BlackSocksRedTops

24 minutes ago, 26th of foot said:

"Rangers have got themselves a little more time in the Champions League".

 

Above are the last words uttered by the host, Jonathon Sutherland of last evening's Sportscene production of Rangers second leg away to Servette in their Champions League qualifier. We know PQ positivity about all things Rangers is as common as rocking horse manure but, the Shetland islander Dandy was trying too hard. Immediately after the final whistle as fellow Dandy, Rob MacLean blowing inane platitudes as Rangers players and Rangers supporters celebrated in the background; the production cut back to the PQ studio and, jonnersinho(honestly his Instagram username) spoke over a prepared graphic. He said and, it read : Sturm Graz 1 PSV 3(2-7 on aggregate). 

 

Both Alan Hutton and Neil McCann sat on the sofa across from wee Jonners and looked askance as the Rangers happy mood balloon was deliberately deflated. The Producer of Sportscene is Eamonn Donohoe and with ra Sellik  not talking to PQ because of fellow Irishman, Tom English talking the truth about another Irishman, Brendan Rodgers, it is most important the streamers and party hats remain boxed reference Rangers success. PQ continually claim to support all Scottish clubs in European action but, are desperate to distance themselves from any attachment or association with the wrong type of Scots ie Rangers.

 

There are Scots positives that were not mentioned last night. The national coefficient has been improved again and defeating Swiss opposition in the tie means we have stymied the country directly behind Scotland in their attempts to take our current ninth position. The Celtic state of mind is all that matters at PQ, assuaging Peter is uppermost. Even that graphic, a national broadcaster prepared to support all Scots clubs in Europe might have considered a history of the head to heads between Rangers and PSV  in Euro' competition? Currently, it reads played eight, Rangers have won four, drawn three and, lost one. Just too positive.

 

Martin Watt's report on the BBC Scotland website is akin to a most grudging flick through a thesaurus. Martin utilised, "squeezed, fraught, salvaged and, slender" in his opening two sentences. The fourth sentence rushed to lionise PSV who were "scintilating" whilst, "thumping" the Austrians. Martin has featured on this thread in the past, his high point coincided with ra Sellik's high point in last year's Champions League. He waxed lyrical(not alone at PQ) as ra green'n'grey hooped horrors dominated Real Madrid at ra Stade de Gadd in the first half. This culminated with Sellik hitting the post then slumping to a 0-3 home defeat. 

 

Perhaps Martin will inform us of ra Sellik's contribution to the national coefficient these last five years? I note his colleague, Liam McLeod told us in part last week during the Rangers - Servette game at the Stadium. He talked about both Rangers and Sellik's impressive contribution in the last five years, reeling off Porto, Galatasaray, Dortmund, .... etc for Rangers. His only contribution for ra Sellik was Napoli. I looked it up on Google, the games were in the Autumn of 2017. This is 2023, maybe i am struggling with arithmetic but that is in excess of five years past. We cannot argue that Sellik's two points in last season's CL was two points better than us but, we can offer confident arguments on relative national coefficient contributions.

 

Anyways, to Jonners and his Producer; Rangers supporters will continue to hum the Chairman of the Board's 1970 hit single, 'Give me just a little more time'.

Look out for the sea change in attitudes if the Edinburgh teams can muster up some kind of result tomorrow.I still can't believe there are people still paying a licence fee to that shower.

3 assists in 3 games.

31 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

This video (from 0.54 to about 5.10 - then it focuses on David Silva) covers some of the principles employed by Real Sociedad last season in their 4-4-2 diamond: 

 

• Directness
• 3rd man
• Overloads

 

I think we see hints of each in our play, but it's not fully developed as yet. 

 

I am a big fan of the formation: it can be very entertaining, fast and direct. 

 

Defensively it's quite good, too. You can easily block off the middle, directing teams wide and cleaning up the crosses, etc. Or press them and direct them wide and overload them, then counter. We saw the former used by Gerrard against Rogers and he had him sussed. 

 

I think the video clearly explains some of the principles we'll need to employ to get the best out of the diamond formation.

 

If you're interested, give it a watch. 

 

 

Oh for a player like David Silva. He was a wee magician.

14 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I thought the willingness of our #8s (Raskin and Shifu) to press wide last night was really good. 

 

It is necessary in a narrow formation, but we've not really seen it. Our press in general has been pretty poor. 

 

I do think that energetic role suits Raskin more, rather than keeping him deep. 

Going back to the point about fitness and the temperature in the stadium last night, Raskins energy levels were amazing. 

8 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Anyone else see the four Rangers fans behind the goal surrounded by Servette fans?

 

I just saw them celebrate when the goal went in. 

Didn't see that but I did see the idiot with the Celtic strip on. 

1 minute ago, Bill said:

All I know is that Sima, Dessers, Lammers and Danilo look as potent as a spayed chihuahua. I don't know how long they will need to "settle in" or "get up to speed" but so far they've shown nothing and earned no excuses. I don't want them to show promise, I just want them to do what they are paid to do. It's not a question of writing them off or being unduly impatient .... it's no more complicated than simply saying what we see.

