match thread (image) [FT] Aberdeen 2 - 4 Rangers (Morelos 20, 38; Tavernier 43pen; Defoe 90+5)

[Frankie 8,570]

After what seemed an incredibly long January and winter break from Scottish football, the games are coming thick and fast again for Rangers as we enter February.  And, despite the end of the season still being a few months away, this week will be a defining one for the club.  Not only do we travel (again) to the hallowed, erm, artificial turf of Rugby Park on Saturday in the next round of the Scottish Cup, we're on league duty tonight in Aberdeen.  Lose both games and pride may be the only thing we can salvage from the rest of our campaign.  Win both and finally, just finally we might gather enough momentum to challenge for silverware.

 

As the old cliche goes, it's one game at a time though and tonight's match will be a fascinating one given Rangers have failed to beat Aberdeen in three attempts already this season.  Yes, events may have gone against us once or twice, but these games have actually been good examples of our season: i.e. dominate possession but don't create nor take enough chances and then concede cheap goals.  Steven Gerrard will be keen to change that tonight.  But what Rangers team will turn up?

 

First of all, inconsistency has blighted our season.  No-one can deny we've progressed to a degree and have a better team from last season but we've still dropped far too many points and there have been few games where we can say we played well throughout the 90mins.  Ironically that was the case in the league opener at Pittodrie last August where, despite going down to ten men after just 12 minutes, we contained Aberdeen very well, took the lead and only just failed to hold on - eventually sharing the points to an injury time equaliser.  If we're to win this evening, that same work ethic along with improved discipline will be required.

 

With that in mind the starting XI will be interesting - not just in terms of personnel but the system.  Recent weeks has seen the manager test variations of 4-4-2 to mediocre effect as he tries to find places in his team for our January signings.  Fans remain unconvinced regarding this but it's also fair to say our preferred 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hasn't always been successful either - specifically when teams sit deep against it; as Aberdeen have done fairly well in the two games they've win against us this season.  As such, will the diamond be deployed again tonight?

 

Personally, I can't see it - not to start with anyway.  In games against Aberdeen, winning the midfield battle is imperative and matching their physical outlook a must so it would be a big risk not to match that early in the game.  Yes, if the match stays tight and if Aberdeen want to sit deep, then moving to a more expansive outlook may be the best alternative strategy but when Bobby Madden blows his whistle to start tonight's contest, I'd expect the same system that served as well in our win over Celtic.

 

Of course the players may well be different.  Andy Halliday hasn't let us down this season but we have to hope Borna Barisic is now fully fit and ready to demonstrate why he should be our first choice left back.  Meanwhile, at centre back it appears Connor Goldson is also fit again so it will be interesting to see if he comes straight back into the team tonight instead of Katic or Worrall.  Other than those two changes, I'd expect the rest of the starting XI to match that of the Old Firm win and with lots of options from the bench, we really need to prove our mettle by beating Aberdeen convincingly for the first time in a while.  And, if we're honest with ourselves, if we can't do that - and win on Saturday evening - then we're not worthy of winning trophies anyway.  The pressure is most definitely on...

 

Possible team (4-2-3-1)

 

 

 

 

 

[Rousseau 10,655]

I think the whole month is important. We have 5 games this month that are all winnable -- although this next game against Aberdeen will be tough. If we can get as close to 15 points as possible it'll give us a massive boost, and head start, going into a very difficult March, when we play Hibs (A), Kilmarnock (H) and Celtic (A).

[buster. 5,201]

Just now, Rousseau said:

I think the whole month is important. We have 5 games this month that are all winnable -- although this next game against Aberdeen will be tough. If we can get as close to 15 points as possible it'll give us a massive boost, and head start, going into a very difficult March, when we play Hibs (A), Kilmarnock (H) and Celtic (A).

Given points difference and stage of the season, all League games are now fairly cliff edge regards title challenge unless they start to drop some points.

 

If we can get past Kilmarnock and I think we will, the Cup is very much on.

As it stands you can get 4/1 for us winning the Cup.

 

--------------------

 

I think we need to put in our best performance of 2019 and some to come away from Aberdeen with the three points tonight.

We've shown we are capable of playing at a high level against better opposition, albeit that was at Ibrox. Tonight we need to take that level away from home.

 

IMO if Goldson is fit, we'd be best going with the same team that beat Celtic, except for Barisic for Halliday. However, if Halliday was given the nod then I could understand it.

 

I'd have a degree of confidence with that team that I wouldn't have with other options. 

 

[buster. 5,201]

There seems to be an unusual uniformity of general opinion about the starting line-up for tonight.

 

If SG agrees, I'd call that a positive development in our quest for a consistency of winning matches.

Our in other words, SG&CO would now know their best starting XI.

[pete 2,499]

Barisic against the merman may offer up quite a good battle and the first real defensive test for Barisic.

[Scott7 6,018]

The team has to take charge of the game from the first whistle and then concentrate for 90+ minutes. Forget about stylish fancy stuff until they’re three goals up.

 

The players have the ability to do the first bit but can they all concentrate? That might be a reason to play Defoe. I think he’s got that ability.

[DMAA 3,658]

1 hour ago, Frankie said:

As such, will the diamond be deployed again tonight?

 

Personally, I can't see it - not to start with anyway.  In games against Aberdeen, winning the midfield battle is imperative and matching their physical outlook a must so it would be a big risk not to match that early in the game.

I agree the diamond won't be deployed, but ironically the diamond was Murty's masterstroke against Aberdeen last season when he did the double over them.

[stewarty 2,028]

The formation debate is interesting.  For me, some experimentation is okay within certain limits.  For example, if we are working on things in training, I see no reason why we should not change shape during the game to give teams different problems.  Too often we have allowed teams to settle into a rhythm when defending against us, and we have been limited in terms of giving them different problems to contend with.

 

Whether tonight is the right game to play the diamond, I would question.  We played our best game of the season vs Celtic using the 4-3-3/ 4-2-3-1, with the crucial difference being our motivation and determination to consistently press high. So that would be my preference again.  But should we struggle for a goal or if they settle into a defensive rhythm, by all means switch to some of our other tactical options depending on what Aberdeen themselves are doing.

 

The more the team get used to this flexibility, hopefully the easier it is to put into effect.

Edited February 6, 2019 by stewarty

[buster. 5,201]

10 minutes ago, DMAA said:

I agree the diamond won't be deployed, but ironically the diamond was Murty's masterstroke against Aberdeen last season when he did the double over them.

Would and wouldn't be a surprise if employed tonight.

Would beacuse I doubt it'll be what we go with.

Wouldn't be for McInnes (I think it was under Murty) in as much as he'll have seen it recently employed.

 

McCrorie, Jack and Tav are the only three of those starting line-ups who are in real contention for tonight.

 

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by buster.

[DMAA 3,658]

It will be fascinating to see how we set up because it's the first real test of whether he sees Defoe as part of his starting 11. As I've said in previous matches I think we show diddies like Aberdeen too much respect and I'd be happy to see a 4-4-2 with a midfield two of Jack and Arfield. I fear the 4-5-1 will make for a pretty boring spectacle with two teams bog down in an over-crowded centre mid. I'm not convinced we have the creativity necessary to make it work. It worked to an extent at Hibs because they came out and weren't nearly good enough to do so. But you can't count on Aberdeen doing that. Having said that, Celtic put 4 past them at Pittodrie, but that was with a 4-2-3-1 that had far more attacking/creative players in it than ours has.