Against all odds – how Rangers can do it at Parkhead

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Against all odds – how Rangers can do it at Parkhead

On the face of it, Rangers go into Sunday’s Old Firm clash on the back of maybe some of the worst form we can remember. True, recently Graeme Murty’s men have managed a couple of big wins in succession, dismantling Hamilton after a gritty and determined win against Tommy Wright’s St Johnstone.

But it would be fair to say this under-par Rangers team has certainly not delivered this season, and despite those wins over the past couple of weeks, few could say the squad is in great condition to travel to Celtic Park or in good enough form that a result is on the cards.

And yet, why do we give up in advance so easily. Never have Rangers thrived more than when everyone is against us – look at how Walter Smith took his beleaguered men to Parkhead in January 2007 and against all odds took all three points thanks to Ugo Ehiogu’s stunning late winner.

Rangers were up against it more recently when Celtic came to Ibrox, and after 90 minutes of stalemate, Maurice Edu’s last-gasp winner essentially won the home team the title.

And who could forget Helicopter Sunday, when against all odds Rangers won the title thanks to Scott McDonald’s double at Fir Park.

Rangers are clearly Scotland’s most hated team these days, and with absolutely everything going against us off the pitch and technically on it too, would a result at Parkhead not just be the perfect medicine for both Celtic and Scottish football to swallow?

Long term the Club would still have much work to do to get back on track, but a win in Glasgow’s East End or even a draw would be a little message to our bitter rivals that we will not just sit back and lie down, like Kilmarnock did. Right, Chris?

How do we do it? Packing the side full of defenders, as my colleague Richard Fillingham pointed out as Sir Walter used to do – Parkhead will be high-intensity and high-pressure and we need as many strong-minded players out there. The likes of the experienced Clint Hill and Philippe Senderos could be key, supported by the underrated Danny Wilson and even Rob Kiernan (if available), with Hodson and Wallace as flankers. A back five in general, with a midfield four of Tavernier, Miller, Halliday and McKay while Dodoo runs the line up front.

Why Halliday? Because while the midfielder has come under heavy criticism, the one place a Rangers fan will bust a gut to cause pain is Parkhead, and we need much more on Scott Brown than the pathetic Joey Barton of last time. Halliday showed at Hampden last year he is able to mix it – he must do so again, and he could be assisted by the hard-working Miller whose deep positioning last December pushed Rangers to wins against Aberdeen and Hearts.

And Dodoo is just a strong boy, who has never been given a fair crack. His strength over Waghorn is pace, and he can get in behind more easily, not to mention a more clinical finish.

This setup would be built for contain and break. Bags of pace and hard work in midfield, with pace up front and power too, and maybe, just maybe Rangers can get something.

The point is Rangers have nothing to lose. We are a wounded animal expected to be gubbed. Nothing would satisfy us more than taking something against all odds at the most bitter of grounds in the United Kingdom.

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27 COMMENTS

  1. We are doomed to defeat we have to be realistic. Plain and simple we are not good enough I have never thought this prior to an old firm game but given our defence how can you think anything else. I hope I am proved wrong but sadly I doubt it

    • I don't agree – unless Tavernier plays. Then you'll see Sinclair have all the freedom he needs to create havoc. You never know. Celtic have been poor against a massed defence this season.

  2. If Tavernier plays we will be eaten alive. Please don't play him Graeme, anywhere. I'd like to see Joe Dodoo play but how match fit are these lads. And Murty hasn't played him at all? If it was my decision I would pick eight of the hardest tacklers at the club irrespective of age, run the wings with McKay and O'Halloran with Joe DoDoo to first time every cross that comes his way. Long ball from defence for him to run hard and shoot, shoot, shoot.Let's go for a win lads. We are only playing a team we dominated for ever. Time to do it again.

  3. Halliday?? The only part I disagree with – a Rangers fan?? Why has he went missing in all previous games v Scott brown this season??

    I might not be able to get into a proper Rangers team based on skill / technical ability, but I, and all the true gers fans I know, would not have brown pants at the thought of facing Scott Brown – bottle! Halliday doesn't have any….

  4. Your spot on ibrox noise!We need to be solid in defence and midfield by stifling them in the midfield area,by allowing them no space whatsoever!We must use the tactic of hitting them on the break on sunday!This game could be tailor made for michael o'halloran,who has blistering pace and would be the perfect outball for us!!Thoughts on this fellow bears??

  5. Up until now I have seen this blog as balanced and reasonable however this piece is Lewis Carroll !!!!

  6. Even if we win, will you wake up the next day feeling good about our club, then reality sets in, more misery as we are still stuck with the same major issue, a board led by a complete chancer. J

  7. Sendros would be sweeping the car park, no chance and Halliday would not start for me. He has shown this season absolutely nothing but poor passing and getting caught with the ball. 4-4-2 for me, Wallace, Hill, Wilson, Hodson, McKay, Holt, Hyndman,O'Halloran, Miller, Waghorn.

  8. Hodson must play and push Tav to midfield.
    I think with the new manager due to be in the stands and on the back
    of a 6-0 win we have a chance. Start Dodoo ffs – He's a cool finisher!
    Someone NEEDS to protect the back four also.
    FFS cheer up guys. It's football! Who would have predicted TWO 5-1 victories
    back to back – Home and away for Bayern over Arsenal.
    We can win this fucker! Bring it on!

