Rangers v St Johnstone friendly

[Frankie 8,797]

RANGERS continued their pre-season preparations with a goalless draw against St Johnstone as their treble of friendlies came to an end ahead of next week’s Europa League qualifier.

 

Daniel Candeias played his first minutes in a blue jersey as he got a 20 minute run out down the left wing. Alfredo Morelos also featured for the Gers for the second time in a week, coming close to grabbing a goal.

 

Rangers first chance came early on when Jason Holt had a shot saved low at the near post. It came after some good solo work to drive clear and take him to the edge of the box before choosing to go alone.

 

Martyn Waghorn looked lively in the opening period and on 14 minutes James Tavernier wrapped his foot around the ball to deliver from the right flank. The striker rose highest to meet it but nodded over.

 

Dalcio also had a chance with his head six minutes later but send his effort high and it dropped for Zander Clark to gather.

 

Both Waghorn and Niko Kranjcar could have opened the scoring with 28 minutes gone. First the Croatian saw his shot from eight yards out deflected into the path of Waghorn and then the Gers number 33 fired a first time shot at Clark. The keeper did well to palm it away to his right.

 

In the same move Kranjcar picked the ball up on the edge of the area when it came free and lashes a strike goalwards. Again the Saints stopper kept his side in it with the palm of his hand.

 

St Johnstone threatened through David Wotherspoon as the half-hour mark ticked by. He turned with speed to shoot at Wes Foderingham who turned it around the base of the post.

 

Six minutes later Waghorn racked up his second chance in the air when he latched onto a good corner from Kranjcar from the left. This time the striker skewed his headed wide of right post.

 

Richard Foster was in familiar surroundings at the Rangers Training Centre and he shot down the right on 38 minutes to outwit Lee Wallace and send a spinning ball into the box. It was out swinging and caused problems amongst the Light Blues backline. Foderingham rushed to the rescue before a Saints man could tap it beyond him and the stopper scooped the ball out of play.

 

Rangers started the second-half keen to get on the scoresheet and after 13 minutes of it they nearly had their breakthrough. The ball moved its way from deep for Waghorn to play a neat one-two with Holt and it allowed the midfielder to nip through the middle. Clark was forced into a decent save one-on-one.

 

Dalcio looked classy when he dropped his shoulder on 69 minutes to cut onto his right foot and his eventual effort was just over the crossbar. He sent another chance over on 72 minutes after making room for himself on the right of the box.

 

Alfredo Morelos made his second appearance for the Gers and nearly grabbed himself a goal with 15 minutes to go. Wallace fashioned a cross come shot and it bounced into the path of the Colombian. With Clark directly in front of him the 21-year-old tried to stab it beyond the keeper from close range but again he did well to deny Morelos.

 

With the game still at 0-0 going into the final minute Ross McCrorie was tempted by an overhead kick after Candieas’ corner fell short. It was the Gers final chance of the game.

 

RANGERS: Foderingham (Alnwick 75’), Tavernier (Hodson 84’), Bates (McCrorie 61’), Cardoso (A.Wilson 76’), Wallace (Beerman 76’), Jack (Thompson 84’), Holt (Rossiter 70’), Kranjcar (Windass 61’), Dalcio (Dodoo 80’), Waghorn (Morelos 70’), Miller (Candeias 70’).

 

Please don't quote full articles from the official site.

 

Instead RFC and I would prefer a link with perhaps a few paragraphs as introduction.

[ian1964 10,821]

Is McKay injured?, he never got any game time!!

[Blueger 8]

Is McKay injured?, he never got any game time!!

 

He got a knock in the TNS game, was out training with other injured/coming back from injury earlier in the day.

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

Just watched the game, total dominance again, played at a decent pace and we never looked like losing a goal, in fact St Johnstone could hardly get the ball of us.

 

Thought the players looked a wee bit sharper, which you would expect. Jury still out on Dalcio for me, hopefully he gets up to speed.

 

Cardoso also looked good, as did all the defenders, especially the young guys again.

 

Candeias came on late in the game but looked very impressive, looking forward to seeing more of him, looks the part.

 

Morelos also came on late and looked a wee bit better, put himself about and you can see why he scores goals, he sneaked inside the defender for a toe poke which hit the keeper, more game time needed for him but looks like he will be a good signing who will get chances.

 

Still the same problems of last season by not taking chances, and we did have a few half chances but their keeper had a few good saves, our keeper/s never had a save to make.

Sounds reasonable but seems our coo's erse-banjo interface issues continue.

[pete 2,511]

I read another poster somewhere saying Tavernier has been outstanding in the friendlies with the support of Jack as a real defensive mid being part of the reason.

[ian1964 10,821]

I read another poster somewhere saying Tavernier has been outstanding in the friendlies with the support of Jack as a real defensive mid being part of the reason.

 

I wouldn't say anyone has been outstanding!, although Jack has looked good in all these games.

 

I am a bit bias as I like Tav, I think he gets way too much slating imo. But if he continues his attacking and we have DM and CB who can cover for him, which should be the case, then will continue to be a threat down the right, he has been getting decent cover in these games.

[Darthter 542]

Sounds reasonable but seems our coo's erse-banjo interface issues continue.

 

I maintain that we've missed a player in the mould of McCoist/Boyd for some time. These players were never the most technical etc, but they got chances & took a good percentage of them.

I always felt that with these type of "Poachers", wingers etc could almost blindly put the ball into the box, knowing that they would be there, or there abouts.

 

Hopefully, Morelos is that type of player & can get goals by the sack-full. Don't really know much about Herreras' style - maybe bit more of a work-horse type???

[lenny3k 747]

I maintain that we've missed a player in the mould of McCoist/Boyd for some time. These players were never the most technical etc, but they got chances & took a good percentage of them.

I always felt that with these type of "Poachers", wingers etc could almost blindly put the ball into the box, knowing that they would be there, or there abouts.

 

Hopefully, Morelos is that type of player & can get goals by the sack-full. Don't really know much about Herreras' style - maybe bit more of a work-horse type???

 

By the sounds of it he's pretty much a stereotypical hold up/target man striker

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

I maintain that we've missed a player in the mould of McCoist/Boyd for some time. These players were never the most technical etc, but they got chances & took a good percentage of them.

I always felt that with these type of "Poachers", wingers etc could almost blindly put the ball into the box, knowing that they would be there, or there abouts.

 

Hopefully, Morelos is that type of player & can get goals by the sack-full. Don't really know much about Herreras' style - maybe bit more of a work-horse type???

 

The game has evolved to such an extent that I'm not sure either would thrive anymore, at least as a lone striker. Just not sure they'd have the all-round game required of a modern striker. Mind you, Gary Lineker--a great poacher of goals--said he loved playing as part of a three under Cruyff at Barca.

But that said, regardless of whether you can accommodate a classic poacher in the modern game, our conversion rate has been absolutely, unforgivably, utterly fucking abysmal.

[pete 2,511]

I maintain that we've missed a player in the mould of McCoist/Boyd for some time. These players were never the most technical etc, but they got chances & took a good percentage of them.

I always felt that with these type of "Poachers", wingers etc could almost blindly put the ball into the box, knowing that they would be there, or there abouts.

 

Hopefully, Morelos is that type of player & can get goals by the sack-full. Don't really know much about Herreras' style - maybe bit more of a work-horse type???

 

I just don't like his name it is too much like more loss. I wonder if he would change it.