By David Herd
MATCHES NEXT WEEK:
RANGERS V ALLOA LEAGUE CUP SAT 16 AUGUST 17:45
Most Read on FollowFollow.com No change of Heart – Rangers 0 – 2 Hearts Match Report – St Mirren 1-1 Rangers In The Eye Of The Storm – Rangers 0-0 Celtic
RANGERS V BRUGGE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYOFF TUE 19 AUGUST 20:00
Welcome to next edition of the website’s new weekly preview feature, where we take a look back at the last seven days, a look forward to the next week, and a look back on this week in Rangers history.
After the enjoyment of the home victory over Plzen, the past week has been a dismal experience. It has to be said, however, that the team are into the playoffs for the Champions League, which is a terrific achievement while a new manager gels together a new team and new style of play. But among the satisfaction at further European progress, every Rangers fan must have some serious concerns about what we are watching.
It is very early in the Russell Martin era, and we can’t pass definitive judgement on him or his team after just six matches. But it’s equally fair to say that the team structure, the quality of football and the alarming rate we gift clear chances to the opposition has us worried for the future. Panathinaikos and Plzen were decent sides, but we will play better ones soon. And better ones with better forwards, who won’t miss as many sitters as we have so far got away with conceding.
The game in Plzen could easily have been a disaster after sitting so comfortably from the first leg, our ball retention, defending cross balls, and suicidal desire to try to pass the ball out of difficult situations ended up meaning it took terrific goalkeeping and hapless finishing to keep us in the competition. Yes, Plzen never got within a goal, and we scored at a great time to knock the stuffing out of them. But the more I see our system of play, the more worried I am that it is wide open, relying on players incapable of executing it, and we have several out there who look as if they aren’t sure what it is they are being asked to do.
And that came a few days after an absolute horror show against Dundee at Ibrox. After all the summer talk of intensity, aggression, running, pressing, culture and understanding the demands of this club, we sat and watched a pitifully slow, tepid, predictable and all-too familiar Rangers dropping points to a team they should run over the top of. Listening to the Head Coach afterwards talk of us having to learn how to beat ultra-defensive teams was depressing, this is the reality we face in the vast majority of matches at Ibrox, and it is not rocket science how you have to play in them. You need intensity, aggression, running…
Four points behind already after two kind looking fixtures. The next few weeks might be early for the new manager and new players, but if it goes badly, it will take a lot of coming back from it. I actually think we have made some very promising signings – Djiga looks a good centre back, Cameron a bargain, and in Antman, Gassama, Moore and Aasgaard we look to have real threat up top. But we need to play to the strengths of the players we have, be pragmatic in putting results first, and not be wedded to a philosophy of play that looks certain to ship goals. The sad truth is we are a fanbase that has endured so much for so long, that patience, understanding and tolerance are now almost non-existent. Only positive results will stop the noise becoming outright hostility.
PREDICTION TIME
Last week I managed a first correct scoreline prediction, the 2-1 defeat to Plzen. Now I’m on a roll, I’m actually thinking these might happen.
RANGERS 3 ALLOA 0
A game like this should be a case of how many, and a case of what fringe players get a start. But the way we are playing, coupled with the recent memory of Queens Park, has a few fans seeming a bit worried. Surely if there is ever a game where we can sit back, enjoy a few goals, and have a stress-free afternoon this is it.
I expect to see Fernandez at the back, and maybe Kelly behind him in goal. The likes of Barron and Cortes might also start. And, hopefully, we see some game time for three attacking players who might make a difference in the weeks ahead. Aasgaard and Moore were exciting signings who haven’t been able to play at all so far for different reasons. And Igamane is back available we are told, after an alleged injury that many suspect was more to do with transfer speculation than physical damage.
I’m going for a relatively comfortable but still not massively impressive win.
RANGERS 2 BRUGGE 3
I know a Rangers fan site is not meant to predict defeat for our team. But I fear that we will meet a team who take advantage of the gifts we keep giving away. Brugge reached the Champions League last 16 last season, and do have players in forward areas who have more quality than anyone we have faced so far. We will undoubtedly go up against them with the same set up and the same philosophy as up till now. I want to be wrong, and nothing would please me more than writing a preview next Friday that laughs at my pessimism. But as things stand, I think we will lose this game, and I think that because good teams will score against the Rangers team I’ve been watching. I do think we have it in us to get on the scoresheet too, but worry it won’t be enough to undo the damage at the other end of the park.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
A personal opinion on the player who has most excelled in the past seven days.
