The problems we need to fix and our showings so far (long read)

[ItsRangersforme 0]

Starting at the the top.......... I think our manager has bought well , 10 players in that need to gel , we have been a little bit unlucky with injuries but we have the players in this squad who should have taken care of Hamilton and a 10 man Kilmarnock team for 30 minutes. My biggest fault with the management team is why they haven't strengthened the centre of defence??....if you would have asked most fans or outsiders looking in from last season they would have pointed out that the weakest part of our team was our centre backs.

 

As said we have bought 10 players, only 2 are defenders. Hodson looks more than adequate cover for the full back position but if picking holes then you can say he is untested against SPL teams. Hill looks finished, he hasn't impressed at all since signing. We have spent over £1m on fees this window but should the priority have been 1 or 2 new centre backs??....not chasing last minute for players that are out of contract. If Senderos signs then hers hoping he is an improvement in what we have at the moment.

 

The 4-3-3 formation and style of play, especially with the slow build up passing we have saw this season. There need to be variation in our formation, Warburton prides himself saying we have players who can play in numerous positions....well if thats the case then they can play in any formation too. 4-4-2 Would be nice but many has said 4-2-3-1 would suit our playing style? The manager has refused to even change his 4-3-3 once, stubborn yes but also predictable (some say found out). Also a mixture of direct balls and more crosses would be nice Tav has been great at this and i know fans are angered at the amount of short corner and free kicks are been taken...We need more , much more variation as we have the players to do it.

 

 

 

The Defence.....There is no doubt Tav (along with Forrester) have been our best players this season. The worry going into this season was that Tav would be found out defensively due to the amount of times he goes forward. This season he has looked much better (apart from first 20 mins at Motherwell) and has balanced his attacking and defending play. Wallace is doing ok but mostly in an attacking sense as McKay has lost the ability to go past a man except in the last 20 vs Dundee and Killie last night. Like Tav , Wallace hasn't been caught out as much this season which was a worry again from last.

 

Wilson , Kieran and Hill, well ive already mentioned Hill but close behind is Kiernan....positioning is shocking , his defending the stokes goal in cup final still annoys me as its basics that this guy doesn't have, he was bullied by McDonald last week and ball watched and couldn't catch Boyd last night when another straight ball through the middle caught him out. I know the manager likes him but he like Hill is simply not good enough. Wilson, its a massive season , we saw how good he can be before he left for Liverpool but he has came back a worse player. He can play at this level and need to show it again this season, if not then he is another who will need to be replaced. Currently and its not saying much Wilson is best option of the 3 we have.

 

Crooks and Senderos...will Crooks be put back into defence as the midfield is pretty crowded for places?? at 6,4 he certainly has the presence especially as we are so weak defending cross balls. Hopefully vs Linfield we can get a peek at how Crooks is looking , it is early but the way the defence is playing he may find himself in the team sooner than later. Senderos has got some CV but thats all it is, not saw him play recently so mad to comment on his recent ability or form. Hopefully if signed he proves to be better that what we have got.

 

 

 

The Midfield.......first off NO Barton and Rossiter in same team unless needed away vs Celtic Aberdeen or Hearts to shore up the game. Even with that Id rather play one or another. Rossiter was good vs Dundee but poor last night. Barton is always involved but i think we were all expecting more. One aspect i have been disappointed in both is the passing of these 2. Last season with Halliday and Holt our passing was crisp and fast. Its went to slow and predictable. Halliday must feel unlucky at being dropped last night as it looks like the manager has went for names instead of form players (something thats been said up front too). Im hoping that starting with Celtic Halliday is beside either Barton or Rosster (not both) and hopefully Holt is fit even for 60 mins as this will improve our passing ability and Holt is always a threat ghosting into the box.

 

A problem plaguing our team is the need for Barton or Rossiter demanding the ball deep from our defenders. There is no need for this and they should be 15-20 yards up the park, this drags the play deeper to us resulting in our forward and wide players coming back 10-15 looking for the balll. This happens up top too when miller etc will come back looking for the ball when they should be pushing the defence back by looking for the direct ball through from midfield who should be higher up the park.

