Stenhousemuir 0 -1 Rangers (Daly)

[the gunslinger 3,366]

The last time I wrote a match preview I talked of the need to install a football philosophy. At that time i talked of playing like Barcelona, off playing a high defensive line and pressing the ball high up the park. I was therefore delighted when we played Stenhousemuir at Ibrox recently to see us playing a high line, indeed on several occasions Moshni could be seen urging the defense forward to the half way line. We reaped the rewards of this and ran out 8 - 0 winners with stenny never really making it out of their own half for long spells.

 

So imagine my surprise when on Saturday i tuned into el classico to watch Barca playing classic Walter smith tactics. Everyone behind the ball, working hard to retrieve it then hitting on the break and very impressive they were. Off course Walter learned this from Italian football. Southampton are having a great start to the season playing a high pressing game and of course pep has Byern starting to play this way.

 

I guess this just proves that the style of football it's self is perhaps less important than the team working hard, being organised and having talented players. so far this season we have been working harder and have added some talented players. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow night will see us through to our first ever Ramsdens cup final apparently at Easter Rd.

 

I don't expect the team to vary much on what seems to be allys favored line up.

 

:rf::jig:

:ap::ib::lm:

:jd:

 

Perhaps only little/clark is debatable. Me personally i would like to see perlata at right back and temps come in at right mid to see how that goes as i think we lack some pace and width, plus foster is poor.

[bluebear54 0]

Thanks GS.

I would agree -Perlata at right back and Templeton at right mid.

Foster doesn't fill me with enthusiasm.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

perlata puts in a great ball but he lacks a bit of pace unfortunately.

[bluebear54 0]

Foster does neither with any regularity ...

[ian1964 10,720]

I kinda agree with dropping Foster for Peralta, but tbh I think the both of them have been poor, I'd drop the both of them for Kyle McAusland at RB and either Templeton or Crawford at RM,but we know that won't happen

[MeAndMyWeePalJoe 12]

Well done GS. Barca play anti-football at a time the papers talk of the Messi Tax Case!

 

I think your Peralta/Temps permutation would definitely be worth a look but either way we should make this final even if Ally plays me at RB....

[ian1964 10,720]

AT THE outset of a week when Rangers return to the tightrope of knockout football not once but twice, a hunched Ally McCoist gave the impression yesterday of a man who has forgotten what it is like to play with nothing to lose.

 

There is an ever-present threat of humiliation that accompanies Rangers’ every outing in League 1 of the SPFL, and McCoist said he could not identify any features that distinguished tonight’s Ramsdens Cup semi-final at Stenhousemuir or Friday’s Scottish Cup third-round tie at home to Airdrie from the weekly ordeal of lining up against perceived cannon fodder.

 

Some or all of McCoist’s 14 predecessors in office might point out that he is not the first manager of Rangers to experience this sensation, and it is undeniable that, given the team’s utter domination of League 1, losing in a cup competition would do more material damage to the supporters’ hopes for the season than will the setbacks that will visit them in the longer competition.

 

The former striker, however, made it clear that this week is business as usual; that whatever the stage, he will not relax or modify his game plan and the instructions he gives to his team as they contemplate two more 90-minute encounters with lower-ranked and lesser-resources teams.

 

“I think, and in no way do I attempt to be disrespectful to the opposition, but I think that when we come up against Stenhousemuir or Airdrie in cup games it’s more about what we do. You do your homework, look at the opposition, but we feel that if we perform to the best of our ability then we should win the game,” he said.

 

“Maybe if you play teams of a higher standard in the top flight, you can look at things and maybe change your shape. But I believe in games against the opposition where we are it’s far more influenced by what we do rather than the opposition.”

 

To the point that another league title is now a formality, Rangers have clearly gotten to grips with the fly-swatting task that was once a refreshing departure from routine. With the exception of their dramatic win at Brechin and early League Cup demise at Forfar, they have not conceded a goal in six away games this season, scoring 19 of their own. And the last time they encountered Martyn Corrigan’s Stenhousemuir, at Ibrox, they scored eight.

 

Rangers see tonight as just another banana skin laid in their path, however. Asked if he would modify his team talk even slightly as his team continue their bid to sate their supporters’ appetite for silverware in this inglorious period, McCoist said he would not. “The vast majority of our league games have been cup ties over the last 18 months – that’s how we feel, it really is, particularly away from home,” he said. “When you go to the grounds... even on Saturday, it’s really, really competitive. You go to Forfar and Brechin last week and they’re like cup-ties. So there is not a lot that will change in the next couple of weeks.

 

“The Ramsdens Cup gives the players the opportunity to get to their first cup final, for the vast majority of them, so that’s something not to be scoffed at. We genuinely want to get to the final, and it will be an opportunity to give the supporters a wee thank you and a great day out, if we can get there, and they deserve that more than anybody.”

 

If Rangers’ readiest source of motivation is imagining what it would be like to be a genuine supporter of a great club fallen on hard times and hoping only to avoid further ignominy, Cammy Bell sought yesterday to crystallise what it is like to be Rangers’ goalkeeper at a time when clean sheets are not always difficult to obtain.

 

Bell wants to add to his single Scotland cap, and asked politely to be considered for selection for next month’s friendlies despite admitting that he is not as “busy” every week as he was while minding the net for Kilmarnock, Queen of the South or Montrose, the last team he represented on Ochilview’s artificial turf.

 

“The Scotland set-up has always been in my thoughts. I know that Allan [McGregor] is going to miss the next game through injury and international football is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in,” said Bell, 27.

 

“I’d like to earn another call-up. Every time I go there I learn something from the other goalies and the staff so it’s definitely my ambition to get back in the squad. However, first and foremost, I need to play well for Rangers.

 

“I thought signing for Rangers would enhance my Scotland chances. Every other week I’m playing at Ibrox in front of 45,000. When I was in the SPL with Kilmarnock it was 5,000 most weeks.

 

“Here we play in stadiums which are tight with people right on top of you so I’d say there is more pressure on me than there was when I was playing in the SPL. It’s completely different and a hard one to judge.

 

“Although people may say there isn’t much action for me — and sometimes there isn’t — I still need to organise my defence when it’s like that because one goal can be crucial. We’ve worked hard as a back five to build up a good relationship.

 

“All I can do is play well for Rangers and hopefully that leads to a call-up to the squad.”

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/ramsdens-cup-mccoist-and-rangers-stick-to-script-1-3162491

[Guest Night Owl]

Bell

 

Mohsni-----Jig----Faure

 

Templeton--Law--Black--McLeod--Wallace

 

-------Daly----Clark

 

Templeton and Wallace bombing forward and supplying Daly & Clark with juicy balls of doom and when possible, Law and McLeod can keep the pressure on them high up the park, with Black sweeping up behind them and offering the back three protection.

[chilledbear 16]

Just read the comments of that Scotsman Article, just proves they're aff their heid. Imagine reading a whole Article about celtc at this time of the morning.

 

As for the game tonight, seeing Jig at the back, Peralta on the right and McLeod on the left with Templeton on the Bench does ma heid in. [sorry about the heids]

[Gribz 850]

Would like to see Little, Daly and Clark play. Peralta could move to RB and Little can move out right - its not his best position but its one he can more than fill in and I think he deserves to be in the team. Templeton is another option of course.