Seven things we learned against Dundee

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Seven things we learned against Dundee


Yesterday’s badly-needed victory over Dundee may have been ugly as sin, but it got the job done even if the scoreline flattered the home side.

Here are seven things Ibrox Noise believes we learned from this one:

1: The 4-2-3-1 is at the end of its useful life in terms of exclusivity and Graeme Murty is in danger of completely turning into Mark Warburton in terms of refusing to alter it. It’s fine to have a favoured formation, but Murty only has one formation. And teams are exposing it every match; the manager must manage and find alternative strategies.

2: Rarely has a 4-0 scoreline failed to even remotely reflect the events on the pitch to this extent. Dundee only managed two less shots to Rangers’ 14 and had noticeably more of the ball, plus better use of it. Kamara and Deacon in the middle especially dominated Rangers’ currently-misfiring engine room (more on that later) and it was worrying to see how the third bottom team outclassed Rangers in every area of the pitch. Thankfully besides putting the ball in the back of the net.

3: If Rangers keep playing like that, and frankly, over the past two or three matches, they have, they will deeply struggle to take much from the rest of the season. The top five remain, and while these sides are cancelling each other out and taking points from each other, you know damn well each one of them will be on their a-game when they face Rangers. Rangers have to play better and be better prepared.

4: There seems a systemic all-round malaise engulfing this club right now – the management is bizarre at best, it doesn’t make good use of the squad (any more), the fans are losing patience with mediocrity and most of the players just aren’t doing the business, one or two aside.

5: Daniel Candeias really was a shrewd piece of business last summer – Pedro’s best signing without a single shadow of a doubt. He scores, he assists, and he works as hard in attack as he does in defence. He is the single reason James Tavernier is having his best season as a Ranger. The only thing the Portuguese lacks is blistering pace.

6: Alfredo Morelos’ finishing is utterly atrocious. Sure, he scored with the only chance in his life that was actually easier than the Celtic miss, but this guy’s magic boots have deserted him and he’s missing many more than he’s scoring. Sure, Ally did the same, as is always the comeback to that one. And it’s a fair point. So we won’t argue it. Other than to say Ally never missed the big ones, the ones that truly mattered.

7: Ross McCrorie struggled at the back, having not played there in a long time. Moussa had the measure of him (and Martin and John), as did Murray, and but for better finishing Moussa would have scored a hat trick. We like McCrorie a lot but we just don’t think defence is the best slot for him. He’s best deployed in DM, for us.

Yeah, not a lot of positivity we can come out with for this one. We know we’ve been coming across as grumpy negative old goats, but performances like yesterday’s don’t do a lot to lift the spirits.

Cheer us up and put in some chirpy comments for us to smile at.

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22 COMMENTS

  1. We won 4-0. Aberdeen lost. Hibs drew. We're back in second place. We've got a semi final next week. Take your pick out of that lot to cheer yourself up.

    • Totally Agree. Why so negative IbroxNoise? I watched the entire match live and we deserved to win. They used all their energy trying to match us for 60mins then they broke. We are miles better right now than under the previous 3 managers! Viva Murty

  2. You forgot to mention that Andy Halliday came on and sorted out the midfield, playing well as a DM and freeing Dorrans (who had been terrible til then) to go have a very good last half hour. I think a big issue is not playing a proper DM that can play passes in the middle of the park, this has a knock-on effect to the rest of the midfield as they're chasing shadows or losing the ball as soon as they get it. I'd be very tempted to play Halliday next weekend as he gave the midfield some shape and drive when he came on, which has been lacking for most of the season.

    • No one here will be happy that Halliday had a good game. Personally the team looked much better when he came on

  3. I fell out of the traps again should have been 2 down after 20 minutes again.
    McCorie should have started with Docherty in the middle for some bite with Dorrans at Nr 10, totally wasted playing so deep.
    Murty really struggling now but he's not ready yet for such a high profile job but he is giving 110% and we can ask no more, as U say the formation was wrong, U play 4-4-2 against 3 at the back
    Hope Dochertys ok, said he felt sick and had no energy or strength (sauna for him get rid of the flu or bug)

    Honestly can't believe UR having a pop at Escobar, bullied there "3" CH's all game, scored and bullied the CH for Murphy's goal.
    U want blood??? Fuk he gave us that also!!!!

    As it's been said back to 2nd with a semi next week,
    We need a big big effort in the next 3 games they will define our season.
    🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 Queens XI 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

    • I thought Morelos was motm. Won every header, both at the front and at the back, threw himself and blocked one of their shots and gave the cbs hell from start to finish. Had zero supply first half from a missing midfield and his missed chances in the 2nd were hardly clean cut. Very harsh to criticise him when he's forced to live off scraps so often. Getting tired of other websites repeating what absolute roasters say on twitter, tearing the players apart for an error or a poor game (see Docherty, Dorrans, Windass, Morelos, Murty). The shape is wrong, the midfield lacks balance but the improvement in last 30 mins gave me some hope. Not saying the team are worldbeaters but there are plenty positives and we can have a good end to the season if we can make some tweaks.

