gersnet article (image) Winners or Losers?

[Frankie 8,562]

If 2022 could have started any worse for Rangers fans, then I think only avoiding defeat against Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup counts.

 

Draws away to Aberdeen and Ross County and our long unbeaten run blown into smithereens with as bad a performance as we’ve seen at Parkhead in many a year means not only have we dropped seven points in the four league games this year, we’ve now surrendered our position at the top of the table to Celtic as well.

 

What has gone wrong? I’d imagine we’d all have our own opinions on that – personnel wise at least.  However the bringing forward of the winter break is arguably the biggest factor.  Yes, we weren’t exactly firing on all cylinders through December but we did win all six league games and only Lyon managed to score against us in the Europa League.  Meanwhile key players like Morelos and Kent seemed to be finding some much-needed form, confidence was high and we were going into games with Aberdeen and Celtic as favourites.  The three week break stopped that momentum and it’s fair to say we’ve not got going again since.

 

Nevertheless, the break cannot be used as excuse – quite the opposite in fact.  For one thing, when Gio arrived in late November, fans were worried he’d not have time to bed in with a tricky run of games in December.  However, the Dutchman started well and his ‘keep the zero’ mantra as well as scoring more goals meant our form was healthy.  Yes, a premature break was disagreeable but it allowed us to regroup, get injured players fit and work on tactics under the new manager.  One or two players were going to be missing through international duties but there’s something far wrong if a 26-man squad can’t cope with the loss of a few players.

 

Unfortunately, struggle we have and the loss of confidence right through the side appears stark in the last week or two.  From the goalkeeper, through the defence, midfield and attack, it’s difficult to point to any player and say they’ve turned up in 2022.  McGregor had a nightmare in Dingwall, the full backs were appalling at Parkhead, the centre backs seem unable to communicate, our midfield is non-existent, our wingers rarely beat their man and our strikers lack presence.  All in all, if there is a system to speak of it’s not working.  We carry a minimal threat and ‘keep the zero’ seems to have instilled a defensive mindset in periods of matches that is now difficult to shake off.

 

Last night’s game at Parkhead summed much of these criticisms up.  The starting XI was one many supporters (yours truly included) predicted and wanted.  It was a strong line-up, one with attacking intent and a defence more than capable of providing the platform.  Yet, almost immediately Celtic forced us back and it quickly became evident, we could not contain our hosts.  Worse, as is becoming a habit this year so far, it was very difficult to suggest a Rangers player that did their job.

 

Substitutes Ryan Jack and Leon Balogun undoubtedly steadied the ship but, by that time, Celtic players were smoking cigars.

In retrospect, it’s easy to criticise our starting line-up and I’m happy to concede I under-estimated the opposition.  If we had to contain Celtic in the first half, then a double-pivot should have been deployed but, if not, why were so many players incapable of following instruction?  Celtic could have driven a bus through either flank and, even when we did get the ball, in possession we were so weak – mentally and physically – it was obvious we didn’t believe in our own abilities.  So much so, waiting until half-time to make changes resulted in the game being out of our reach by the time the whistle did go.

 

What now for the team?  Well, that’s a very difficult question to answer.  It’s fair to say the honeymoon period for the manager is now well and truly over.  But, it’s also fair to say, all is not lost yet and that must be the mindset going forward, even if our next two matches against Hearts and Hibs won’t be easy.  With both games at home and the return of the hugely missed Alfredo Morelos, the Rangers camp simply must remain positive over the next week in particular.  Yes, losing our place at the top of table hurts but everyone, from the manager to the players and supporters should use that hurt, that palpable pain of an Old Firm humbling, to turn things around.

 

Of course that can be easier said than done so it will be interesting to see how the manager achieves it.  Does he change his system back to something more familiar to the players?  Does he make wholesale changes to his personnel and, if so, who is dropped?  And, who among the squad will show the leadership qualities required to change our fortunes?

 

One thing is for sure these players are capable.  Right through the squad, we have more than enough talent to win us games and many of them demonstrated this last season.  The addition of Aaron Ramsey will help and, whilst Amad Diallo had a dreadful evening against Celtic, he won’t be the last to do that.  Both come with impressive reputations but their profile won’t be enough to deliver results.  Effort, humility and teamwork will also be required and that goes for all of the existing squad. 

 

The winning of league title 55 is still fresh in the memory for many of us and shows what remains possible for this group of players.  Delivering a 56th title will now be much more difficult but that challenge should be something successful players crave and face head-on.  The next few weeks will show if last season was a one-off and if a genuine winning mentality is something we can rely on at Rangers.  At this point I could conclude with a suitable Bill Struth quote but I’d rather Gio and his team made their own history.  I cannot wait to get back to Ibrox on Sunday afternoon – I hope the players are making their way onto the training pitch today with the same hunger, determination and belief. 