This is a really difficult one, it hasn’t been a week littered with impressive performances. Probably the only two realistic options are the two players who got the award in the last two weeks. Jack Butland might not be good with the ball at his feet (which won’t change so why tell him to keep doing it?). But he has started the season making some hugely important saves. There was one in the second half on Tuesday that was verging on world class when he got down low to a shot aiming for his bottom corner and manager to divert it up and over the goal. There has already been three games where we would have lost badly if not for him.
Lyall Cameron scored his first goal for Rangers in midweek, and what an important one it was at a vital time in the match. He makes excellent runs, can play clever passes, and looks one of the few so far who this new system might suit. In amongst the bigger profile and bigger money arrivals, he is more than holding his own.
As I gave Cameron the award last week, I’ll go for Butland. With a wish that a few others deserve it next week.
IT HAPPENED THIS WEEK – Random events in Rangers history that happened in this corresponding week. Here are some memorable moments that happened between August 15 and August 21.
August 15 1999 – Recent signing Michael Mols continues his devastating start in Rangers colours with a magnificent four-goal display at Ibrox against Motherwell. He scores all the Rangers goals in a comprehensive 4-1 win, shown live on Sky TV. Motherwell goalkeeper Andy Goram is helpless to stop the brilliant Dutchman, with future Rangers player Lee McCulloch scoring the consolation goal for the visitors.
August 16 1890 – a historic occasion, as Rangers play their first-ever league match when they entertain Hearts at the first Ibrox Park. The home team run out convincing 5-2 winners, with the club’s first-ever league goal scored by an opposition player, Hearts defender Jimmy Adams scoring an own goal. The other Rangers goals were scored by Hugh McCreadie, John McPherson and Neil Kerr (2). Rangers would go on to share this inaugural Scottish title with Dumbarton.
August 17 1994 – Duncan Ferguson scored his only Rangers hat-trick as Arbroath are thrashed 6-1 in a midweek League Cup tie at Gayfield. These would also be the last competitive first-team goals the big striker ever scored for the club. The other goals came from Mark Hateley (2) and Stuart McCall.
August 18 1983 – Kris Boyd is born in Irvine. The striker made history in season 2005/06, when he was top scorer for two different clubs in the top flight after joining Rangers from Kilmarnock on New Year’s Day 2006. Boyd won 2 league titles, 2 Scottish Cups and 2 League Cups with the club before leaving in the summer of 2010, before returning for one season in 2014 in an ill-fated second spell in the Championship. Overall he scored 138 goals for Rangers in 180 starts and 55 substitute appearances.
August 19 2018 – Rangers travel to Rugby Park to play their first League Cup tie under new manager Steven Gerrard. It is a memorable day for striker Alfredo Morelos, who scored all three goals in a 3-1 win, the first hat-trick in a Rangers shirt by the Colombian.
August 20 2005 – Champions Rangers enjoy a fine 3-1 home win over Celtic in the first Old Firm game since the previous season ended in the unforgettable Helicopter Sunday. Celtic, with new manager Gordon Strachan now in the dugout, were well beaten thanks to a first half goal by Dado Prso, an excellent strike by Thomas Buffell not long after half-time, and a late Nacho Novo penalty. Celtic played over an hour with ten men after Alan Thompson got sent off for the third time at Ibrox, and Celtic’s misery was complete when Neil Lennon was red carded after the final whistle.
August 21 1990 – Mark Hately makes a goalscoring competitive debut for Rangers in a 5-0 home victory over East Stirling in the League Cup, hitting a double to go alongside goals by Trevor Steven, Mark Walters and Mo Johnston. The Englishman would go on to enjoy a magnificent Rangers career, winning the title in every season he played for the club, and scoring 115 goals in 222 appearances.
DO YOU KNOW – a quiz question based on this week’s fixtures.
Answer to last week’s question:
WHICH FORMER RANGERS PLAYER WAS SENT OFF AT IBROX WHEN PLAYING FOR DUNDEE IN SEPTEMBER 2018?
KENNY MILLER
This week’s question:
WHICH RANGERS PLAYER SCORED HIS FIRST COMPETITIVE GOAL FOR THE CLUB IN A MATCH AGAINST ALLOA IN FEBRUARY 2016?
I hope you find these weekly articles both entertaining and interesting. Please use the messageboard thread to feed back any comments.