match thread (image) [FT] Rangers 0 - 1 Celtic

[Rousseau 10,604]

[buster. 5,185]

Whoever wins the midfield battle will likely lift the cup and it was probably the same prior to the 1970 League Cup Final.

 

Tempo and the high press

It´s a given that Celtic will set-up very similar to the September game, will look to suffocate our midfield and stop decent service reaching Alfredo. At the sametime, they´ll be looking to force our midfielders and defenders into mistakes that present them with openings on our goal.

 

For me, the questions are what does SG&Co do to get round it or how could he adapt to it during the game.

 

- We could simply go toe to toe and slug it out in a condensed midfield, probably resulting in a fair few goals.

- In the past we´ve tried a fairly conservative approach and it doesn´t work.

- We could look to vary our game with a more direct approach...possibly ending up with Defoe and Morelos on the park (or Katic and Morelos)

 

Ideas welcome....

 

 

We need SG&Co to get it right both before and during the game so as to give the players on the pitch a chance of lifting the trophy.

 

 

 

 

[ian1964 10,723]

Another rumour is Davis is a doubt! after the assault by Cosgrove which didn't merit a booking!!!

[der Berliner 3,744]

IMHO, SG should spring a surprise up front ... with Defoe up top, Kent on the left and Morelos with free-insight-right role (he is moving about a bit anyways). Davis as the supplier in the middle, Jack (with a little bit of roaming-freedom) and Kamara in central MF and a back-4 that essentially picks itself.

 

Keep a threat in their half and score early on.

 

IMHO, ojo and Aribo are not yet up for such a game from the start, Arfield not yet 100 % at his best. Stewart as the prime option after 60odd minutes.

[ian1964 10,723]

Barisic, and the rest of the  quad, seem to be having fun at Training.

 

https://rangers.co.uk/news/galleries/gallery-league-cup-final-preperation/

[ian1964 10,723]

IF you’re outside the UK and Ireland then you can watch Sunday’s League Cup Final LIVE on RangersTV.

https://rangers.co.uk/news/rangers-tv/follow-league-cup-final-on-rtv/

[buster. 5,185]

Agreed DB, we can´t afford passengers, Ojo is likely to be one and Aribo hasn´t yet shown enough to merit a start in such a game.

 

If Davis were to be injured it´d be a real blow.

I wonder if a 3-5-2 is worth considering. I really think we need to do something a little different because if we roll up with the usual game plan, I wouldn´t rate our chances very highly.

 

 

[craig 5,199]

14 hours ago, MacK1950 said:

No but it was him who kicked the ball out of play,due to being one footed,which led to a goal.

That's actually not the case though - the ball may have went out of play due to him being one-footed, but not for the reason you suggest.  It was his better foot he launched it out of play with, right after he launched it miles up in the air right in front of our own goal.... with his preferred right foot

[Bluedell 5,624]

42 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

IMHO, SG should spring a surprise up front ... with Defoe up top, Kent on the left and Morelos with free-insight-right role (he is moving about a bit anyways). 

I think that would be dreadful. Morelos would be wasted. Yes, he wanders around, but that's all part of him playing upfront, as he drags their defenders out of position. We need him in the centre. 

 

We have tried it in a couple of games late on, but that's against tiring, poorer quality opposition. We saw in the first game what happens when Defoe plays in the centre. It can't happen again.

[ian1964 10,723]

I don't expect any surprises in our line up, barring any injuries.

 

McGregor

Tav
Goldson
Helander
Barisic

Jack
Davis
Kamara

Arfield
Morelos
Kent