Rousseau

Celtic Fans: "Shocked", "Gutted", "Disgusted".

Me:

As good as Kent has been, he does really need to improve his final product.

If he does that, there's some player there.

2 minutes ago, craig said:

IMO he’s being left out for a different reason.  One being Morelos is on fire so he won’t get that line strikers role and the other being that kent is on fire creating from the left hand side.  

 

He’s being left out because the players in those positions are performing so well

Oh, yes, he's never going to be the first-choice striker, but I meant as a replacement, coming off the bench etc. He's been left out altogether quite often.

1 minute ago, craig said:

I personally feel it was the primary cause.  We slowed it down and played keep ball.  We didn’t look to penetrate as much.

 

But that’s just picking apart something that barely needs picking apart.  Could have had more but a 5-0 win away from home is a very good days work

Agreed (the second part).

We like a moan...  

I feel Lafferty is so unlucky.

He gets into so many good positions, and gets some terrific chances, but it always seems like does what he needs to do to score -- get a good connection, hit the target etc. -- but the 'keeper will save it, or there will be a deflection somewhere. 

And, because he's not getting that end product, he's been left out. 

2 minutes ago, craig said:

That’s all well and good but there can be no doubt we dropped the tempo 2nd half deliberately.

Sure, but I'm unconvinced it was as prominent, or the primary cause of fewer goals scored. 

9 minutes ago, Big Jaws said:

I absolutely agree with you @craig and we need to stop doing it because rest assured the team sitting top of the league would be increasing their goal difference given half the chance.

 

I don't want to put a downer on a great 0-5 result today but I'm feeling that it was an opportunity wasted to close that goal difference gap.

 

Sure, but it was unlikely that we'd have scored another 4; it doesn't work like that, no matter how we approach it. We caught them tactically, and dominated, and were clinical. They changed it second half, too, which negated that numerical superiority we enjoyed in the first half.

Edit: I had a look at their results -- I did not care for it ? -- and they've done what we've done, several times: Running away with it in the first half, then not continued.

FT, 0-5 Rangers.

Rampant performance.

I thought Jack and Kamara strolled it.

Finally!

Lafferty gets his goal. Lovely ball up the line from Davis, easy cross from Candeias, and cool finish from Lafferty.

Davis and Lafferty come on, off go Arfield and Kent.

Straight swaps, it looks like: Lafferty wide left, Davis #10.

4 minutes ago, craig said:

We’ve taken our foot off the gas.  This is the perfect opportunity to enhance the goal difference

Partly, I suppose, but I think we've dropped Tavenier and Halliday back a touch, so we've not got as many players further forward. It also means Hamilton are able to mark Kent. 

And, if you consider that fact they've went to a back-three, we're outnumbered up front. 

That was sexual.

A delightful one-two between Arfield and Defoe, almost created a one-on-one with the 'keeper. 

I'd like 8, but I'll settle for 6.  

Half-time, 0-4.

Absolutely brilliant performance, and clinical. 

0-4, Tavernier. 

Penalty!

I didn't see it at the time, but the replay shows a stone-waller. Well done Ref'.

Our positional play is reminiscent of Man City in the build up (I'm not saying we're playing like Man City, but the build-up and offensive structure looks impressive -- and obviously we're playing with confidence because of the early goals): 

Defoe

Kent - Arfield - Candeias - Tavernier

Kamara - Jack

Halliday - Worrall - Goldson

Tavernier is noticeably higher on the right, whereas Halliday is deeper and narrower. 

Jack is coming wide right to take up that Tavernier position, which Hamilton are struggling to pick up. 

1 minute ago, craig said:

Oh my.  Kent beats McKinnon with a drop of the shoulder and doesn’t even touch the ball.... sadly the finish was in row Z

He probably deserved to have a shot from that drop of the shoulder and his overall play, but I wished he would have played through Candeias (?). 

We're on fire!

I think Jack and Kamara have strolled it; their positioning, ability to receive the ball and keep it, recycle possession and play the pass has given a platform for Kent to rip them to shreds. 

Me: 'Nah--clearly Morelos is crucial, but I wouldn't say he carries the team; that's going a bit far."

Alfredo: Hold my beer.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has questioned his players' mentality ahead of the club's crucial Scottish Cup fifth-round replay with Kilmarnock on Wednesday night.

Rangers head into the cup tie at Ibrox on the back of a hugely disappointing goalless draw at home to St Johnstone on Saturday, a result that ultimately saw them fall eight points behind Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

And Gerrard is determined to get rid of any complacency in his players, starting against Killie.

"The week's training heading into St Johnstone, I didn't see the team with the right mentality, I saw a bit of ego before that match," said Gerrard.

"This doesn't happen very often, we are usually strong. I have told the players in a very honest way that is not acceptable at Rangers.

"I don't think I was brutal, I was honest. Maybe I put it across in a more obvious way but I'm not going to lie to them. The reaction shouldn't be for me, it should be for the 49,000 inside Ibrox.

"I love my players to bits, they have gone to places for me and the fans that was above and beyond but there have to be times when you have to tell players certain things. It can hurt the player in the short term but will benefit them going forward.

"We need to go back to our standards, at the weekend I didn't see a proper Rangers team with the right mentality.

"If I see anyone thinking they can just walk into the team I will have words. I have done it myself, had a dip in form and went into cruise control, it's my job to spot it. We have players desperate for success but we are inexperienced in terms of winning."

Team news

Rangers striker and top scorer Alfredo Morelos returns from a two-game suspension, while midfielder Scott Arfield may feature after recovering from injury.

However, the hosts will be without suspended goalkeeper Allan McGregor, midfielder Ryan Jack is an injury doubt and Graeme Dorrans misses out after suffering a setback following almost five months on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Steve Clarke's team will be without suspended centre-back Kirk Broadfoot after his sending-off against Celtic on Sunday and injured full-back Ross Millen.

However, the visitors are confident central defender Stuart Findlay will have recovered from injury in time to feature.

https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-kilmarnock/preview/406303

@Gonzo79 beat me to it, but:

In a statement, BBC Scotland said: "Our coverage, including analysis and comment, is editorially fair."

41 minutes ago, buster. said:

Will this be on camera   

 

1 hour ago, cooponthewing said:

I’m most annoyed that the majority didn’t look interested again. No desire or hunger for victory. That’s worrying that we settle for second best? Also Davis looks done (blowing out his arse still??) and Defoe was awful along with Candeias.

I agree. It fits into my point: Five eminently winnable games, to set a marker, and we've not looked up to it; It's extremely frustrating. 

I thought Davis was done before we signed him. He was the missing link for many. His legs have gone, but I still think he can do a job further back. He's just not the #10 we need. 

Defoe needs to be supplied; he didn't get a sniff yesterday.