Rousseau

Everyone who entered got a point for the CR. Cooponthewing, Ian1964, Frankie, 26th of Foot, compo, pj_1872, Gribz, stirlingbear and Rousseau (I'll go with third-person!) get another point for correctly predicting the Correct Number of Rangers Goals. Rousseau gets another 2 points for predicting Kranjcar as FGS. And finally, Cooponthewing, Frankie, compo, Gribz and Rousseau get an extra 3 points for predicting the Correct Score!! Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet. A week-by-week tally of scores can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-uQa9LP4du35rep3iUemqtj2NihPxHUuAGJFhz2WW0I

It's not entirely pointless, for if we have the ball the opponent can't (theoretically) score!! But, I agree we need to get the next stage right, the penetration. It's the penetration we're struggling with at the moment.

I've got to say I was bored. I feel like the forwards are isolated from the midfielders; we can't seem to pass our way forward and through opponents, and there is no penetration. We can get frustrated when players dawdle on the ball but most of the time that's because there's no movement ahead of them. That was the main criticism of Krancjar prior to this game, but give him a free/open player in a good position and he'll find him (although we may have to carry him defensively a little). His goal almost overrules those criticisms. Partick we're quite good -- I have been impressed with their passing style before: Archibald has had them playing some nice stuff, but they lack quality -- showing more pace, simple passing and then running at our defense. Our defense is too static: defense seems to drop off to line up zonally, whereas the midfield (or Halliday and Holt, for Kranjcar is still working through that treacle) look to press some players. There needs to be a cohesive approach rather than two groups doing different things. If we're going to press, then every player needs to press potential passing options, or if we're going to line up in a more passive zonal defense, then every player needs to sprint back into two banks of 4 etc. The Ref made silly decisions at times, but what about nipping in front of Miller's tap-in!? An expert piece of defending. If it wasn't funny, and we weren't winning at the time... Anyway... I'm still bored, but we won the game, which is all that matters. I have never really been too concerned at our defensive frailties, because I always felt would could score enough. At the moment I'm struggling to see where the goals are coming from?

Aherm...

Rangers 2 - 0 Partick Thistle FGS Kranjcar

I don't remember his time at Celtic -- which probably says it all. He always comes across as quite a likable chap on TV, but a complete idiot.

Have you seen the pass maps? Here's the Rangers pass map: [tweet]780833430342889473[/tweet] It's quite decent: connections throughout, well spaced and everyone is involved; but where is Garner!? We need to find him more. I also feel watching that we fail to find our No.8s (Holt and Forrester above) sufficiently. In contrast, here is the Aberdeen pass map: [tweet]780833219755270144[/tweet] An absolute embarrassment that this beat us!

It goes back further than this year, but you may well be right that they've put that tendency behind them. Time will tell.

I think Liverpool are still suspect at the back and liable to slip up against smaller sides. I also wonder whether they can sustain their frenetic style over the course of the season. I hope so, for I like Klopp. Incidentally, Klopp is a guest on MNF tonight -- looking forward to it!

Move over Frankie, you've got competition in the title department!

Individual mistakes are costing them, but they're doing that same low-block they did when Liverpool "pumped" them. It seems to be a plan but it's not working at all.

FFS! I need to have my coffee before I start doing these things! (Thanks JFK-1...) At least we've got a peer review system going on!

That's it changed, Pete. Thanks jhunter! Don't know how I missed that!?

I agree, but I'm hopeless! Frankie's the expert when it comes to titles.

That's your preview published on the main site, Pete! It was a delight to read. I really enjoyed the historical aspect to the tie. [tweet]779372429139439616[/tweet]

If only Wallace spoke like that in the tunnel before every game!

Maybe I'm confusing Rae and Crocker? Certainly one of them annoys me.

I've always been in favour of video referrals; so much can depend on a certain decision that it's imperative a team be able challenge it. However, I agree with Coop that there should be a certain number of challenges to keep the flow of the game, rather than every little decision being referred -- maybe more than 2 challenges, though? Although, Cricket has 2 and that sport can potentially have challenges every delivery. As long as they get the challenge back if they are proved correct. To be fair, I don't think it'll eradicate mistakes out of the game, for much comes down to interpretation.

I don't think Kranjcar can play No.8 because he doesn't have the fitness, stamina or mobility anymore. He is at his best when he doesn't have to run, when he reacts instinctively. His range and accuracy of passing is sublime at times. He could/should play a holding role, a la Pirlo. Maybe not in the bigger games, but whenever we're sure to dominate, having him sit deep and allow him to ping passes every which way would be so much more beneficial than forcing him into a No.8 position. The first 30 minutes were dull, but after they had to open up we found more space and broke a bit quicker to great affect. The BT guys did go on a bit, but I felt it was a red card. Going to Howard Webb is nothing new -- it's happened a few times. Stewart in particular annoys me when he makes suggestions on what we should be doing. It generally revolves around how he played the game, with long balls. We don't play that way. I really don't think they know what we must do to play better. Sutton's a bit better in the sense he doesn't presume to know what we should be doing. He only makes little suggestions like heading back across goal: a simple thing from his experience and is quite correct. Sutton is forceful in his opinions, but I tend to agree with him. (I'm really worried for my health!) The main commentator (Rae?) does annoy me with his 'Rangers Bad' narrative, though; he seems quite keen to keep pressing that narrative.

The Guardian interview was from a week past. It was for his book. He says some things that are probably true but a bit grating.

Click on "settings" (very top right of the page) and then scroll down to "edit email and password" from the options on the left.

You mean this: [tweet]777551120864518145[/tweet] Come on! It's a fake account.

That Man Utd squad needs a clear-out. Rooney is absolutely abysmal; incapable of stringing 2 passes together! Or, maybe not a clear-out per se, but tough decisions need to be made regarding starting-11. They can't continue to shoe-horn players into the team.

Yes, County were never in it, time-wasting from the 1st minute; our centre-backs strolled it (which isn't saying much). It wasn't the worst we've played, but our ability to create and score is really frustrating.

Nice to see Crooks on the bench -- hopefully he can get some game-time. Glad Miller is out. Waghorn, Garner and McKay looks quite potent -- if McKay is anywhere near his best. Offensive midfield-three. Excellent to see Holt back! Defensively suspect, but it could be what we need to get that attacking fluidity we've been missing.