 

The attacking or 3rd midfielder, Forrster had a good game last night in this role but ended up playing all over the front line. Im hoping he can keep his positioning as even he was coming deep when looking for the ball (caused by slow and deep build up) , if he stays further up the park then he will need to be marked, therefore pushing the oppositions defence nearer THEIR goal. Kranjcar needs game time he has looked good as an impact player in last 30 but needs a good 90 mins under him (poss Linfield), what worries me is his pace, he has none. I think we will continue to see him from the bench. Windass looks the part but again mostly against lower league opposition. His performance as a sub vs Motherwell in the cup showed he is the player we need to suit our style and to link midfield to attack. Direct , full of running and willing to have a shot at goal.

 

 

 

Our front Line..........has been a big problem this season with players out of form. Again unlucky to lose Waghorn early , the front line is not being helped but the slow build up play coming from midfield but they are also creating problem that must be fixed. McKay , his form has went , he isn't taking a man on much. In the last 20 mins vs Dundee and Killie he did take guys on and we looked dangerous but his form has dipped since the Burnely friendly where he has been looking for the easy pass back or sideways. Wallace this season has been our main attacking threat from the left. He was subbed vs Motherwell and no wonder, Miller who strangely comes deep from a central position actually does the right thing and plays on the shoulder of the full back hence the goals vs Motherwell. Millers overall performances haven't been that good but he has popped up with 2 goals and must be considered especially due to his record vs Celtic to play against them. He has to play on the shoulder of the defenders though , like he does when out wide. Coming deep leaves no players in the box. Garner has played 1 so like some other its hard to judge but the central position is between him and miller so lets see what he offers in the coming months

 

O'halloran must count himself unlucky not to start on the right as he has looked decent so far this season. He should have came on for Dodoo last night as putting Garner on upset the shape of the team by having 2 central strikers in a front 3. Forrester has looked good along the front 3 but if he is played as the attacking mid then its between O'halloran and Waghorn for that wide right position. Dodoo was unlucky , he has been patient , shown flashes of skill and must be gutted getting his first league start only to last 15-20 mins. Hopefully his injury isn't as serious.

 

 

looking ahead to the Celtic game , i expect Warburton to keep his 4-3-3 formation so i hope he plays the guys in form.....what do you think of this team based on form and for the benefit of the shape of our team.

 

Fod

 

Tav,,, Wilson... Senderos/Crooks... Wallace....................no Kiernan or Hill

 

Halliday... Barton or rossiter

Holt/windass

 

Ohalloran.....Miller...Forrester...................no sure if waghorn will be ready

Edited August 27, 2016 by ItsRangersforme

[JFK-1 1,693]

If Senderos is signed by the time the Linfield game comes along it would be interesting if they took the opportunity to see what a Senderos plus Crooks central defence may look like. O'Halloran has always tormented them during his time at St Johnstone. A quote from an article on O'Hallorans last visit there with St Johnstone just before joining us.

 

The visitors from Perth did not allow their sprightliness to be subdued by the circumstances and Michael O'Halloran's pace could not be contained.

 

He may yet complete a move to Rangers but he was focused in Glasgow and skipped past Kieran Tierney to cross for MacLean to finish from close range.

[RANGERRAB 3,663]

Not sure we pay 4-3-3.

I'd say it's more 4-3-2-1 with the 2 players wide normally McKay & Waghorn supporting the 1thro the middle

[JFK-1 1,693]

You would imagine Garner will be played since he has to be fitter than Waghorn plus is an unknown quantity for them and it would be peculiar to spend such an amount of money in the current financial climate then not play him.

[Craigy1881 79]

 

Fod

 

Tav,,, Wilson... Senderos/Crooks... Wallace....................no Kiernan or Hill

 

Halliday... Barton or rossiter

Holt/windass

 

Ohalloran.....Miller...Forrester...................no sure if waghorn will be ready

 

mckay needs to play left, him and wallace are key and have provided us so much joy down that side. you can see there is not the same impact when mckay switches to the right. They work so well together, not sure i would play crooks at centre back against celtic that early on. Senderos though I would if he ever signs.