Popular Post Frankie 8,562 Posted October 27, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 27, 2018 After what was a fairly frustrating European night at Ibrox during the week, the big games keep on coming for Rangers. The clocks might only be going back later tonight as we approach Halloween but already we've played 22 games this season. And, so far at least, progress has been pretty good. Sure, league defeats away to Celtic and Livingston may have blotted Steven Gerrard's copy book and our form generally has actually been quite inconsistent as opposed to exceptional but you'd be hard pressed to find a truly unhappy Rangers fan considering where we were this time last season after the sacking of Pedro Caixinha exactly a year ago. With a plethora of new players brought in by Gerrard and an almost entirely new backroom staff as well, the turnaround in quality has been notable, if not (understandably) wholly reliable yet. Indeed, it was interesting to catalogue the palpable disappointment after Thursday's draw against Spartak Moscow. Rangers fans' expectations are always high so hell mend any player or manager who doesn't appreciate that - even if the bigger picture is often ignored by some critics. Strangely enough though, we're still only 5th in the Ladbrokes Premiership and although we sit top of our Europa League section, without genuine demonstrable success and a real challenge to Celtic it's difficult to consider any progress made so far as anything other than circumstantial. To that end the only way to change the status quo is to keep winning and to bring silverware back to Ibrox. Winning the Europa League is improbable but lifting the Scottish League Cup is achievable and we can take another step towards that by beating Aberdeen at Hampden tomorrow afternoon. Aberdeen, for all their own faults, will present their usual stiff challenge. Yes, their fans may not have bought into Sunday's game (literally it seems going by their embarrassing ticket sales) but you can be sure their players will. They might be five points behind us in the league but, just like Hamilton last weekend, they will raise their game and if we show the same kind of complacency and poor form we did in Lanarkshire then passage into the Betfred Cup final will be far from certain. Interestingly, it may be in attack that both sides could have trouble tomorrow. Rangers have scored plenty in their 22 games this season but will have no recognised striker tomorrow. Meanwhile Aberdeen have only scored 16 goals in their 13 games so we'll be hoping they struggle up front once more. In terms of the Rangers team, replacing the impressive form of Alfredo Morelos will be our most difficult task at Hampden. The Columbian has scored just four goals less than the whole Aberdeen team this season so far but his creative play and leading of the line may arguably be missed more. With usual deputy Kyle Lafferty ineligible and our only other striker Umar Sadiq unreliable, it's very difficult suggest an alternative. Glenn Middleton can score goals so may be the most favoured candidate but can he live with the physical nature of the Aberdeen back line? Or does Gerrard move in-form Ryan Kent further forward given Eros Grezda still looks less than match-sharp? Might Ovie Ejaria be the best option to take the ball in and link with others and what of the usual 4-3-3 system? I don't think we'll know the answer to that conundrum until around 3.30pm tomorrow. Could Gerrard surprise us all? Moving back through the team, there's also the question of matching Aberdeen's physical strength in the middle of the park. Could this mean another 90mins in the rehabilitation of Jordan Rossiter or can Lassana Coulibaly improve his recent poor form? Ryan Jack is surely a certainty to start and he'll be looking to have Graeme Shinnie's head on a pole to annoy his former supporters after the game. We certainly have plenty of options and finding the right midfield blend will not only go a long way to determine tomorrow's outcome but our season as a whole. Scott Arfield returning would be a big creative boost as well. At the back, the manager has said he's still to decide on his goalkeeper and as much as Allan McGregor has been top-class this season, Wes Foderingham has been very good when called upon (especially in our away win at Rugby Park) so we're lucky with our quality there. James Tavernier will surely captain the side again from right back and I'd expect the same back four that started against Spartak given the creative threat of Aberdeen from wider areas and set-pieces. Nevertheless, all things being equal, Rangers fans will be expecting a win tomorrow and despite the loss of Morelos, we have every right to be confident. A score-draw despite wrongly losing the same player to a red card and the loss of a late, late equaliser in our first league game of the season showed we have more quality than Aberdeen. However, Gerrard's 'class above' comments after that game will be used by Derek McInnes to fire up his players so anyone expecting anything other than a hard-fought, physical tight game would be well advised to rethink their