Rousseau

Anyhow... some good results this round, with a few picking up Correct Scores! Everyone who entered gained 1 point (including Ian!), with Mack, gs, coop, BF, Bill, onevision, t-1000, FS, Uilleam, ranger_syntax and JFK gaining another 1 point for the Correct Number of Rangers Goals. Only Ian gained 2 points for Pena as FGS. Finally, Mack, coop, BF, onevision, T-1000, FS and Uilleam gained 3 points for the Correct Score! Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

Well... ran into a little issue: turns out I didn't have Ian on the roster! I had to trawl through every prediction thread this season! I figured out it was merely through a quirk of his scores. It turns out Ian had only entered three times, picking up 0 points each time - generally when we didn't win. When we don't win it's a quick 0 for most on the table, so I failed to add him to the table. I apologise Ian - you have now been added to the table.

We had them sussed out, and they rarely got the ball for the majority of the game. They were content to counter us and Cardoso made it easy standing off Salmon -- however, he was tighter second half and dealt with him well, and he seemed to grow in stature when Alves went off. McCrorie was fantastic; at 19 to pretty much dominate the big hatchet man Salmon is really promising, and he's composed in the pass too. Our decision making in awful: the number of times we get to the byline and cut it back wonderfully only for a player to pull out, or sky it is ridiculous! Candeias is case in point: terrific pressing and pace, rounds the 'keeper and skys it! We missed some sitters. Windass guilty of a few. We completely disintegrated after we made those first forced subs at the back: no organisation at all, and their goal was coming. It was somewhat understandable, as there were a few subs, an untested back four and our vice captain off. I was actually pretty content to see us in two banks of four defending; they really didn't look like scoring. We were a little too deep after we scored and then after those subs, but I think sitting deeper and countering was a decent way to go. A little more composure and it would have been out of sight. Morelos worked his socks off, and was understandably knackered at the end. Herrera did the job when he came on. Pena was excellent. He did indeed play No.10 as we wanted, but I think he was positioned deeper, almost like a 8. It was like a 4-5-1, but with Pena having the license to go forward. His late runs and positioning was fantastic. How many times was he free but not picked out!? When he gets the ball he moves it forward, and then follows it with pace. We failed to link up with him as much as I'd like, but that movement at least had the effect of moving defenders away, creating space. I wouldn't mind seeing Alnwick in goal for Saturday: he's a better shot-stopper than Foderingham, which will perhaps be more important than Fod's distribution?

Yes, the scores will be awarded for the FT result AET, so 1-3. Scores up shortly...

I'm not sure he is a No.10. He's more of an 8, a box-to-box player that likes to ghost in and make late runs; I'm not sure he's ever been the main creator, per se. However, I think in Mexico he was played in a 4-2-3-1, but was one of the 2; deep, but not a DM.

I don't think parking the bus is quite the way to go: how is it any different to what they usually play against, and they have no trouble hitting 3, 4, 5 goals? And that's against teams that are set-up to do so game after game, it's ingrained in them; we're not used to doing it. If we park the bus and get beaten, "Pedro will have some serious tactical questions to answer..."

Was that a PC compliment... ?

I don't mind people believing that PC is not the answer, but suggesting that every little thing is evidence in support of that belief is incredible. Today PC stated -- presumably answering a question at the press conference -- that Niko, Rossiter and Wallace were out of the next few games, then someone on Twitter suggested that was excuses being made and that PC bottled it in the summer for not getting replacements.

I think Kranjcar had to have been injured, or rested, as he wasn't in the squad at all; he's usually involved. I think Kranjcar is good, and should be an option in certain games and times, but Windass -- as the squad is now -- is first choice. The stats suggest he brings a lot more to the team in terms of creativity and goals. It's merely your opinion that Windass "has failed". The stats suggest you're wrong. It's good management to be objective. I think Miller has been poorer this season thus far, and I would like someone else to play his role, but unfortunately we don't have anyone -- personally I would like to see Windass there but I don't think he quite has the close control; another option is Pena, but I think he'd be better running from deep for the 1-2's as you mentioned. Herrera is a different type of player, and so we'd need to play differently with him in the team - we'd get overrun in midfield much more often!

Patrick Thistle 1 - 2 Rangers FGS Morelos

There does seem to be more 7+ scores this season, which is pleasing - especially considering we didn't win last night.

