How Good is this Rangers Team

[ian1964 10,720]

Just been thinking,and drinking:),about this Rangers team,now I know we have had a lot better Rangers teams but with all the shit that has happened in the last couple of seasons,off the park,I think the players are showing an incredible hunger and desire to win every game,so far,and are still unbeaten in the league and CL.

We have in the next three fixtures that can shape our season IMO,I know it's early,but if we win our next three games it would be a tremendous achievement for this group of players,and the manager and backroom staff.

So I guess my question is if they win the next three games,which with the way they have been playing I'm actually confident they can/will win the next three games,how good a team will that make them?

[Gribz 826]

The finanical problems has probably gave the perception its a poor team in a poor era but when you look at the names its really not a bad team at all. Its more of a bad era for Scottish football and people assume we are bad. But the SPL has still had 2 teams in UEFA finals in the last 7 years!!

 

If I was to compare it to a team Ive watched then Id compare it to the 92/93 side which had no individual superstars but were an amazing unit. The level/standard of player from 92/93 was better but there is similarities with hunger, desire and morale.

 

I think WS has put together a really good team and with maybe 1 or 2 additions the squad would be very strong. However sometimes less is more and in our case Id say this is true at the moment.

 

Breaking it down without going into the younger players like Hutton:

We have as good a keeper as it gets in UK IMO.

 

Centre halfs:

Bougherra on his day strolls matches and comands the first 3rd of the pitch. Can also be a good attacking option.

Weir is probably the last of the fine old Scottish centre halfs (Miller, McLeish, Hansen, Gough, Hendry...).

Webster as he has played about 2 games for us, he has always looked a good player for others so time will tell.

 

Full back: They arent near as strong as its been, we have had some top notch full backs in Stevens, Munro, Robertson, Numan and Hutton.

Papac is a fine player and coming on very well with some good performances.

Whittaker is a frustrating player at times. He can go on mazzy runs beating 4 players then fluffs his final pass, can be very erratic at times but when his final ball comes off is great.

Broadfoot has improved and a bit of an unsung hero in games yet in the past he has been embarrassing and not managed to take a simple throw-in on a few occassions. He is the sort of player you'd associate with the 92/93 team for some reason.

 

 

Midfield:

The midfield is going to be tested over this season. McCulloch is either very good or very bad, at the moment he is good and a complete turnaround from last year.

Edu brings a bit of drive to the team and has more to offer.

Davis can be the leagues best player when he wants.

When Fleck gets back to fitness it will offer a different dimension with an attacking midfielder behind the front 2.

 

Wide roles - I felt we should have kept Novo in the summer but he isnt being missed at the moment.

Naismith is like a new signing but has to go most of the season to show isnt not just a flash.

Weiss looks like he has the ability to destroy defences.

 

Upfront - Dont want to harp on about it (well I do actually ) I always felt taking the non-mobile Boyd out the team would open up our play and we'd a) play much better - and right now our counter attacking play is superb and b) score as much or more goals.

Miller is a player Ive always rated and he is now adding goals to his game making him the main man at the moment.

Such a pity for Jelavic, he looked like he was going to the quality signing we've needed for a while and he gets crocked, but he will be back.

Lafferty - On last chance saloon IMO due to a silly attitude. But i still think he has something in his locker if played upfront. Hasnt really had a run of games through the middle.

Beattie - Firstly needs to get fit and then we can see what he is all about.

 

Picking the strongest XI from that puts together a good side and when playing as a unit its not any weaker than half the Premier League teams in England.

 

But come the end of the season we'll know how good they are!

[ian1964 10,720]

WS has really done an exceptional job in building this team with a good mix IMO,he has the right blend and we are a young team,hopefully I'll still be saying the same come the end of the season.

 

By the way Gribz,I was always a Boyd fan,if only for his goals,but Miller has stepped up to the plate,also we have brought in two strikers to replace him,Jelavic who has had a great start to his Gers career,and Beattie who I wasn't keen on his signing but now he is here I'm sure he will come good in the SPL,also Lafferty you would hope will start his Rangers career this season,and not forgetting Weiss who will chip in with a few goals while he is here. So without starting another Boyd thread,he's gone now so feck him,you can't justify what you say about Boyd without taking into consideration the new signings that WS has brought in,if WS had not signed these players you can bet your bottom dollar we would miss Boyd,IMO of course.

Edited October 16, 2010 by ian1964

[Super_Ally 0]

If we win the league it will be the same as always according to the tims and the tims in the media; the worst team to win the league in years! :spl:

[alexscottislegend 2,289]

Put it another way - is there anyone from the current Keltic squad that you would want in our team? Truthfully I can't think of one who would improve ours; they have spent a lot of money and have arguably a bigger squad but we are better off for quality man for man. Agree with Gribz's analysis and if Fleck and Hutton can realise their potential then we will have squad strength too.

[gisabeer 409]

I hope to hell we turn in a performance like that next week instead of sitting on our 18 yard box defending for dear life.

 

time for walter to start letting the lion out of the cage for the big games. Our form is of such that we need to fear no one.

 

Not valencia and certainly not celtic.

[Totti 0]

We have to defend very cautiously against Valencia. They're one of the top 4 or 5 teams in the world at the moment. Celtic though are mediocre and we should attack as we've shown we can do/

[ian1964 10,720]

I think we should keep playing the way we are playing,we are a good side

[Gers4Life 0]

We must be good enough to let teams score 1st and then make them think they are onto a good thing,ok we have to cut out the sloppy goals and then we have to go and work to bring ourselves back into the game. but ill say a few things about our team guys, we have commitment ,hunger, desire and togetherness and a team bond that superman would have problems breaking

[ian1964 10,720]

We must be good enough to let teams score 1st and then make them think they are onto a good thing,ok we have to cut out the sloppy goals and then we have to go and work to bring ourselves back into the game. but ill say a few things about our team guys, we have commitment ,hunger, desire and togetherness and a team bond that superman would have problems breaking

 

And that my friend is what makes a good team. When we do go a goal down I feel confident we will come back,although I don't think anybody enjoys going a goal down against anybody.