Match Thread [FT] PSV 5 - 1 Rangers (Tavernier 64)

[Frankie 8,569]

Slept on that performance last night but don't feel much better this morning unfortunately after a very disappointing evening in Eindhoven. PSV clearly a better side but that doesn't account for a distinct lack of quality on AND off the ball from us. We simply couldn't cope.

 

Butland aside, our defence was very poor after a decent 1st leg. Lundstram was OK but both Raskin and Cifu were very bad; the former is often guilty of switching off and did it several times last night. The latter hasn't yet switched on for Rangers yet and lacks work rate.

 

Matondo had bits of pieces of reasonable play but lost it far too cheaply too often. Dessers again lumbered about with minimal service but for such a big guy is far too easy outmuscled. I did think Lammers and Danilo looked brighter when they came on whilst Sterling struggled.

 

All in all it was a humbling experience for all concerned and, for his part, the manager really needs to find a cohesive plan. Right now, we look a laboured side, slow to react to moments in games, never mind anticipate anything. Worse, we can't even do the basics right.; our first touch is awful, our passing inconsistent and our set-pieces quite frankly embarrassingly bad.

 

Obviously, we've made a lot of changes in the summer and right now it shows. In that sense, Beale doesn't look like he knows his best XI yet. Lammers is hot and cold, Sima in and out, Dessers and Cifu struggling and Danilo not yet properly quoted. It says a lot that we're relying on Rabbi Matondo. Improvement won't happen overnight.

Apologies for the negativity but we're a difficult watch right now and we can only hope we do improve over the next month or two; starting on Sunday which is vital for morale.

[Idisi 559]

Sorry for that loss. I was quite surprised that there was no Balogun in a defensive 3. PSV was good at Ibrox and their wide players caused lots of danger. Was Jack injured? He should have played with Lundstram in front of the defense too. Of all defensive midfielders that I saw last and this season, Jack notices danger quickest. I will never understand why quality people like Danilo and Sima sit in the bench, but a young player like Matondo is being used. Cantwell again was the best player, but he can't do it all alone.

[JohnMc 2,754]

While it's the defence that will take most of the criticism our midfield and attack were horrific for long periods last night. This season we've lost the art of retaining possession. We just give it up after around 3 passes, it's like watching Rangers from pre-Gerrard days. I remember so well the goal against Benfica when we passed the ball from almost our own goal line, quick, accurate passing to Rangers players who knew where their team mates were and were moving to make the angles and options for the pass. This season that's gone, completely. Our midfield and attack offer no options to our defenders so we either go long where our attack are unable win a ball in the air or hold it up, or we do attempt a pass into midfield and it breaks down. You'll get away with that against Morton or Ross County but not PSV, or Celtic. 

 

Dessers continues to look like a guy who someone brings along to your weekly 5s who apparently used to play Junior but these days just talks a good game. With every passing week I miss Morelos more and more. Colak was limited but at least he could score. Cantwell is a shadow of the player of last season, Raskin and Cifuentes looked so far out of their depth last night it was almost cruel, neither an improvement on Davis and Kamara. 

 

Unfortunately I find myself wondering if it really was the players at fault, or does the blame lie with the manager. We were out thought and out fought last night. It was crystal clear after 20 minutes we were being overrun in midfield and yet we made no  changes. Even at half time, when you expect a response we got the opposite. In the end players carry out the instructions given to them, so you have to question just what they were. 

 

PSV deserved their victory, but I don't share this belief they're a Champion's League level side. They'll be cannon fodder and don't be surprised to see them in the Europa after Christmas. We made them look good last night. 

 

I'm not sure where this leaves us. If it wasn't for our right back I don't know if we'd ever score, for some reason this side has regressed from May. 

[ranger_syntax 4,325]

The time to miss Kent and Morelos was a couple of years ago.

 

Both have burned out so forget them.

[Sutton_blows_goats 5,344]

35 minutes ago, JohnMc said:

I'm not sure where this leaves us.

