match thread (image) [FT] Fraserburgh 0 - 3 Rangers (Windass 15pen, 55, 67)

[ian1964 10,720]

 

[ian1964 10,720]

 

[cooponthewing 1,139]

1 hour ago, les186 said:

Halliday was awful.

That’s putting it mildly! However they got the job done and him being there means someone else wasn’t getting injured. He was well off it and didn’t look much better than the part time lads.

Edited January 31, 2018 by cooponthewing

[compo 7,030]

Well done Rangers a good win in not nice conditions my son told me the wind would have blown you away .

[stewarty 2,025]

Kris Boyd's comments on Niko Kranjar last night were very strange indeed.  He seemed to be eulogising his performance and Commons also joined in with the chorus, as they played a clip of his best moments in the match.

 

Now, I think its fair to say that between them they know far more about playing football than I do, but what game were they watching?  Yes it was poor overall, but Niko especially, those couple of glimpses aside, was absolutely dreadful.  He's shot as footballer and just doesn't have the legs to compete.  I lost count of the number of times he was outpaced and oumuscled, the number of times he misplaced passes and gave the ball away, or was stretching to reach a ball because he wasn't quick enough to reach it in the first place... it was embarrassing quite frankly and I can't fathom why he was given a run out unless it was some sort of final hurrah for being a good guy round the squad and because the U-20s were playing Villareal the other day.

 

Was Boyd over-compensating for his ridiculous comments on our bid for Jordan Jones?  He's fast moving into Chris Sutton territory for me.  

[Frankie 8,562]

Yeah, I felt sorry for Niko last night.  His body clearly can no longer do what his mind wants it to.

 

With Docherty now signed (and I assume available for the remaining rounds) hopefully Niko won't feature again and his lack of mobility really hinders our play.

[der Berliner 3,743]

IMHO, we simply had not the right game-plan. It should have been a 3-5-2 with Cummings and Herrera up front, Kranjcar as the creative man next to Holt and Rossiter and John and Candeias on the wings. Windass ain't a left winger and despite his 3 goals looked somewhat out of sorts, which happened regularly of late. Dunno what people expect of Niko, he never ran about like your Scottish midfielder and hared after every ball. But give him the ball and he sends out crosses and passes like hardly anyone else can. Which would have been the job in front of the defence, but he was probably told to stay further up the park and thus Bates (of all people) became our main long-ball specialist ... with 7 out of 10 balls coming straight back at us. Why that was not changed was beyond me. Perhaps Niko has now become a luxury to be used in later stages of game, when we can pick teams off on the counter (that's him spraying the passes rather than do a MOH).

 

Anyway, what bothered me of late is that we have quite a few players lingering on the edge of the first team, get the odd 15 mins yet get constantly slaughtered when used at last, but not being as sharp and crisp as the rest. Why not set up some friendlies for these players, the rehab chaps like Rossiter and some promising youngsters?

Edited February 1, 2018 by der Berliner

[stewarty 2,025]

4 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

IMHO, we simply had not the right game-plan. It should have been a 3-5-2 with Cummings and Herrera up front, Kranjcar as the creative man next to Holt and Rossiter and John and Candeias on the wings. Windass ain't a left winger and despite his 3 goals looked somewhat out of sorts, which happened regularly of late. Dunno what people expect of Niko, he never ran about like your Scottish midfielder and hared after every ball. But give him the ball and he sends out crosses and passes like hardly anyone else can. Which would have been the job in front of the defence, but he was probably told to stay further up the park and thus Bates (of all people) became our main long-ball specialist ... with 7 out of 10 balls coming straight back at us. Why that was not changed was beyond me. Perhaps Niko has now become a luxury to be used in later stages of game, when we can pick teams off on the counter (that's him spraying the passes rather than do a MOH).

 

Anyway, what bothered me of late is that we have quite a few players lingering on the edge of the first team, get the odd 15 mins yet get constantly slaughtered when used at last, but not being as sharp and crisp as the rest. Why not set up some friendlies for these players, the rehab chaps like Rossiter and some promising youngsters?

I think the difference with Niko though is that even when he had got himself fitter and was getting regular games, he was still woefully off the pace physically.   Also, he was back training full time circa November from memory, so if he is unable to get himself fully fit and functioning after 10-12 weeks then I'm afraid he never will.

 

I can't fault his attitude or effort.  by all accounts he's well liked in the squad and is a positive influence... He's just not physically equipped to do the things his brain wants to do.  And its a real shame.

[der Berliner 3,743]

Methinks his and Herrera's "problem" is that they are "fit", but seriously lacking match practise. Maybe we can get Niko training our more "solid" midfielders a  trick or two before he leaves.

[craig 5,199]

4 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Methinks his and Herrera's "problem" is that they are "fit", but seriously lacking match practise. Maybe we can get Niko training our more "solid" midfielders a  trick or two before he leaves.

I couldnt disagree more in Niko's situation.

 

It is clear to a blind man that his body simply can't react as quickly as his brain.  IMHO you actually need to see it live.  I have always been a Niko supporter but when I was at the Motherwell game a couple of days after Christmas it was painfully, and sadly, obvious that Niko's body has given up on him.

 

His brain is as sharp as ever and some of his touches were sublime that night - one deft touch and he had beaten a Motherwell player with ease.... but even though the ball was only a yard or two away from him he couldnt get the next touch because he was so slow to make the next move.

 

No amount of match practice will improve Niko's body and lack of mobility - the years and the injuries have taken their toll unfortunately.  It is a crying shame because, at his peak, he would be the creative force we need.

 

The ONLY way we could utilise him, IMO, would be in front of the defence in a 4-2-3-1 - but the other person in the "2" would need to be his legs.  I am not convinced we need that now though given we have Goss who is more than able at spotting vertical passes.

 

It is sad because Niko is an all-round good guy and someone that you just will to succeed and have the utmost respect for.