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Posts
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Posts posted by Rousseau
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I can't find the article, but I saw on Twitter that Belgium and Netherlands are in talks about creating a joint league.
I think the article said that UEFA would not be against it.
Could we get in?
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The fixture pile up that participation in Europe has brought is something that bluenoses have relished this season, and whilst the arrival of another international break was not welcomed by the fans there’s little doubt that is was by Gerrard.
The international breaks have split the season up very helpfully for Gerrard. A hectic early season schedule brought 13 games before the September break. Our introduction to Gerrard in these games saw an assured Rangers side navigate their way to the European group stages comfortably and start well domestically before running out of steam with points dropped at Fir Park and the first Old Firm derby of the season ending in defeat. The September break could not have come soon enough.
As expected and hoped, Rangers emerged from the international break looking rejuvenated. The next group of seven games were crucial and almost went exactly to plan. On the European front, Gerrard’s side stretched their unbeaten run to 10 and re-asserted themselves as serious players on the continent with a draw away at Villarreal and an impressive home win over Rapid Vienna. The five domestic games, however, painted a mixed picture. Four exhilarating home wins averaging four goals scored per game were in risk of being overshadowed by another worrying performance away from home, this time to dark horses Livingston.
Incredibly, after a positive opening few months to the season we find ourselves in 6th position in the league, behind the worst Celtic side in decades and amazingly still 7th in the goals conceded table!
The Opposition
Hamilton away presents Gerrard with the perfect opportunity to smash the unwanted record of having not won away from home in the league and start fresh. After all, the last time a Rangers side left Hamilton empty handed World War 2 was brewing and Bill Struth was the manager.
The Accies started the season losing to Annan Athletic and needed penalties to beat Airdrieonians. More recently, they lost at home to fellow strugglers Dundee and St Johnstone before being annihilated in their last outing by in-form Hibs. They have lost 6 out of 8 in the league. It is a strange game to bill as a must-win but to drop points on the road again against a struggling Hamilton side would certainly put pressure on Gerrard.
Danger Man
Despite how poorly the Access have started, there is little question who Gerrard will be singling out as a threat. Responsible for 55% of Hamilton’s goals this season, 22 year old forward Mickel Miller will be watched very closely by Goldson and co. Miller is fast and isn’t afraid to shoot from distance on his left foot .
Rangers NewsThe international break hasn’t been too kind on us this time round. Arfield returns with a hamstring injury which is still to be assessed, and Lafferty will not feature at Hamilton after the IFA invoked the 5 day rule after he pulled out of Northern Ireland Nation League double header due to an apparent Achilles injury.
Borna Barisic withdrew from the Croatia squad due to a muscle rupture and Nikola Katic withdrew from the U21 squad due to injury.
Predicted Line-Up
As Katic, Barisic and Lafferty didn’t start the last couple of games their likely absence will only affect the depth of the squad at Hamilton. Arfield’s injury on the other hand paves the way for the returning Jack.
Due to the likely absences, the team seems to pick itself. Worrall will take full advantage of Katic’s recovery time and continue to form a partnership with Goldson at centre back with Tavernier and Flanagan at full back. Jack will join Coulibaly and Ejaria in centre midfield with Kent and Candeias retaining their spots on the wings. Morelos will miss next week’s semi final against Aberdeen and with Lafferty ineligible and he won’t be looking over his shoulder for big Sadiq on this occasion who will be lucky to make the bench.
What to Look out For
Halliday continues to be popular with the gaffer and Dorrans and Rossiter haven’t even made the bench in the last three games. With Arfield potentially rested, will either finally join Halliday on the bench?
Next week’s semi final will be a huge game for the Gers, but we go into it without a recognised striker. Given Rangers have scored at least 4 on our last three trips to Hamilton, will Gerrard be planning to take Morelos off to trial a striker-less system if we manage to get a cushion?
Grezda got precious game time with Albanian over the international period with 45 minutes in a friendly before playing the full 90 against Israel. The fans are desperate to see how good he is and will be hoping to see him at his best as soon as possible and this is exactly the kind of game we’d like to see him get an extended time on the pitch, especially if he’s in Gerrard’s plans for the final.
Sunday is the perfect chance for Gerrard to put our unwelcome away record behind us and start this next section of the season as we mean to go on, as Championship contenders with a comprehensive away win. The Spartak and Aberdeen coming up, this is a crucial stretch of games and if there’s anything we learnt in October it’s that we can’t take any away domestic game for granted.
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7 minutes ago, stewarty said:
Shit I forgot about doing the preview for the weekend. Sorry guys
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The Morelos discussion was superb.
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I think Worral is better on the ball; Katic just seems to kick it out of play -- not a bad thing in itself, but keeping it in play is better.
But, Katic is less prone to a mistake, I think.
I don't see much between them.
I think Worral came in because Katic had an injury, and Worral's been immense in the games he's came in -- except the Livi game, but I don't think he was as bad as some suggested.
It's a long season.
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9 hours ago, DMAA said:
I think Ejaria will be far too expensive for us but I don’t think Kent will be.
Yes, I agree.
Didn't Ejaria sign a 5 year deal at Liverpool before signing for us?
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Some good scores.
Everyone who entered gained 1 point for the Correct Result.
Rousseau, compo, MacK, Lenny, Pete, GS, FS, Ian and JFK gained another 1 point for the Correct Number of Rangers Goals.
Onevision, Bill, Gaffer and r_s gained 2 points for Kent as FGS.
Rousseau, compo, Lenny, Pete, GS and FS gained 3 points for the Correct Score.
@forlanssister extends his lead!
Latest Standings:
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FT 3-1
Points!
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4 minutes?
Come on Ref! You can redeem yourself with a nice early whistle...
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Slow it down Rangers.
There's no need for this frantic stuff.
Deserve a bigger lead, but 3-1 is superb -- especially after the mid-week exertions.
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I wouldn't be displeased to see it finish 3-1...
#INeedThePoints
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Ryan Jack coming on...
Ejaria goes off.
Ovie Ejaria has had a wonderful game.
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Poor ball from Arfield.
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Lay it off Kent!
Probably deserves to take a strike after that superb run, though.
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Red card for Hearts.
Blocks off Flanagan's run in behind.
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HT Rangers 3 - 0 Hearts.
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Beaton's blowing the whistle a bit much, but fair enough, he's made that decision and needs to follow it through.
The bookings look totally arbitrary, though.
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Arfield booked for nothing.
Wins the ball clearly, albeit with a hard tackle.
The Referee looks like he's playing on, then pulls it back because of the reaction from Hearts.
Embarrassing!
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Candeias has been immense at pressing!
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2 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:
I predicted 3-0 but it's beginning to look as if I may have been too pessimistic.
Me too!
Delighted.
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Finally! They have a booking.
Beaton's a t*t.
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These refereeing decisions are mental.
We get booked, they get away with it.
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Oh. My. God.
What a finish from Morelos!!
Low cross from Candeias after winning it back off the defender, Morelos flicks it with his trailing leg into the near post.
Superb.
2-0.
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Benelux League
in General Football Chat
Posted
Yes, I don't anticipate besting the top teams from the Netherlands and Belgium just now, but I've always been in favour of a move to a more competitive league. I think it would be better in the long run.