I admire the optimism of earlier poster Stevie, and his take on last night's game. I really wish I felt as positive about things as he does.
I saw my Gers side blown away by half-time....could easily have been more than 3-0. Maybe Celtic's energy levels dropped in the second half but in truth they did not need to do much to contain us, and even with 3 fresh players on at the start of the second half, we still couldn't score. Okay you could argue that we didn't have our most talented 11 on the field last night - but Celtic could say exactly the same
Knowing that Celtic would start at 100 mph why were we so passive? Did GvB get taken by surprise by their start? I agreed 100% with his 3 first half substitutions, but damage was done by that time.
Some tiny positives....we were much better in the second half. Maybe we and GvB now realise that Balogun is a better centre-back than Bassey. When Jack is fully fit he is our best holding midfielder.
Both our full-backs let us down last night...Tav is our captain yet over one short period of action last night he gave away the ball 4 times, and picked up a booking. He needs to be rested now and we need to find out if the young Polish guy is any good.
Barasic was the worst player on the park...full Croatian international in his late twenties, he was a disgrace in our most difficult game of the year so far. He made me so mad last night at this point I'm with Stevie and would be happy if he never plays for us again. At best, let him be on bench as Bassey's understudy and look to sell in June. His typical involvement last night was approaching their winger about 10-15 yards from the touch line than backing off without making a tackle, until winger was into our box where he then couldn't make a tackle. He did it the entire first half....a defender who won't make a tackle - what's the point!
Diallo, young kid, stunned by it all, was passed by but we'll make concessions because of his age. However can't help wondering what Man Utd see/saw that was worth £17 million
And, not really about last night's game, but since I'm in the mood for an angry rant, was there much point in taking Itten back from Germany if he was deemed not good enough at any stage for a part in last night's shambles? And, I'm left wondering how much of Sands in action in the USA did GvB see before agreeing to sign him!
Overall it's early days in the new season, and lots to play for yet starting with Hearts at home on Sunday. Having seen the dross Hibs and Hearts produced on Tuesday night, I'd be angry (again!) if we can't skelp them the same way as Celtic skelped us last night
A different take from Stevie...
posted on 3/2/22
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What was the game and manager that Halliday was hooked before HT?
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Oh, you’re a cheeky boy…
posted on 3/2/22
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 4 minutes ago
He makes the choices to sit on 1-0 leads and it’s cost us twice in 3 matches before his shambles of a set up got us ridden rid rotten yesterday.
He’s as clueless as Pedro and Murty
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You must be the most raging fan out, never happy
Last night was shocking. But Ross County falls on the players. It’s early days for Gio still.
Mental to write him off.
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Aye, although that’s just my general way of living and not limited to Rangers.
Even against county we retreated at 1-0 and paid the price. Then inexplicably done it again after we got the lead. Granted the errors made were also unforgivable.
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Sure you wanted Gerrard out too the summer before we won the league.
Simply think it’s too early to write Gio off. He had a winning start and tried to only make small changes. He made the changes at half time last night.
If he rings the changes again for the weekend we’ll get more of an idea of what he’s about.
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What was the game and manager that Halliday was hooked before HT?
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Scottish cup v Celtic 2018
Graham Murty was temporarily in charge
posted on 3/2/22
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 3 hours, 11 minutes ago
comment by St3vie (U11028)
posted 1 minute ago
Hopefully having a proper CB pairing will give us a base to start from on Sunday
Ramsey coming in might inject new life into the midfield
Morelos coming back will be a huge boost too
GVB doesn't seem to like Davis for some reason, dunno if he's just decided to start phasing him out coz of his age or what, but we might see him feature a bit more possibly, and I'm quite sure Jack will start if he is fit, and he will make a difference too
They have also got to keep things going themselves at Fir Park....remember they needed a late late winner to get 3 points at home to Dundee Utd before last night, and they've also got to go to Pittodrie and Easter Road before the end of February
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Can’t see Davis getting a look in. We’ve got Jack, Ramsey, Kamara, Aribo, Arfield who are all ahead of him.
He needs to ring the changes for me to make a statement this weekend.
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Steven Davis must be pushing it age wise, and you need the legs and engine in the middle.
Hopefully, Ramsay does us a good turn.
posted on 3/2/22
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 3 hours, 11 minutes ago
comment by St3vie (U11028)
posted 4 minutes ago
Hopefully having a proper CB pairing will give us a base to start from on Sunday
Ramsey coming in might inject new life into the midfield
Morelos coming back will be a huge boost too
GVB doesn't seem to like Davis for some reason, dunno if he's just decided to start phasing him out coz of his age or what, but we might see him feature a bit more possibly, and I'm quite sure Jack will start if he is fit, and he will make a difference too
They have also got to keep things going themselves at Fir Park....remember they needed a late late winner to get 3 points at home to Dundee Utd before last night, and they've also got to go to Pittodrie and Easter Road before the end of February
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the reason davis doesnt play is cos Gio pays to cms rather than the 3 Gerrard played.