[Bill 13,717]

We've had our say about what the players served up at Parkhead but for me the mentality oF players, staff and supporters alike should have been governed by pragmatism rather than tribalism. While victory at Celtic would have been perfect, the priority for Rangers yesterday wasn't to win but to avoid defeat and the team should have been set up with that in mind. Midfield in particular should have been selected to dominate possession and to deny them time and space. The time to be more progressive was if we were still in the game after an hour.

 

The number of fans calling for a gung-ho attacking formation was very hard to understand and hints at a conceit that expects every season to unfold like last season. What really worries me is I suspect some players have the same poor grasp on reality as exhibited by certain fans.

 

Everyone connected with Rangers need to lose all thoughts of last season, accept they've just been outplayed and humiliated, then decide whether they've got the personal courage to claw their way out of this. I know at the outset that there are some in this squad who won't be up to it and unless our manager is prepared to show some teeth there well may be others who will prefer denial to redemption. No more Mr Nice Gio please.

Edited February 3, 2022 by Bill

[compo 7,034]

We were put in our place by the better team on the night its been coming for a time now i wouldn't be surprised if there was not a meeting this morning at Parkhead demanding to know why they only managed three goals .

[Bill 13,717]

Some further reflections on the game yesterday.

 

It seems to me that something quite fundamental needs to change and change quickly if we still want to be in this title race a month from now. It relates to player attitudes but it's perhaps most easily seen in the attitudes we see routinely expressed by the support. 

 

As the season started in 2020, we were prepared for failure. Very much hoping for success but cautioned against excess optimism by the outcomes of the two previous compaigns. In the end and despite miserable cup exits, I don't think many of us could believe the extent of our success, winning the title by a mile and beating Celtic every time we faced them. It was like every dream come true and we were "back".

 

What a contrast this season. Suddenly all caution is abandoned and we're wallowing in a new entitlement. Naturally we're going to win the league again. Celtic are shite and their weird manager is a joke. Even when we lose our transformational manager in still-unexplained circumstances, within week we're patting each other on the back, sure in our sense of destiny that we've turned a possible booby trap into a new and better launchpad. 

 

Well Celtic are not "shite", they're currently better than us in every way that matters - more skilful, more determined, more hardworking, more united. Their manager isn't a joke at all. In a few short months he's assembled a new team, got them winning, turned a basket case into league leaders and (whisper it) title favourites. Meanwhile, we're in total denial about what's happening across the city and still smugly asserting our superiority ... until last night when the lights all came on at once. If you still don't get it then you're still asleep. 

 

Yesterday was a wake up call that said we're in a fight that we're no longer favourites to win. While Celtic have been working hard to win 'their' title back, we haven't even realised we're in a fight at all. If we don't urgently lose that misconception and appreciate the challenge that's been thrown down then we have absolutely no chance of defending our title.

 

I say "we" but of course I'm using the attitude of the support (that we all know is wrong and may of us have shared) as an analog for what I believe is replicated in the dressing room and lies at the heart of what happened yesterday. Just look at Barisic and Tavernier and tell me they haven't lost the path. Footballers are not renowned for their introspection and self-examination, they feed off the atmosphere created by the support and I think we've all somewhat lost the plot. Right now, on both sides of the white lines, we need men of determination and motivation. Goldson was right after all and last night Jack's excellent performance provided the contrast needed to show how far most of the team have fallen.

 

I no longer think we can turn this around without significant changes on the field. The past counts for nothing. I'd rather lose this title fighting and end the season knowing who's up for the fight, than meekly capitulate, thinking the same failing plan would suddenly start working.

 

They say managers are people who seek to do things right, while leaders are people who seek to do the right things. Right now, we desperately need a leader who has the courage to break moulds and the nous to re-assemble the pieces properly. If GvB doesn't wield the knife, then in time-honoured fashion these players will take him down with them.

Edited February 3, 2022 by Bill

[Rousseau 10,604]

Match analysis from Michael Cox:

 

https://theathletic.com/3109165/2022/02/03/cox-gasperinis-atalanta-would-have-been-proud-of-celtics-devastating-rotations?source=user-shared-article

[Gonzo79 15,292]

It's easy to look good when the opposition are as passive as Rangers were last night.  

 

Ross County scored three against us only a few days ago.  

 

4 hours ago, Bill said:

The number of fans calling for a gung-ho attacking formation was very hard to understand

We're better at attacking than we are at defending.  

[Bill 13,717]

14 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Match analysis from Michael Cox:

 

https://theathletic.com/3109165/2022/02/03/cox-gasperinis-atalanta-would-have-been-proud-of-celtics-devastating-rotations?source=user-shared-article

Seems to be behind some sort of paywall

[Bill 13,717]

6 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

It's easy to look good when the opposition are as passive as Rangers were last night.  

Yes, they're shite so they are. 🙄

 

 

6 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

We're better at attacking than we are at defending.  

Yes, we're brilliant and we're gonna win the league. 🙄

Edited February 3, 2022 by Bill

[Gonzo79 15,292]

You should read what's written and not what you think is written, Bill.  

[Bill 13,717]

34 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

You should read what's written and not what you think is written, Bill.  

I did.