I get that but all have scored goals in our opening round of matches (bar Killie). That's what they have been brought in to do. Granted, should they have scored more? Of course but we need to give them time. We just have to keep winning/progressing during that bedding in period.

Not sure it has been mentioned in all the hullabaloo, but the temperature pitch side was approaching 35 degrees apparently. With that in mind, I feel we finished the game looking the fitter team. Hopefully a sign of the conditioning work done in pre season.

2 minutes ago, Bill said:

I've watched the Servette goal many times now and, while Souttar misjudges his clearing header and it's a terrific strike from Kutesa, it looks like yet another example of an opposition player on the left side of our penalty box being left completely unattended by our right fullback. Too harsh?

The downside of the narrow shape? I can see a potential back 3 against PSV in the works as they use width very effectively. We'll see. Morton first...

I know people are quick to jump on Dessers back but I've seen enough of him to know that there is a player there. His interchange play with Cantwell against Livingston (Lammars goal) and last night when he hit the post shows promise. He just needs to get up to speed. He's nailed on to score against the Tims IMO. Football can be like that.🤣🤣

Just now, onevision said:

Dessers looks to avoid the physical stuff. last night he had an opportunity to wrestle for a ball just inside the 18 box but put in a powder puff.

I really want him to come good but, as yet, can't see it

Thought he was unlucky with the chance of the post. He didn't have much to aim at tbh

1 minute ago, Malangsob said:

On the brightside, at years end, Sima just goes away...

Unlike Matondo, who we get to watch run around, really fast, but aimlessly, for years to come. 

Matondo will play against Morton and will score. You heard it here first. 

4 minutes ago, onevision said:

Thought our game suffered when Danilo and Sima were replaced, not that they showed up much but just there work rate alone.

There replacements never contributed.

 

Cantwell played well throughout with Raskin coming on to his game in the second half and not forgetting Butlands contribution but for me our best player throughout was Cifu, what a steal.

 

Agreed. Would have definitely kept Sima on for his pace. Danilo looked shell-shocked after his miss IMO. It was a terrible miss. Great ball by Cifu (I think)

Really liked the change in attitude/desire last night after half time. Saying that, we should be like that from the start. 4 games in and 4 bitty performances. Some really good, some not so good. PSV will be huge ask for this team at this stage of the season IMO.

15 minutes ago, Bill said:

Here's how I saw it........

 

Butland 8

Tavernier 6

Goldson 6

Souttar 6

Barisic 7

Jack 7

Raskin 8

Cantwell 7

Cifuentes 7

Danilo 5 

Sima 5 

 

Lammers 5

Sterling 5 

Dessers 4

Dowell 4

I thought Sima did more than Danilo.

5 minutes ago, Ted McMinnime said:

I have to admit that when I saw the same XI walk out for the 2nd half I thought we were done for. Switching Cifu and Raskin into wide pressing roles made a huge difference to our play. The Swiss seemed to lose their way completely and it nullified their  FB's who were having a field day. Moving to a back 3 with the introduction of Sterling also seemed to help. Glad to see us through to collect that £5m. Still think we'll be better in the EL Groups with the higher seeding. CL still seems a bridge too far for this side currently.

I agree with regards to the CL. That's not being defeatist. That's me being a realist. What I hope doesn't happen is that there is some over the top knee jerk reaction if we don't beat PSV and qualify. We need to stay calm as we can't afford anything to derail our primary goal this year, which is to win the title. 

Are we at home first v PSV? 

3 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

I think we're weaker (right now) too.  

 

I watched PSV v Sturm Graz and PSV looked a good side.  

I know it doesn't actually mean anything but historically our record vs PSV is outstanding. 

P8 W4 D3 L1

3 of those victories on their own patch.

Considering it was only his 2nd game, I'm very impressed with Cifuentes. He looks like a player we've lacked for ages.

Hopefully he just had cramp.

1 minute ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

I think they are weaker this year without Gakpo and Simmons both top class players.

Have they not lost another player?

1 minute ago, Gonzo79 said:

PSV beat Sturm Graz 7-2.

 

We can beat them but we'll have to improve massively. 

Jesus. I had to check. I thought you meant 7-2 tonight.😟

Job done. Far harder than it needed to be. Dessers unlucky with that shot. Danilo misses an absolute sitter. Cantwell, Cifu, Raskin were very good IMO. Think we should kept Sima on as his pace would have worried them as the game became more ragged. 

Hopefully some changes to the system after half time. We started well and were getting into good territory and positions. Let's get back to that. If we score it will the change the game.

Are you f**king joking? My good lady has decided we need to have a pre-return to school fashion show to make sure the uniforms are OK for tomorrow. Half an before kick off. Unbelievable.

Rangers in all white tonight. Hopefully a RealMadrid style performance coming up...

Just now, Rousseau said:

What about:

 

'xG is the best thing since sliced bread.'

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