Opening day at Motherwell; analysing the Rangers
Article by: Ibrox Noise
My colleague Greg Roots yesterday provided a constructive and analytical piece covering his thoughts on the
opening match of Rangers’ season. It was fairly positive and I wanted to add
some further site ideas into the mix.
opening match of Rangers’ season. It was fairly positive and I wanted to add
some further site ideas into the mix.
There was a lot of hype about
this fixture – it was Rangers’ first competitive outing since the Niederkorn
disaster, and despite the progressively improving friendly performances and
results, the real litmus test was the bread and butter of the SPL.
this fixture – it was Rangers’ first competitive outing since the Niederkorn
disaster, and despite the progressively improving friendly performances and
results, the real litmus test was the bread and butter of the SPL.
Motherwell remain a side expected
to contend for relegation, despite their summer overhaul, and Rangers’ travels
to such grounds over recent times have not been terribly inspiring – Pedro Caixinha,
the players and us fans were hoping yesterday would buck that trend and give us
a lot of uplift.
to contend for relegation, despite their summer overhaul, and Rangers’ travels
to such grounds over recent times have not been terribly inspiring – Pedro Caixinha,
the players and us fans were hoping yesterday would buck that trend and give us
a lot of uplift.
Well, it would be pessimistic
fabrication of the worst degree to suggest it was a dreadful match filled with
problems – it was indeed hardly a smooth win, with more than a few problems in
there too, but a win it was on the opening day which showed character on the
players’ parts and some good tactical alteration by Pedro who is learning on
the job.
fabrication of the worst degree to suggest it was a dreadful match filled with
problems – it was indeed hardly a smooth win, with more than a few problems in
there too, but a win it was on the opening day which showed character on the
players’ parts and some good tactical alteration by Pedro who is learning on
the job.
The first non-surprise was the
line up – exactly as we predicted, it was the same XI who turned out at Hillsborough, in the same formation. Yours truly and presumably the majority of
the rest of the support would have been fairly happy with that, even if there
were still complaints (for which the site got abuse for pointing out recently)
that Miller started.
line up – exactly as we predicted, it was the same XI who turned out at Hillsborough, in the same formation. Yours truly and presumably the majority of
the rest of the support would have been fairly happy with that, even if there
were still complaints (for which the site got abuse for pointing out recently)
that Miller started.
The first five minutes were a
mess. The match had no rhythm, went at a hundred miles an hour, and many of
Rangers’ players, particularly those who were unfamiliar with our game, were
caught out. The opening minutes, from both sides, but playing into Motherwell’s
hands nicely, were extremely scrappy and the outstanding Graham Dorrans’ opener
on five minutes helped massively to settle the visitors.
mess. The match had no rhythm, went at a hundred miles an hour, and many of
Rangers’ players, particularly those who were unfamiliar with our game, were
caught out. The opening minutes, from both sides, but playing into Motherwell’s
hands nicely, were extremely scrappy and the outstanding Graham Dorrans’ opener
on five minutes helped massively to settle the visitors.
For the next 25 or so minutes we
watched some great terrific football from Rangers – some immaculate and
penetrative runs especially from Josh Windass who was tearing the field up and
continuing his impressive pre-season form.
watched some great terrific football from Rangers – some immaculate and
penetrative runs especially from Josh Windass who was tearing the field up and
continuing his impressive pre-season form.
As mentioned Dorrans too was in
scintillating form, seeing passes, flicking deftly, and making the sport look
easy.
scintillating form, seeing passes, flicking deftly, and making the sport look
easy.
Unfortunately Rangers’
superiority did start to wane around 35 minutes. The game slowed and the
visitors’ profligacy in front of goal could have been more costly than it
thankfully was. Too many wasted chances were disappointing to witness, and it
is a problem Rangers have suffered in varying styles for some considerable
time.
superiority did start to wane around 35 minutes. The game slowed and the
visitors’ profligacy in front of goal could have been more costly than it
thankfully was. Too many wasted chances were disappointing to witness, and it
is a problem Rangers have suffered in varying styles for some considerable
time.
Under Warburton it was passing
the ball to death before it all petered out with some insipid flubbed shot or
the like. Now it was getting behind the defence and making the gilt edge chance
before plain missing or cracking the post.
the ball to death before it all petered out with some insipid flubbed shot or
the like. Now it was getting behind the defence and making the gilt edge chance
before plain missing or cracking the post.
But the chances were being made –
and while the form did fade a bit, the fact Rangers were cutting Motherwell
open thanks to Windass, Dorrans and Wallace’s running showed there was more
connection between wing and attack.
and while the form did fade a bit, the fact Rangers were cutting Motherwell
open thanks to Windass, Dorrans and Wallace’s running showed there was more
connection between wing and attack.
Gone are the days of McKay
running left of the box before cutting back and passing inside or behind. Now
it is quicker, sharper, and it gets to the point more efficiently. It just
misses it a bit too much.
running left of the box before cutting back and passing inside or behind. Now
it is quicker, sharper, and it gets to the point more efficiently. It just
misses it a bit too much.
