Leaderboard

An extremely professional performance from Rangers in appalling conditions in Annan. Amad, Ramsey, Davis and Roofe all very effective in their roles and a great confidence boost for Helander too. Zukowski has shown up well also so very happy with the efforts against the wind so far. Credit to the @PremierSportsTV cameramen for their efforts though. Enjoying the strange angles as they try to keep their lenses clean.

if they're still in the competition

Given the conditions and the number of changes, it would be very churlish to do anything but congratulate the entire team for a thoroughly professional job, despite the terrible conditions and plastic pitch. No dramas, no injuries (I think), no goals conceded, no major f*ckups. The slight surprise for me was that James Sands looked to be the most composed man on the field. He didn't put a foot wrong and I think we might have a real player there. In conditions likely to throw up mistakes, I thought Sands and Helander looked solid. I also came away thinking that in Zukowski we've found our cover for Tav. Hopefully we'll get a home draw for the next round.

Looked like he was guessing but correct decision.

Our team that day is listed below. Still gives me shivers. Think we did get "revenge" and beat them 2-0 a few years later. N Alexander A Argyriou Hegarty Cribari Wallace Little Hutton Black K Naismith Shiels McCulloch

That shithole should be shut down.

Didn't bother to watch this match but I saw some footage from a couple of the goals. It looked terrible with the lenses covered with water. It's probably still a better view that you get from the side of the pitch in Annan.

I liked the look of Sands and the Polish rb had a good game. Good to see some of the kids get a chance too. Job done

Was a Rangers fan growing up - declares he's a neutral now 😆

This!!

Sure the same Mulvanny guy who did flag-off the Scum`s last goal at Pittodrie. Thoroughly deserved lead in abyssmal conditions. You just hope none of our players suffers any injury. Amad through the middle looked a bit strange, but so far he gets enough room to weave his trickery, setting up Sakala for that cross-come-goal.

Linesman from Bo'ness denying Ramsey a goal - 🤷‍♂️

And a moron throwing a a flare on to the pitch.

Aye, between the showers

Liking this Zukowski fellow so far

It was dark as hell on my laptop … maxed the brightness and it’s much better

Have they forgot to pay the leccy bill? On my screen, it looks very dull indeed?

Regarding the formation it is clearly a 1-2-3-4 Van Bronckhorst wants Helander to be the sole defender with Sands and Davis playing double pivot in front of him. Then we have Ramsay, Wright and Diallo all in attacking midfield roles. Finally up front we have a STRIKING PARTNERSHIP of Roofe and Sakala. Zukowski and Barisic will be wingers on either side. Then again this might be a load of rubbish.

Didn't think the manager would make so many changes if I'm honest but glad I was fairly close...

10 out of 11. Impressive!

It is a plastic pitch and not a good one. I've stated my opinion on playing Helendar and Ramsey but the management team will know better than me.

Well, that`s a line up ... McLaughlin Zukowski - Sands - Helander - Barisic Ramsey - Davis Amad - Wright - Sakala Roofe ... or the like.

Primary tactic: playing long balls against minnows, like Annan, was the second thing that made me realise McCoist was never a manager (Malmo was the first).

I still laugh when some Rangers fans were saying "this is worst Rangers team ever" when we struggled under the likes of McCall, Warbs', Pedro, Murty etc. The above team must come very close to be being worst Rangers team ever.....

So asking for a better solution to our apparent lack of converting chances into goals or looking at how better teams than Rangers successfully play in their leagues with three at the back is "galaxy brained"? Some seemingly have set their standards very low indeed. Well, we have hardly evolved* as a team once SG had installed his troops, got our act together once in all his time here, grabbed one of nine trophies available and have some nice Europa League runs to get people excited (and money in the back). I for one do not want my team to stop evolving and getting better. It has been obvious for nearly 5 years that our 4-3-3 (or however you line these chaps up) is de facto easily been countered by the bulk of the low-block teams - and most Scottish sides play against us like that. If we fail, people like you, craig and syntax, go bananas about this or that player, preferrably those being chucked in from the cold, while our darling crew of Kamara, Kent, Goldson, Tavernier and even Morelos can`t do anything wrong - or indeed are worth debating. There is every reason to believe that we will soldier on with our current troops and line-up for the next games, even this season - despite what Gio said when he signed up. And there is every reason to believe that we will have enough dire contests against the low-block teams too. It might well be that Ramsey will give the team a lift and his quality will make us shine a little more and perhaps cut these Scottish teams open. Yet, we would still waste our resources if we don`t put the best we have for any position out there on the park, even in a 4-3-3. Only time will tell ... and I will sure remind you of the above in days to come. *Evolved in terms of tactics against Scottish sides. We bought better players for the same positions ... and a few of our current crop managed to get their (defensive) act together last season, yet reverting back to the norm this time around. The facts don`t lie here.

Anyone else remember losing 2-1 to Annan at Ibrox? I can't remember anything about the match (thankfully) but do remember looking at a fellow Bear, sitting a few seats away, just before the final whistle and us both shaking our heads in disbelief. One of the lowest points.

The winger conversation again?!

I always enjoy the look on these youngsters faces when they get this reward for their efforts. Well done Robbie Fraser.

I'm not as sophisticated as you. In my limited world I simply praise good performances when they happen and try to be tolerant when people fall short, as everyone does now and then. Sometimes I lapse and issue a harsh word or two but that's human weakness for you. I never thought of requiring a set number of good performances before reluctantly setting criticism aside - it's definitely a workable notion but for me I think hardly worth the effort. I'm sure I would only lose count and make an arse of myself by offering praise before it was due.

Both good shouts

some people are more decent than others. I would do it partly out of decency but as I outline sell on clauses aren't an issue the worst case scenario still has you cashing in massively. Indeed if cash is an issue I would have offered them 20% and lower cash. You could recoup the soutter cash and wages with 1 round in the Scottish cup further. Right now we are already weaker without him and 1 injury or suspension away from real issues. As you say when the league is decided we will know if we have got away with it.