Leaderboard

Can we have VAR as an option 🙄 As honking as we were, the most honking thing about the other night was that abomination of a decision to award a penalty

We only started 3 of the new lads on Tuesday but they were all in the same area of the pitch. Tillman, Matondo and Colak haven't had much gametime together and once USG got themselves sorted out, were easily isolated from the rest of the team. Our starting XI seemed to encourage this isolation with deep lying midfielders who are more comfortable closer to our central defenders than the centre forward. It was predictable what would happen with Colak. It has happened in most games this season and makes defending against us easier. Cut off the supply and we might as well be playing with 10. USG got their tactics right. They put a real shift in, stifled us, didn't let us get any rhythm in our play and prevented us getting into dangerous areas. They attacked us with gusto, they were dribbling past our defensive players with relative ease and finding lots of space in the last third. Under any kind of concerted pressure, our defence is found wanting. It might be ok against SPFL diddy teams who get beaten home and away by Sligo Rovers, but not at this level. Our tactics seemed to come from the past when a one goal defeat away from home was considered as acceptable. To be fair, under Gio, we have retrieved one goal deficits in our last two European games at Ibrox. Perhaps this contributed to stifle our approach but when the second went in, the approach was laid bare for what it was and history tells us that we have never cameback from a 2 goal deficit in 66 years of European football. One more thing is that we went into this tie, undercooked. I expressed concern about this several weeks ago, then we sold Aribo and brought some players in. It was always a big ask to bed new players in and get everyone up to speed in time for the CLQ. The new players might have a good Rangers career but teething problems are nothing new, even for the best who have played for us.... Add the injuries and players not anywhere close to match sharpness for some (eg. Jack). It is a real problem when you have difficult qualifiers first up. The only obvious way to solve it, is to qualify directly......No early qualifying rounds actually seem to work against us. USG had 2 new players in their starting line-up, played their first summer friendly on June 28 and were visibly more match-fit than us. They also appeared to want it more and weren't hesitant in their approach.

I hear you Mack. It was a bitter pill to swallow but like you I've seen a lot of Rangers games. IMO we were always going to have a hangover after last year's amazing run. This was different to 2008 in so many ways as we got to this final by reaching the heights. I just didn't think the come down would be so brutal! I think we need to focus on what we want this season. The title is THE priority IMO. Europe is a bonus (if it works out). We've brought in some good players that just need time to settle and get used to what is required at Rangers. For me, our immediate aim is maximum points in the league until we head to the cesspit in the east of the city. Hopefully over that period we get established players back and get some new players gaining confidence. Do I want us to pummel the Belgians next week? Of course I bloody do but it is a long season and I don't want to derail it before the first stop because we've not replicated the Euro success from last year.

After watching Man City and Liverpool dominate by playing a back 4 with high pressing full backs, 3 CB's seems very outdated. Would prefer Lundstrum as one holding midfielder to sit in front of the CBs. As Henderson does for Liverpoool.

Some mention Lowry and I agree that he remains our best bet of finding/developing the dynamic creative force we need. We haven't the finance to buy the ability we need in there but we might just already have the raw material in house. It is a gamble, but we have to roll the dice. I remember when Ian Durrant came in and the way he would drive forward with youthful exuberance and a natural talent.

---------McLaughlin-------- ----Goldson-----Davies---- Tav------------------Ridvan ---Lundstrum----Kamara--- -----Tilleman/Lawrence---- Matondo---------------Kent -------------Alfie-----------

Can't see us buying before we sell - hopefully not Kent, but maybe Fashion or Roofe moving on?

Brilliant post. Was going crazy on Tuesday shouting for Matondo to tuck inside slightly to give Tav an angled option as opposed to simply hugging the touchline Tav was already hugging...

You bring up an interesting comparison, which perhaps highlights our problem. Both Liverpool and Man City morph into a 2-3-5 in attack. Essentially, they always want wide players hugging the touchline, two players in the half-spaces, and a forward (creating the 5). Whereas Liverpool create this with wide FBs and inside forwards (Liverpool have quite a rigid midfield three), Man City have touchline-hugging wingers and free 8s in the half-space (Man City's FBs are inverted and play quite deep, creating the '3' with the #6). We're caught in the middle: Wingers hugging the touchline, getting in the FBs way, and no free 8s. It's like Man City's wingers and Liverpool's rigid midfield-three. It doesn't create the ideal 2-3-5 line-up. We need to keep the rigid midfield-three and get our wingers playing in the half-spaces, and high FBs; or keep the wingers wide and get some free 8s (which we technically have, in Tillman, Hagi, Lawrence, Jack at a push) to support the forward more closely.

I think you're getting mixed up with those daft US sports and their special teams Malangsob. History is littered with players playing 'out of position' to great success. And Rangers never has an apostrophe.

I'd even suggest that's pretty much how it always happens.

Seems a bit experienced to be back up. That said Tuesday showed how vulnerable we are to a Kent injury.

A desired starting XI can grow organically or should that be accidentally?? Look at the development of Lundstrum and Bassey through the course of last season. No-one would have charted their particular trajectories in the starting XI.

Formations are important to counter opposition tactics, the right players in the right positions helps us carry out specific game plans, however for me the MOST important aspect to whether we are successful or not is the players being up for it, being hungrier than the opposition, laying their bodies on the line for the team, working as a unit and believing in themselves and keeping their composure when opportunities present themselves.

Maybe a wee bargain from the lower leagues in England? Or the Balkan leagues? Preferably a speedy and skillfull goalscoring machine for a million bucks? I don't ask for much...🤣🤣

Would be sad to see Roofe go. I like him a lot as a player but we knew he had a glass body when we signed him.

Bollocks. You're writing players off after one game. Get a grip.

On paper I think it's now a 4-2-3-1: McLaughlin Tav / Goldson / Davies / Ridvan Lundstram / Jack Matondo / Tillman / Kent Morelos With an alternative 3-4-3 along these lines (which obviously didn't work the other night): McLaughlin Goldson / Souttar / Davies Tav / Lundstram / Kamara / Ridvan Matondo / Morelos / Kent Then you have players like Helander, Hagi and Roofe that may come back into the reckoning if they ever reach full fitness again. I'd also expect Lowry to feature more heavily as the season goes on. There's no doubt we have the personnel but the manager has to find the right blend to deal with low blocks as more and more teams see that as the easiest way to nullify us. The 3-4-3 does allow for more attacking options but ensuring we get the best out of the full backs and the wingers in minimal space is easier said than done.

Davies for Sands for me I think. I thought Sands’ reluctance to pass left was really poor the other night, and surprising. Reminiscent of Katic. Tillman probably dropping into CM and Lowry playing in front against smaller teams, though I don’t think GVB will have the guts to drop the big players for Lowry.

Me too I remember the walk down to the old Merkland Street station with the associated smell of the old system,nostalgia eh?.

i think it's already clear sands isn't the answer at LCB

Good luck mate - I'll tag in @forlanssisterjust in case... At the very least he can help you pitch your tent....

Let's all slow down...everybody probably looks good in training. As much as we are all slightly baffled by what unfolded last night, all the new players (7?) will require time to settle. Let's be patient and realistic (not attributes that are commonly associated with Rangers fans to be honest...)

Your post is like manna from heaven for a pedant like me.

Probably best to pick someone who wasn't playing. Kent.

There is a way you know.