Foderingham 7 Tavernier 6 Cardoso 6 Alves 6 Wallace 5 Candeias 7 Jack 8 Dorrans 8 Windass 6 Miller 6 Morelos 8 Subs : John 6 Herrera 6 Pena 7

I'm disappointed. We were very comfortable for long spells, but couldn't make it count. As someone on Twitter said: it's not major structural problems, it's complacency and profligacy more than anything else. Alves and Cardoso fail to deal with a bouncing ball, concede a free-kick that the wall fails to stand up to; silly mistake. Then Tavernier fails to push up beyond his CBs to play off-side for the second, and then he and another (can't recall whom) fail to mark the runners at the back post; more complacency than anything else. I thought John was a tad suspect defensively, giving the ball away etc., but looked OK going forward; but it was his first game. Herrera did OK when he came on; movement was good etc. I'm not sure I want him and Morelos, though; they both want to play the same zone. As bad as he's been, I think Miller is an acceptable option for now. Maybe Windass could play as a second-striker, but then we'd need a replacement for LM - Kranjcar was missed tonight. Pena was good! He showed a good burst of pace which I was surprised by, to go along with good movement and eye for goal; he'll be a good player for us. He did have a chance to play in someone on a break which he attempted but didn't get enough on the pass. I'm disappointed, but in a way that's quite pleasing because it's been a while since we've dominated games, both in terms of possession and physicality. We should have won that game, but we need to come out second half stronger -- I can't recall if Partick changed it, which wouldn't surprise me as Archibald is a good manager -- and cut out those stupid mistakes.

Miller is not very productive not because his role is wrong, but because he's been poor - two sitters spring to mind. He's creating chances, receiving chances and pulling players, linking play. The role is good for us, it's just that Miller is not doing it all perfectly. I think PC wants a roaming second-striker, rather than another target-man. According to theGersReport Miller is our second best contributor to goals scored, so he must be doing something well. I do think we'd score many more if we had someone that could play this role but better. It's the paradox of Miller: he clearly - according to stats - contributes to chances created and our goals, but when you watch it live the number of times he mis-passes, ruines attacks, gives the ball away, misses chances, it's unbelievable! If Herrera and Morelos play together I think there is a chance they get isolated. They may be able to play and link-up together, but then we lose midfield control.

Has PC actually said he wants McLean? I thought it was mostly press rumour? Rivals for 2nd but then struggling to hold on to a player if we come in for him? Ha!

I think PC prefers a second-striker, rather than a standard No.10 - a No.10 is rather easy to mark in this league with so many players behind the ball.

It would have been nice for the young guy to show some respect.

I'd stick with the same team that beat Dundee. Miller, as much as I agree that's he been poor and is done as a first-team player, is not easily replaced. Pena could come in eventually, but he's not fit yet, and Herrera is a different type of player. Windass could come in for Miller too, but he's been better wide left. No one really has the movement of Miller. For me, Kranjcar has not been too bad, and I actually think he's been good for us - it's just that he seems to hit a brick wall at around 60 minutes; which is fair enough at 34 (?). I actually think Windass is better suited to coming on when the opposition is shattered -- hopefully with our constant pressure! -- which is what happened against Dundee; there was more space for him and they couldn't deal with his running power. Of course you could say the same about Kranjcar coming on later when the opposition is fatigued, but he doesn't have that running power. I just think that for an opponent, the difference in facing Krancjar and Miller, initially, and Windass and Pena towards the end of a game has been important for us in the last few games. The stats suggest Kranjcar is getting some good chances but getting blocked, and Miller has just been tame with his efforts; in contrast Windass and Pena have been efficient with their chances. I wonder if it has something to do with when they come on? And I don't think bringing Miller and Kranjcar on towards the end of games will have the same effect. It's an interesting problem.

Ian taking no prisoners!

Didn't the player laugh in Neymar's face during the game? Always the victim.

I said on the Premier League thread that I thought Palace were deserving of more against Burnley - what can you do when Dann misses a header from 2 yards!? FdB's style of football was always going to be difficult to implement on this group; he needed more time. His reputation is probably damaged, but the caveat is that both his jobs post Ajax were tricky: Inter were a basket case, and Palace just didn't suit his style and so needed more time. I'm glad we didn't go for him; I wasn't certain he was as good as his Ajax record suggested.

Both so-called "super sunday" games were won by teams that did not deserve: Crystal Palace and Swansea were by far the better teams.

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