  4. On the money once again IN,not sure I can cheer yous guys up as I believe next weeks performance wont be any better than what we witnessed yesterday/previous matches and if murty doesn't change/mix things up differently for next week,then it doesn't bear thinking what the score could end up…..watp Helicopter 2005

    PS.before any bear has a go for my negativity, Them who we play next week will not pass up the opportunities that Dundee had yesterday whether it be poor finishing or bad decision making by Dundee,Them who are back to full strength will take full advantage of our frailties, especially our Defence?

  5. Miller for Windass was a big plus ahead of the Semi Final. He is not a world beater but we know he won't disappear like Windass does and he has a knack for Big game goals.

    I would play a 4-5-1 at Hampden with Miller up on his own, supported by the pace of Candeias and Murphy. Strong middle three of McCrorie, Docherty and Dorrans.

    I think back four is nailed on to be John, Alves, Martin and Tav so just middle to front to consider.

    • 4-5-1 is effectively 4-2-3-1. The only difference you are suggesting is Dorrans in the Windass position. If Murty insists on his favoured system (and he seems to be becoming as stubborn as Warburton in that respect) then that makes sense. However most people are calling for 4-4-2. Personally I think that would be risky but we have to try something different. However the choice of the midfield 4 would then become crucial.

    • I know what you're saying. However I wouldn't play two specific holding midfielders, more like a solid bank of three, each with licence to go forward on a counter attack if the other two sit.

      I wouldn't have "the Windass position" for this game, would prefer an additional centre midfielder so we don't get over-run

  6. It was not good to watch yesterday ..apart from the win, had Dundee taken their chances it would have been another sorry story…just look at our season …Murty will not see that change is needed till he is pumped …it was all wrong yetetday in shape and balance. Next week we cannot play like this or it will be embarrising .Windass is out so lets go 442 and give that shitty defence of theirs the run around

  7. I hate repeating it but we have to go four four two there are so called fans on sites giving Docherty pelters with stupid comments like never a Rangers player etc he is a young man getting thrown into a midfield that is getting outplayed due to the managers lack of tactical know how which is resulting in the wrong combination in our midfield I would ask another question has Jimmy Nichol got any input in picking the team it would appear not by what we are seeing just now

    • Mate.
      He was feeling sick. Vomiting!!
      No energy.
      No strength.
      Seen that pish on Twitter also squire,
      That's his whole game oot the window!!

  8. I must have been the only one at full time then that actually thought it was a good game. In fact it’s the 1st in a while that I was smiling during most of the 2nd half. To say Murty doesn’t
    Change things then u obviously didn’t watch the 2nd half clearly, things were changed up and
    If we had our shooting boots on it could have been more. Miller missed a couple of goals and
    Should had had a hatric. Plus the ref had a bad game for sure

  9. Agree about the formation, quite strange when you consider the success murty had with a 442 diamond when he 1st took over from pedro. Lets give that a try again with morelos n cummings starting

  10. I have never been known for my optimism, but the article is for once very downbeat. If you analyse the performance of the individual players there were few stand-outs through the whole game. Most players had their moments of good spells throughout the game, but all-in-all it was difficult to pick out the MOM with Candias getting the nod.
    How many times have we said over 5e years we need to win most matches to win the league, even if we win ugly and the Dundee game came into that category; had we won 3 of the seven lost games ugly similar to the game on Saturday would we be complaining?
    As for comments about individual player performances, McCrorie and Dorrans are just getting back from back from long term layoffs, Docherty is still finding his feet and Miller is also a long time out the side, so the result was better than the performance, but I’d take it any day.
    So my aim for us is to try our hardest to win next Sunday and for us to secure 2nd place in the league, closer to our main rivals than the year before.
    My final point, we are close to winning a major trophy, potentially attain a commendable 2nd place in 5e league, in what has become another season in turmoil for our club.

  11. Would rather see Dorrans playing in the Windass position. McCorie done fine given it was his first game back. The only thing I would like to see him be a bit less rash when going into the tackle. Sold himself a couple of times. We need another person in midfield. I would go 4-4-1-1.

  12. 100% Ibrox Noise, you were obviously watching the same game as me.
    Dundee are 10th in the league and if we can't put 4 past them, it's a sad day!
    Here are the facts from the game:-
    Possession- Rangers 51% Dundee 49%
    Shots – Rangers 14 Dundee 12
    On Target – Rangers 6 Dundee 3
    Off Target – Rangers 7 Dundee 5

    Game is a lot closer that the score would suggest!

    McCrorie got caught several times at the back and if Dundee had their shooting boots on, it would have been a different game. Never a centre half, get him forward or do not play him at all. The beggars will rip him apart on Sunday if he is at the back.

    The stats are so close,,and Dundee are 10th in the league. That is the level we are at!!
    Halliday!!! Please, He wouldn't even get a game for Dundee, he is a liability!!
    Halliday in his post match interview, he said once we scored, it settled their nerves!! REALLY!! What the feck are you feeling nervous about playing Dundee at home for??????!!!! Feckin bottle merchant!!
    Just goes to show they do not have the bottle!! I'll take the 3 points, but lets not kid ourselves.
    Next Sunday, do we have the ability to beat the beggars? Yes, I do! Do we have the bottle to beat them? No we don't!
    Quicker we get rid of Murty the better!!

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