Gio has to CM and one AM as his three. Gerrard played 2 holding mids and a playmker sitting between them.
So if Gio picks Davis it will be as one to the two and he doesnt have the legs to manage it anymore. With Gerrard he had the two sitters to do the leg work in the middle and Davis job was to dictate on the ball.
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Good analysis.
posted on 3/2/22
comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 8 hours, 55 minutes ago
'Maybe we and GvB now realise that Balogun is a better centre-back than Bassey'.
Balogun has been injured. Helander is still injured. If we have those two fit we've obviously got a stronger squad. Hopefully Jack will stay fit, Ramsey will come in, Alfie will be back, etc (or at least some of these). We'll see how thing go.
A bad night for us, Celtic played well.
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We missed players and SG leaving was a hit, imo....compounded by Celtic buying good fast players and gaining momentum, that we lost from December.
posted on 3/2/22
comment by Dimarouge (U19731)
posted 8 hours, 50 minutes ago
You lot were slating Stevie G all the time. GvB tactics are very one dimensional and typical Dutch with slow side ways passing. I was never impressed with him at Feyenoord.
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SG going gutted me, to a degree, as thought he would be here for a few years building Rangers up, then go to Liverpool.
posted on 3/2/22
comment by The Duke (U10059)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 4 minutes ago
He makes the choices to sit on 1-0 leads and it’s cost us twice in 3 matches before his shambles of a set up got us ridden rid rotten yesterday.
He’s as clueless as Pedro and Murty
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You must be the most raging fan out, never happy
Last night was shocking. But Ross County falls on the players. It’s early days for Gio still.
Mental to write him off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aye, although that’s just my general way of living and not limited to Rangers.
Even against county we retreated at 1-0 and paid the price. Then inexplicably done it again after we got the lead. Granted the errors made were also unforgivable.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sure you wanted Gerrard out too the summer before we won the league.
Simply think it’s too early to write Gio off. He had a winning start and tried to only make small changes. He made the changes at half time last night.
If he rings the changes again for the weekend we’ll get more of an idea of what he’s about.
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What was the game and manager that Halliday was hooked before HT?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Scottish cup v Celtic 2018
Graham Murty was temporarily in charge
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Not cheeky, POV. Just it is a rarity because managers want to strike a balance of giving the player a chance, the obvious break point but arresting the shtshow.
I remember AH being livid and kicking things. Was there not something happen with Lee Wallace anaw?
Memory is going.
posted on 3/2/22
Our decline started well before GVB arrived, so I was glad to see Gerrard leave, as we had become stale under him and were going through the motions
We seem to have reverted back to that now however
posted on 3/2/22
comment by St3vie (U11028)
posted 1 minute ago
Our decline started well before GVB arrived, so I was glad to see Gerrard leave, as we had become stale under him and were going through the motions
We seem to have reverted back to that now however
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Other teams got used to playing our predictable style
That and a loss of form from key players
posted on 3/2/22
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 6 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by St3vie (U11028)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by RenegadeOF (U9457)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by St3vie (U11028)
posted 3 minutes ago
If they are supposed to be our leaders on the park, and they are not doing so…then they should be rightly criticised
Ryan Jack, a guy who came on at half time…was the only player to front up and give a post match interview….says a lot when a guy who’s been injured most of the season and hardly featured, is the one who takes the responsibility in such circumstances
Not saying Tav and Goldson were our poorest players last night…….but Tav is captain and Goldson is meant to be a leader on the park…..if they are senior players in the camp, and GvB is rightly criticising them for not showing more leadership in the field, and they are taking huff as a result….they can fck off
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So it’s their fault for having some sort of leadership about them?
Not the fault of any of the other 9 players who started who have no leadership about them?!
Mental take. If Tav is the best captain we have, that’s not his fault, who is he going to give it to? All well having Jack now, he’s been out for a year. It’s the clubs job to get the right players in and get a proper captain in. Not the job of Tav to be given an armband and transform in to the best captain, he’s not a great captain, but that’s not his fault.
There were worse players on the park last night, a number of worse players this season.
Joke to be picking out those two for criticism.
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I'm not picking them out for their performances last night
It's being said that senior players have fallen out with GVB...they are the senior players in the group, the captain and mainstay CB
If it's them that causing the unrest because GVB is asking more of them...they ain't worth defending
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So you’re picking out them two, when there were worse players last night and all season, and when the tactics were wrong because of a stupid rumour that Timmy’s spouted.
Glad we’ve sorted that out. Absolutely mental take.
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Not a rumour
Pretty much all over the forums and confirmed by the players downing tools under him. Why else davis dropped