It leaves us where it always leaves us, beat the other mob and everything will turn out delightfully well. 

 

I'm totally ambivalent about Europe this year, last nights score line hurts more than the result. We all know what our number 1 priority is this season and its not champions league.

 

I've been very critical of the manager and have serious doubts about his capability, but if we win the league no one will care about this result. Over to you Michael.

[Rousseau 10,636]

Some data for my fellow VLs:

 

Rangers vs	xG	xGA	Goals	Goals Against	xG Diff.
Celtic	1.99	1.17	2	2	0.82
Dundee Utd	1.56	0.46	2	0	1.10
Kilmarnock	1.49	0.79	3	2	0.70
St Johnstone	3.29	0.23	2	0	3.06
Hearts	3.05	0.86	3	0	2.19
Ross County	2.15	1.01	2	1	1.14
Livingston	2.80	0.84	3	0	1.96
Kilmarnock	3.48	0.79	3	1	2.69
Hibernian	4.02	0.48	4	1	3.54
Motherwell	3.74	0.88	4	2	2.86
Dundee Utd	2.02	0.39	2	0	1.63
Celtic	0.69	1.09	2	3	-0.40
St Mirren	3.65	0.30	5	2	3.35
Aberdeen	1.90	0.94	0	2	0.96
Aberdeen	2.00	1.30	1	0	0.70
Celtic	1.57	1.34	3	0	0.23
Hibernian	1.90	1.19	3	1	0.71
Hearts	2.70	1.17	2	2	1.53
St Mirren	1.81	0.55	3	0	1.26
Kilmarnock	1.36	0.52	0	1	0.84
Servette	3.03	0.99	2	1	2.04
Livingston	2.44	0.12	4	0	2.32
Servette	2.23	1.13	1	1	1.10
PSV	1.08	1.29	2	2	-0.21
Ross County	1.75	0.28	2	0	1.47
PSV	0.88	2.57	1	5	-1.69
	12.77	6.90	12.00	10.00

 

The trend is not good (albeit not a big sample size).

[Scott7 6,011]

6 hours ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Hagi had zero pace.

McMillan hadn’t either. His brain was fast though and his feet moved fast on the ball. Looking elsewhere, Moravcik wasn’t a greyhound. On the other hand, Matondo cruises at just under mach1.

[PoohBear 1,148]

I don't want to be too harsh on the new guys but I really don't understand what we've scouted with these forwards. That's a number of times now where we've had a fantastic ball into the box and Dessers is no where to be seen. That is his main job, to be in position when it matters, and he so often isn't.
 

I won't say I'm missing Morelos because I think he did a disservice to himself and to us for a very long period of time. But Colak and Sakala were more dangerous than what we have now. 
 

We've paid out a large sum for Danilo and it's fair to say he is the one I've held out most hope for, but he doesn't seem to be in Beale's plans for a start? What gives?

 

Sima, incredible goal aside, has just looked awful, really dire.

 

The less said about Lammers the better, never has the quality of a signing been so predictable by viewing his stats.

 

Then we have Cifuentes and Dowell both struggling to make an impact. Sure they do need time, but also we don't have time to give them.

 

The only signing so far that I can say has been good is Butland, who has been extremely impressive.

 

 

[Gonzo79 15,294]

What is going on with Danilo?  Has Beale spent £6m on a player he's not sure how to use?

 

I'm genuinely a bit baffled about what his plan is with Danilo and Dessers. I think they might work well together but not sure what Beale thinks because their usage has been a bit all over the place.

[Rousseau 10,636]

5 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

What is going on with Danilo?  Has Beale spent £6m on a player he's not sure how to use?

 

I'm genuinely a bit baffled about what his plan is with Danilo and Dessers. I think they might work well together but not sure what Beale thinks because their usage has been a bit all over the place.

The lad was on fire for Feyenoord during pre-season.