analysis. Ultimately, although the Rangers manager did qualify his comments to that one game, it will come down to Gerrard to prove his earlier claims are correct. Win through and all remains rosy in the Rangers garden. Anything else and the pressure will increase. Fortunately, Gerrard demands success and understands Rangers fans are impatient for it. Occasionally our expectations are unrealistic but a win tomorrow is not. We must step up and show our desire for success is authentic. Let's go indeed. Possible starting XI (4-3-3): Foderingham Tavernier | Goldson | Worrall | Flanagan Coulibaly | Jack | Arfield Candeias | Ejaria | Kent 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,562 Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 Come on then? Let's be having you - who replaces Morelos tomorrow? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 15,294 Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 I'd play Middleton through the middle, with Kent and Candeias either side of him. Will Arfield be available? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,562 Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 1 minute ago, Gonzo79 said: I'd play Middleton through the middle, with Kent and Candeias either side of him. Will Arfield be available? He should be but I'm not sure he'll start. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannochsidebear 2,410 Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 Not a clue. I actually think we will play without a striker and have a front 3 of Kent, Candieas and 1 of either Grezbo, Middleton or even Arfield pushed further forward in a false 9. It will be down to our movement and passing to create opportunities and hope that the dons defenders dont know who to pick up as the front 3 will be alternating consistently. Perhaps he will play Sadiq, you know the striker we have on loan from Serie A on big wages!! How about whoever is playing well in the forward positions in the reserves? What does it say for our whole system if we play without a striker when we have (albeit inexperienced) strikers playing every week in the reserves. Does it say to these guys that they are wasting their time as even with no strikers available they didnt get a sniff? How we line up and play tomorrow will tell us a lot about our young manager. I leave it in his capable hands and for now we can do nothing but back him to get it right,, but if we fail to reach the final, serious criticism will be coming his way for allowing this circumstance to happen. Not "get him out" or nonsense like that, but his management of the whole affair has been poor, from playing Morelos in an easy home QF when this could easily happen, not pushing Sadiq more (or getting rid) and not giving any reserves a bit of game time to try to get them used to their teammates. If he is going to play Middleton through the middle, why wasnt this tried last week at Hamilton, or in a bounce game during the int break? There are far more questions than answers, and the only easy way out of it all is a victory tomorrow which will allow us to say phew, we got through it, and move on. Penalties will do as long as we go through. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 15,294 Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 If Arfield is available, I'd go with: Foderingham Tav Goldson Katic Flanagan Ejaria Jack Arfield Candeias Middleton Kent It'll be interesting to see how we start. McInnes never goes full tilt against us, so I see no point in being cautious and I'd go for their throats from KO. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,717 Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Frankie said: Come on then? Let's be having you - who replaces Morelos tomorrow? I think we'll minimise disruption to the rest of the team and start with Sadiq up front. If it doesn't work, we'll go to plan B and move Middleton to a central forward position. But really, I haven't a scooby. McGregor Tavernier Goldson Worral Flanagan Jack Candeias Ejaria Arfield Kent Sadiq Edited October 27, 2018 by Bill 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 15,294 Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 Our recent record in semi finals is dreadful. I'm nervous about today. Our players need to be up for it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 (edited) You've got it bang on with your team selection Frankie, hit them with pace. right i'm away to get the car i'm on my way. Edited October 28, 2018 by aweebluesoandso 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted October 28, 2018 Share Posted October 28, 2018 I fancy us strongly, however I can't think who will play CF? think the easiest choice without changing the team around too much would be Grezda?. I would like to see Middleton get a run out but putting him through the middle against the sheep thugs he would get assaulted every time the ball went near him! having said that he looks a strong lad and should be able to cope. Maybe Kent through the middle with Middleton wide?. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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