Rousseau

Keep the ball? He has to chase his first touch, which is invariably backwards!

You can see how it relates to both defense and attack: in defense, we are not compact enough, which allows teams to play through us; and in attack, the support players are too far away to... support the forwards. I think we'll be a lot more effective when we get this right.

Interesting tweet/video about the ramblings of the "crazy foreigner". [tweet]910507783484788736[/tweet]

I didn't think he was anything special in the game, but he was better than most others. I gave him a 7.

Alnwick 9 Tavernier 6 Cardoso 6 Alves 6 John 7 Candeias 7 Jack 7 Dorrans 6 Windass 5 Pena 8 Morelos 8 Subs : Hodson 5 Holt 5 Herrera 7 McCrorie 8

What a shame. Nothing about their assaults in the other tie? I actually thought we dealt with their physicality better last night. We were ready for it and tended draw the fouls more, which I liked. I think it was that rather than referee's giving us more 50/50 - the majority weren't 50/50's anyway!

I think Jack coming wide is a tactic: to create a situational back-three, which allows better ball circulation -- and cover for Tav! Which I don't mind, but -- as you pointed out -- it needs Dorrans to be more disciplined in taking up a position centrally, to protect the back 4, or situational back-three, then distribute the ball forward with Dorrans' long passing ability.

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.