Rangers need a big goalscorer. A
reliable 25+ a season man – of what we have seen from Morelos, he is not the
answer and is plain struggling to settle in. Hopefully time solves that one and
he starts banging them in to resolve the problem, but till then Rangers are not
really starting with a single truly reliable striker.
reliable 25+ a season man – of what we have seen from Morelos, he is not the
answer and is plain struggling to settle in. Hopefully time solves that one and
he starts banging them in to resolve the problem, but till then Rangers are not
really starting with a single truly reliable striker.
Midfield though is coming
together. Ryan Jack had a quieter game than he has had recently, with much of
it passing him by, and even nearly costing his team a goal, but he still looks
solid and reliable. This just was not his finest performance in the jersey, but
we know he can do much better so one quieter match with no cost is not too
worrisome.
together. Ryan Jack had a quieter game than he has had recently, with much of
it passing him by, and even nearly costing his team a goal, but he still looks
solid and reliable. This just was not his finest performance in the jersey, but
we know he can do much better so one quieter match with no cost is not too
worrisome.
Dorrans we have discussed already
– a complete bargain and the signing of the summer. We stated that a few week sago and we are saying it again – and this match proved it. But his fellow
summer marquee signing, Bruno Alves, maybe did not sparkle as much as hoped.
Defence still looks shaky, and there was a glaring feeling the ex-Porto man was
quite simply caught out by the pace of the game. He was not awful, but he has
been better for us already and we hope this was a quick learning curve – his loss
of position for Moult’s early effort was disappointing and a player of his
class will certainly regroup for the next match.
– a complete bargain and the signing of the summer. We stated that a few week sago and we are saying it again – and this match proved it. But his fellow
summer marquee signing, Bruno Alves, maybe did not sparkle as much as hoped.
Defence still looks shaky, and there was a glaring feeling the ex-Porto man was
quite simply caught out by the pace of the game. He was not awful, but he has
been better for us already and we hope this was a quick learning curve – his loss
of position for Moult’s early effort was disappointing and a player of his
class will certainly regroup for the next match.
But the fullbacks were terrible.
Wallace’s running forward was good, even if his crossing was not, but he and
Hodson’s defending was AWOL. Rangers’ defence, going by this match alone,
remains as vulnerable as it was last season and the same concerns fans have
cited on the site continue to be 100% valid.
Wallace’s running forward was good, even if his crossing was not, but he and
Hodson’s defending was AWOL. Rangers’ defence, going by this match alone,
remains as vulnerable as it was last season and the same concerns fans have
cited on the site continue to be 100% valid.
Pedro though must be applauded
for the switch to three. He has done it before to good effect, and he has done
well to work on both that and the 4-4-2 in training to deliver either one as
and when needed. And he was justified with all his selections yesterday even if
it was not a truly convincing opening match.
for the switch to three. He has done it before to good effect, and he has done
well to work on both that and the 4-4-2 in training to deliver either one as
and when needed. And he was justified with all his selections yesterday even if
it was not a truly convincing opening match.
Other players fans have been
reacting to are Candeias and Herrera. Candeias seem to be dividing the support –
his running and effort are impressive, but his defending seems non-existent and
his final ball a bit mediocre. One hopes he adjusts to the tempo as he does
seem to have a bit of fight about him. Meanwhile Herrera is struggling – in all
fairness his CV has no record of scoring worth talking about, but the pressing
he produced in the friendlies was gone yesterday and I can barely remember him
producing much of anything really.
reacting to are Candeias and Herrera. Candeias seem to be dividing the support –
his running and effort are impressive, but his defending seems non-existent and
his final ball a bit mediocre. One hopes he adjusts to the tempo as he does
seem to have a bit of fight about him. Meanwhile Herrera is struggling – in all
fairness his CV has no record of scoring worth talking about, but the pressing
he produced in the friendlies was gone yesterday and I can barely remember him
producing much of anything really.
Lastly Morelos managed to get
nutmegged by the air during his cameo – the kid is struggling badly and we
await his adjusting to the expectations on him.
nutmegged by the air during his cameo – the kid is struggling badly and we
await his adjusting to the expectations on him.
Overall it was a gritty match, a
hard fought win which in truth could have gone either way. Foderingham, not
having his best match, managed to save Rangers a couple of times nevertheless,
and if not for better finishing from Moult, Cadden and the like, Rangers could
easily have left Fir
Park without a single
point. Defensively Pedro needs to get his backline in order.
hard fought win which in truth could have gone either way. Foderingham, not
having his best match, managed to save Rangers a couple of times nevertheless,
and if not for better finishing from Moult, Cadden and the like, Rangers could
easily have left Fir
Park without a single
point. Defensively Pedro needs to get his backline in order.
We want the winning mentality.
Hopefully this is the first step to that being drummed in. But a lot of
refining is still needed before we are convinced that the good signs from
yesterday are here to stay and grow.
Hopefully this is the first step to that being drummed in. But a lot of
refining is still needed before we are convinced that the good signs from
yesterday are here to stay and grow.