton_blows_goats 4,318]

I always think a growing injury list is synonymous with players chucking it under a manager.