Match Thread [FT] Rangers 1 (Tavernier 52pen) - 3 Olympiacos

[CammyF 8,148]

Just now, BEARGER said:

Just watched MB post match interview, he must have been watching a different game than me.

Didn't think he said much wrong - maybe different interviews as there are a couple doing the rounds

 

[Waltersgotstyle 307]

1 minute ago, CammyF said:

Well one last friendly on Saturday before the season kicks off a week later. MB confirmed tonight it'll be a "trimmed squad" that will travel to Germany so this might give us an idea of which players he believes will be the catalyst for the forthcoming season.

 

He also said that our European Squad that will be submitted next week and the ommisions from this squad will give a clear indication on who we are looking to move on. 

 

Rumours (hopefully that's all they are) that Beale and Butland had a major bust up, hence he didn't play any part tonight. As I said, hopefully just rumours and no foundation as we can't go into the season with McCrorie and McLaughlin as our keepers. 

Where to start with this nonsense

[CammyF 8,148]

2 minutes ago, Waltersgotstyle said:

Where to start with this nonsense

Well the information came for the person that told me King was injured before it became public knowledge. 

 

As I said, hopefully just rumours but just passing in what I've been told. 

[compo 7,071]

Oh dear that age old problem at the back continues defenders that can’t do their job teams with this type of player are doomed to struggle oh dear oh dear .

 

[Bill 13,717]

I drove 5 hours to watch that absolute shambles tonight. I couldn't believe what I was watching, woeful doesn't begin to describe it. It was utterly disjointed, embarrassing. We were given a football lesson by Olympiacos and if we play like that in a couple of weeks we'll get another one.

 

We should be past the stage of giving everyone a run out. We need to be playing our primary choices and assessing any changes needed.

 

Someone please introduce Dessers to the ball because I don't think they've met yet.

Edited July 27, 2023 by Bill

[Malangsob 1,264]

 

‘That was really bad. 
Really bad.

[Frankie 8,590]

A disappointing result last night at Ibrox. Obviously it was made worse by the concession of three very cheap goals but more worrying for me was the fact we seem to be struggling shape-wise over the last few friendlies. Lots for the coaching staff to iron out as August approaches. Some thoughts:

 

Yes, it makes sense for the manager to rotate his side and ensure minutes for the whole squad but I was surprised not to see Butland start. He's new so needs to develop a relationship with his defence so play him. Similar can be said at left back with Yilmaz. Who is first choice? Play them and stick with them please.

 

Despite being somewhat culpable at the first goal, I thought Davies played well last night and his partnership with Souttar looks to be improving. Yfeko has done fine and was unlucky at the second goal when McLaughlin gave up, but Davies it is for now. Hopefully we can see Sterling provide depth on the flanks as we need another RB option as Tav needs competition. 

 

Into midfield, I'm not sure of the system. It doesn't look like a diamond as the main striker has been too isolated in Newcastle/Olympiacos games but it's far too narrow with likes of Dowell and Cantwell not appearing to understand their role. Arrival of Cifu might be the glue we need as Raskin was asked to do too much last night.

 

Further forward we clearly have lots of options and Lammers looks particularly positive but neither he or Sima seem sure of their positioning meaning we have huge gaps on both flanks on the defensive transition. That might be OK domestically but better teams will take advantage.

 

All things considered, I'm not overly concerned. Familiarity will help, Danilo will help as Dessers finds his sharpness, fitness will help and I'm confident improvement will come. Pre-season is all about delivering that (not one-off results or exaggerating mistakes) but manager has to realise clock is already ticking. Pressure is on!

 

 

 

 

[Rousseau 10,679]

I'm not concerned about the result. These games are meaningless in that regard. We beat Real Madrid last season (?) and were awful when the proper games started. 

 

What I am concerned about is the lack of a recognisable style of play; it was so aimless and disjointed. It doesn't have to be perfect but there has to be something. 

 

Tottenham were beaten by West Ham 2-3, but the fans were raving about the football. They were excited; they saw what Ange was trying to do. 

 

It's just all so flat and boring from us. I feel like that's MB to a tee. 

 

How long until the #BealeOut meme stops being a joke? Asking for a friend. 

[JohnMc 2,766]

My first trip to Ibrox this season, with my Dad and my 2 sons, I was looking forward to a pleasant summer evening watching Rangers fine tune our new team. 

 

There were some positives. Souttar continues to impress both as a stopper but also his ability to carry the ball out of defence. If, and I accept that's a big word in this context, he can stay fit he could have a big season ahead. Reading this thread I suspect not everyone will agree but I thought Lammers played quite well. His touch, his movement, his link up play all impressed me. He was unlucky with a chance in the second half from our best move of the game too. I think he and the players around him just need to get to know each other a bit better and he could be a really good signing. McCrorie didn't do anything wrong, he was blameless at the goal and looked comfortable in the first half. I didn't think Tav did much wrong either. He was a bit quieter going forward but his short passing and link up was decent, nothing we didn't know before of course. Raskin was comfortable, missing a bit of sharpness but he looked like he's a week or so away from the season starting, so right on course. 

 

However, the negatives far outweighed the positives. Cantwell hasn't found the form of last season, hopefully that happens soon. In a competitive match he'd have been lucky not to be sent off last night. Sima gets into good positions but doesn't yet seem to know what to do with them. His career to date suggests he doesn't score many goals, nothing I've seen so far contradicts that. So far he doesn't feel like an improvement on Kent, but it's still early days. Dessers hasn't played 90 minutes of football for us yet, I can't judge him on what I've seen. He's less mobile than I thought he'd be, for a big guy he was easily dispossessed last night, but he doesn't look fit far less match fit. Again, he needs a bit of time to bed in and find form. 

 

I liked Dowell in the previous two games, but he was a bit lost last night. Barasic is getting a lot of flack, much of it justified, but Dowell didn't do much defensively last night to help. I'm inclined to agree that Cantwell and Davies were most culpable for their first goal, but no one covered themselves in glory and the Greeks were getting a lot of joy down our left and really should have scored before hey did. This isn't news to anyone who has watched Rangers in the last few seasons, that it hasn't been addressed yet is a concern. Yilmaz reputation continues to benefit from not being Barasic, but from what I've seen before, and again last night, he's just as suspect defensively. He's not the answer. 

 

Lundstram and McLoughlin had particularly bad cameos, Matondo and Sakala had better ones. There's only one side in Scotland as good as Olympiacos, however Kilmarnock have been in Cup duty and will be sharper come kick off. There's still a lot of work for us to do. 

Edited July 27, 2023 by JohnMc

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,757]

As much as I feel that it's too early to start getting concerned, I have to agree with Frankie and Rousseau's previous comments. I have not seen any of the games but from what I'm reading from our learned bretheren on here we are rather disjointed and at this stage seem to lack an identity. Early days I know considering the mass rotation used over 3 games and the amount of new faces, its maybe not too surprising. What has surprised me is the rotation of key positions, for example, the goalkeeper. What could we possibly learn from playing goalie 2 and 3 in these games? Maybe Butland had a knock but for me this is a vital position that should be cemented early doors by the management. Butland hasn't come up here to rotate with 2 other keepers so get him playing every bloody game at this stage. The same with Ridvan. If he is your preferred left back, play him now and get him up to speed. Cameos and 45 minutes here and there are not what he needs. 

 

Much to ponder, but it is making me think that having too many options on the face of it is a luxury but can also be a curse. Don't keep tinkering Michael Beale. Pick your preferred team and go with it.