pete 2,499 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 The first of April is a day to make practical jokes on people. It is called April fools day. On Saturday the first of April Rangers entertain Motherwell at Ibrox. That seems like a joke in itself as it seems like only yesterday we were listening to “ In Dulci jubilo” and “Frosty the snowman”. One thing that will be no joke is that Ibrox will have a full house. What a fantastic support we have when it comes to supporting our club we are certainly no fools. Some other clubs treat their supporters like fools by counting empty seats to inflate their crowd numbers. They claim a full house while half the seats are empty. That is not the Rangers support. At Ibrox a full house is full to the brim of full seats. As I live abroad I cannot take any plaudits for that but what pride I take in even calling myself a Rangers supporter. One thing Motherwell and Rangers have in common is that our managers have only been in the job for a few weeks so on a tactical base, things are a bit of an unknown entity. Pedro Caixinha lined up his team against Hamilton in a bit of a 4-2-3-1 formation so I think he will probably stick to that formation. Pedro unlike Mark Warburton seems to analyse teams and base his training sessions on any weaknesses he has spotted. He tries to spot where they leave space to form our attacks and then basis his training sessions in getting the ball into those areas as quick as possible. Where Warburton went for a slow laborious ball retention style of play to wear the opposition down Caixinha has gone for a lightening quick one or two touch transition into space that has been pre-determined as an opposition weak point. Not considering opposition tactics was probably Warburton's biggest weakness our inability to break other teams down probably cost him his job and the support of the Rangers board and fans. Motherwell's tactics will almost certainly be a 4-5-1 and hope to frustrate Rangers. They have the worst goal difference in the league and if Rangers beat them and Hamilton and Inverness can win their home matches against St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, which is not unthinkable, then Motherwell will find themselves down in bottom place on goal difference. A place you certainly don't want to be with only nine games to go. I think we can safely say that Motherwell will set up to defend defend and defend. It will be interesting to see if Caixinha has the team sharper to pierce through a packed defence than Warburton had. In fairness we beat Motherwell on four previous occasions this season but we were biting our finger nails in a few of those games. While we were all enjoying our international break (no laughing at the back) Caixinha has had most of the team training six days a week to get them more used to his style of play. I would imagine all Rangers supporters can't wait for kick-off time and are like kids waiting for a new toy at christmas. Isn't it great to be talking about football again. Pedro certainly talks a good game and his weekly press conference was a breath of fresh air to listen to. On that note he is certainly a huge improvement on the amazingly tedious Warburton who said virtually nothing but a few clichés week in week out. His pressers were as tedious as the football we were playing under him this season. Anyway we have entered a new period in our proud Rangers history and hopefully Pedro will be leading us to League title number cinqüenta e cinco. I think the team will be almost the same as against Hamilton with the exception of Tavernier as he is suspended. Hodson will probably be a straight swap for him. Toral was excellent in his defensive midfield role against Hamilton so it looks pretty tough for Andy Halliday to get back into the team unless it is in a more advanced role. Waghorn has also had a new lease of life after Warburton left so I think Pedro will stick with him as the main striker. The team will be. Foderingham Hodson Wilson Hill Wallace Toral Holt M'Kay Hyndman Miller Waghorn Let us hope that Rangers are only April Fulls and that Motherwell will be the real April Fools. Sorry it is so late guy's but I had to go out for a while. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,642 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) That's it published! Frankie -- let me know if I included the correct scripts this time! Edited March 31, 2017 by Rousseau 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 All present and correct - many thanks to you and Pete...! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Yeah, I don't see any changes barring Hodson in for Tav. It did seem more of a 4-4-2 in the game against Accies so I reckon the team will be set out as below. Losing Tav's attacking qualities on the right side is a bit of a blow - especially as Wallace will have to deal with Cadden on his flank. IMO this will be a tighter game than when Accies tried to park the bus. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pj_1872 0 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Totally agree that PC's first couple of pressers have been great. Hearing him talk about the threats he has identified in the next opponent is a breath of fresh air compared to MW's mantra of 'it's all about us'. I must admit though, in the early stages of MW's tenure I loved the way he spoke in the pressers too, and looked forward to them each week... Let's hope PC's future doesn't go in the same direction as MW's ended up! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,948 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) If the weather tomorrow is anything like that of today -heavy rain and strong, blustery winds- it may play huntigowk with the match. Edited March 31, 2017 by Uilleam 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,570 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 If the weather tomorrow is anything like that of today -heavy rain and strong, blustery winds- it may play huntigowk with the match. Great word! Always enjoy your lexicon - time you contributed an article... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Bear 0 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Think it's time for McKay to have a rest.He seems to have lost the plot a wee bit. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFK-1 1,693 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I'm looking for as convincing a win as those against Hamilton to boost the confidence of the team and us while in the back of my mind I have the conundrum of do I want Aberdeen to lose at Dens considering that would settle the title tonight without a ball being kicked by the winners. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7 6,016 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 No brainer. Aberdeen must lose. Another club will incidentally derive a benefit from a sheep defeat but that benefit is coming anyway so it will be a bit of an anti-climax for them. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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