  9. WHILE IT'S NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT IT WOULD FEEL GREAT HEARING ALL OVER THE MEDIA HOW CELTIC'S UNBEATEN RUN CAME TO AN END AT THE HANDS OF THEIR RIVALS. THE MOTIVATON SHOULD BE WHEN U LOOK AT THEY HOOPE JERSEYS AS WELL AS GIVING THAT LITTLE BIT MORE FOR A SUPPORT WHO HAVE BEEN LET DOWN BADLY BY SO MANY. I STATED IN OTHER POSTS THAT UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET A RESULT, LEGALLY OR ILEGALLY .I WOULD HAVE WEE FERGIE OR SOUNESS IN THAT DRESSING ROOM BEFORE KICK OFF IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, BIG WALLACE FOR ME HAS GOT TO BE MORE VOCAL IN THE CAPTAINCY ROLE. DO NOT SHOW THEM TO MUCH RESPECT THOSE RANGERS PLAYERS PLAYERS NEED TO GET INTO THEIR HEADS WE ARE RANGERS AND JUUST AS BIG AND MORE SUCSESSFUL AS THEM DESPTE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD.

  10. WE COULD GO MAN 4 MAN MARKING ON THEM BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SWAGGER AND CONFIDENCE LIKE THEY SHOWED IN THE SEMI, ALBEIT CELTIC HAVE IMPROVED.LEGOHEAD LOOKED LIKE A WEE BOY LOST THAT DAY.

  11. Unfortunately I dont think we can expect anything other than a hammering. I hope we dont roll over this time though. We need to defend deep and take no prisoners. Long ball over the top to Mckay/Moh and hope for the best. If we do achieve the impossible Murty should continue until end of season.

  12. Well, I don't think I can bare to watch it.

    Murty claims we are built to dominate and can't play any other way – I truly hope that is a bluff as there is zero chance of us going there and dominating them. Far better to sides than us have struggled.

    Our only chance is to do what st mirren managed for 45mins, although Celtic will be fired up to give us another kick in the balls.

  13. Looks like they're going to have to try and impress Mr Caixinha, whoever plays, so… no pressure, lads.

  14. 3-5-2, we don't have the ability to soak up pressure and counter, especially with Sinclair on the wing.

    The 5 in mid field will allow us to scrap for the ball and the 3 at the back won't get torn apart as easily as 2.

    Foddy, hodgson, hill, wallace, halliday, hyndman, miller, moh, mckay, waghorn, dodoo.

    Easily the strongest team rangers can play. Wallace and hodgson won't get forward but allows them to cover the full back position when moh and mckay can't make back as well as halliday sitting just in front of them clearing up filling in and just has to be sharper with his ball out instead of the drag back, pivate, look up then pass. Miller hyndman moh and mckay are by far our biggest threats so give them a bit freedom and tell them to attack.

    Waghorn has strength so will be good at holding long ball up and linking up with dodoo.

    If dodoo gets the opportunity he will score. He knows where the net is, has great technique as we've seen, and has pace which we need up front.

    High pressure, high tempo, fight in the middle of the park, and plenty of cover at the back. I'm no manager but clearly sitting back and trying to soak up and counter is not our way anymore and we don't have the physical attributes to do that so for me this is the best we can do with what he have.

    I really hope we pull this out the bag whatevery team murty picks and just a quick well done to the big man, out his depth clearly but by god has he risen to the challenge, well done murty and good luck wherever you end up but yeah we need to do something to set a marker for the cup game. If we can take points here there's no reason we can't finish second and give us the lift we need to go to hampden and repeat last year's heroics. Come on the rangers, no surrender

  15. Despite Al Gharafa announcing they have agreed compensation with Rangers for coach Pedro Caixinha, the Portuguese tactician still has to finalise his move to Glasgow, it has been claimed.

    Rangers have managed to thrash out a compensation package with Qatari side Al Gharafa, allowing Caixinha to make the move to Ibrox to become Mark Warburton's successor.

    Well if that isn't incentive enough to spur them on to bigger and better things, it must surely do as they try to impress such a fantastic replacement manager, I mean who wouldn't be impressed….

    I can see their unwashed faces mocking us and hear their taunts already….but lets be fair here, we bring it upon ourselves and if you think a manager of a backwater outfit no one even knows, coupled with Kings millions…. how can we fail!!!!

    I sincerely hope we put up a show, but cant see us doing or getting much other than ridiculed and run out of town with our tails between our legs… if after all we have been through, this is what we deserve, then the hounds of hell really do have it in for us….I feared this would happen and am in no way surprised…where will we be this time next year, what will we be writing and just what the fuk have we allowed to happen…..I am in despair with it all….

    GSTQ

  16. footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/rangers/not-even-in-the-job-yet-caixihna-has-already-betrayed-rangers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TransferTavern+%28The+Transfer+Tavern+Home+Page%29

    oh dear…. oh dear….oh dear….just what we need

    GSTQ

  17. It is about time we beat them everything is going for us they defend a unbeaten run that may end sunday, they can not beat us in every game we play them in,we are at 7-1 and that is worth £20 could be a great day out lets do this Rangers.

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