33 goals scored, 4 conceded. 8
wins out of 9. By any team in any league’s standard that is an exceptional
record. Let us just pause and reflect on this:
wins out of 9. By any team in any league’s standard that is an exceptional
record. Let us just pause and reflect on this:
In 5 league matches Rangers have
scored 23 goals. 23. Only 2
conceded. Two. In 4 cup matches, one
was an undeniably disastrous 2-1 defeat, but the rest were comfortable
victories amassing 10 goals conceding none in the process.
scored 23 goals. 23. Only 2
conceded. Two. In 4 cup matches, one
was an undeniably disastrous 2-1 defeat, but the rest were comfortable
victories amassing 10 goals conceding none in the process.
Compare this with the same stage
last season. By the end of play on September the 18th 2012 it was: 6 wins, 3
draws and 1 defeat. 23 goals in all competitions and 8 conceded. While it is
not quite going from straight defeats to straight wins the difference is
absolutely compelling.
last season. By the end of play on September the 18th 2012 it was: 6 wins, 3
draws and 1 defeat. 23 goals in all competitions and 8 conceded. While it is
not quite going from straight defeats to straight wins the difference is
absolutely compelling.
The crucial addition has been
some high quality football. When you have players like Lewis MacLeod, Nicky
Law, Arnold Peralta and Lee Wallace you expect a decent standard of play, and
this season Rangers are undeniably giving it.
some high quality football. When you have players like Lewis MacLeod, Nicky
Law, Arnold Peralta and Lee Wallace you expect a decent standard of play, and
this season Rangers are undeniably giving it.
And yet, pre-match, the
intriguing arguments always centre around selection policy. Up till recently
young Kyle McAusland had been more than holding his own at right back. His
performances were frankly excellent. However he lost his place at Ibrox against
Arbroath, ditched from the first-team squad completely once the transfer
embargo was lifted and was replaced by Sebastien Faure in that slot, despite
the young Frenchman’s predilection for centre back. The former Lyon player has been very good indeed at the heart of
defence, so this dropping of McAusland, switching of Faure to RB while Lee
McCulloch, primarily a striker, took up position at the backline, was a very
curious scenario indeed.
intriguing arguments always centre around selection policy. Up till recently
young Kyle McAusland had been more than holding his own at right back. His
performances were frankly excellent. However he lost his place at Ibrox against
Arbroath, ditched from the first-team squad completely once the transfer
embargo was lifted and was replaced by Sebastien Faure in that slot, despite
the young Frenchman’s predilection for centre back. The former Lyon player has been very good indeed at the heart of
defence, so this dropping of McAusland, switching of Faure to RB while Lee
McCulloch, primarily a striker, took up position at the backline, was a very
curious scenario indeed.
Furthermore, Andrew Little was
installed at right wing again, while the likes of Templeton and McKay sat on
the bench.
installed at right wing again, while the likes of Templeton and McKay sat on
the bench.
It is easy to see why there were
disgruntled reactions to selection. Yet the team ran out ultimately comfortable
winners despite an awful first half. An early second half goal for the visitors
saw Rangers finally clicking into life and put 5 past Scott Morrison, including
a hat-trick for McCulloch.
disgruntled reactions to selection. Yet the team ran out ultimately comfortable
winners despite an awful first half. An early second half goal for the visitors
saw Rangers finally clicking into life and put 5 past Scott Morrison, including
a hat-trick for McCulloch.
Again, last night, curiosity
reigned as Steven Smith, impressive in his natural left-back position v the Red
Lichties found himself shifted forward into a left midfield role instead for
the trip to Palmerston to accommodate the return of Lee Wallace behind him,
while holding midfielder Peralta continued on the wing. McCulloch stayed at
centre-back.
reigned as Steven Smith, impressive in his natural left-back position v the Red
Lichties found himself shifted forward into a left midfield role instead for
the trip to Palmerston to accommodate the return of Lee Wallace behind him,
while holding midfielder Peralta continued on the wing. McCulloch stayed at
centre-back.
Again, another comfortable 3-0
win with goals from the increasingly impressive Bilel Mohsni, solid target man
Jon Daly and the captain himself rounding it all off.
win with goals from the increasingly impressive Bilel Mohsni, solid target man
Jon Daly and the captain himself rounding it all off.
So, despite the ire at selections,
formations, and the apparent ‘unfair’ dropping of players who are doing
themselves proud, with the team winning this comfortably and looking this
imperious is there any argument supporting objection to manager Ally McCoist’s
work this season?
formations, and the apparent ‘unfair’ dropping of players who are doing
themselves proud, with the team winning this comfortably and looking this
imperious is there any argument supporting objection to manager Ally McCoist’s
work this season?
I was displeased as the next
fellow to see McAusland dropped but you cannot argue with a 5-1 win. And
therein lies the rub. McCoist struggled last year with a poor squad which had
been denied a pre-season. This season with a vastly superior one the team is
clearly performing and getting convincing results despite any disagreement over
who plays where.
fellow to see McAusland dropped but you cannot argue with a 5-1 win. And
therein lies the rub. McCoist struggled last year with a poor squad which had
been denied a pre-season. This season with a vastly superior one the team is
clearly performing and getting convincing results despite any disagreement over
who plays where.
No Rangers fan can argue with 33
goals scored and 4 conceded in 9 matches. To do otherwise is baseless.
goals scored and 4 conceded in 9 matches. To do otherwise is baseless.
McCoist may not be Carlo
Ancelotti but for now the job is being done and done very well at that.
Ancelotti but for now the job is being done and done very well at that.
Long may it continue.
I do not think the dissenters are true Rangers ie the ones that go to the games, if they did they would see the passion and the results up front.
I think the main dissent is from online posters who are stirring things up, mainly darksiders who like a bit of doom n gloom, yer typical fishwife!!
I disagree.
McCoist should be able to win these games easily, regardless of his formation and tactics. The quality of player we have when compared to the part timers we are playing should almost always result in a comfortable Rangers win.
We were outplayed for long spells last night, which is a shocking indictment of our tactics.
QoS were much better on the ball, whereas we were sloppy in possession. Against slighty better opposition, in my opinion, the failures in Ally's selections, tactics and formations will be exposed.
Re comment above, lots of comments in the forums from 'fans who watched the game live in Dumfries & on BBC Alba, giving the thumbs down. Not my sentiments however.
Listened to the radio, read the forums, then watched the game then made up my own mind. None of them matched !?!
The above blog is a very fair comment. Only thing I would correct is that I thought Peralta did play in the holding midfield role last night.
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