Eight things we learned against Celtic

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Eight things we learned against Celtic


So having all had a chance to mull on the performance and result, we decided to take you through an analysis of observations and thoughts we have over the whole thing. See how many you can accept.

1: The progress under Gerrard is undeniable for Rangers. The designated home side controlled this match, and had countless chances. This was one of the best performances in terms of chances created a Rangers team has had against Celtic for a very long time. Anyone who believes Stevie G isn’t doing a good job based on this match is very wrong indeed.

2: The minute you’re ‘proud’ of the team for its performance when it loses is the day you become a fundamental loser. We can appreciate the heart, we always want our Rangers team to commit, but pride is going too far – we expect this level from a Rangers and we shouldn’t be praising a squad assembled at this cost for putting in a good shift. It’s the least we should expect.

3: Surprisingly, Rangers’ midfield didn’t miss Steven Davis too much. The midfield (and flanks) very much dictated the match, with Ryan Jack having an especially mammoth match. Joe Aribo was ok, but still feels too slow and out of sorts with the Scottish game.

4: Critically, fundamentally, this match showed Celtic still have an edge over Rangers. Even if Rangers play as well as they did, such as they did v Feyenoord and Porto, there is something about the Old Firm fixture no manager since Walter has truly been able to seize. That includes Steven Gerrard. Something has to change mentally, because right now Rangers won’t be able to surpass Celtic if they can’t convert the chances into goals.

5: Some key battles were telling – Ryan Kent didn’t get the best of Frimpong, who was one of the best players on the pitch till he got his marching orders, but Barisic certainly had the number of Forrest, even if his crossing was bizarrely abject. Kamara also had mixed fortune in this one, coming off second best a lot in many battles. Morelos really struggled against Ajer.

6: While Rangers mostly lost in the individual battles, as a team they did produce the better football – they seemed a little weak at times in the tackle compared to Celtic, and lacked some physical presence at times, but they overcame that with more of the ball especially in dangerous areas. It was just a pity that superiority couldn’t translate into goals.

7: Alfredo Morelos was too obsessed with trying to blast with power past Forster and didn’t think enough with his shooting. Forster made one top-drawer save, from Jack, but otherwise the saves he made we’d expect McGregor to as well. None of the shots otherwise, particularly from Morelos, really pushed him into a jaw-dropping save, and that was a bit concerning.

8: Rangers’ defence was mostly comically untested, but the two times it was pushed it was brutally undone. The first for the goal, and although it was offside, Helander and Goldson were still caught flatfooted. The second, thanks to Edouard’s holdup play, saw Mikey Johnston clean through. We should point out 10 men should NEVER be 3 men up in a counter over 11 men.

We didn’t expect a win in this one once we saw the team sheet. We’d advocated Katic and his physicality would have helped, while the loss of Davis was a blow too. But the team did play better than it was anticipated to. As for ‘should have won’? Only losers say that. We’ve said that countless times the past 7 years. Real Rangers teams win. Real champions win.

The sooner we learn how to win on the big domestic occasions, the better.

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13 COMMENTS

  1. Call me a loser. I'm so PROUD of my team today. We stepped up and showed we are more than a match for them.
    FACT 1: we did miss Davis, our most influential player.
    FACT 2: how can we criticise our defence for a goal that was clearly offside.
    FACT 3: in what way way did they show they had the edge over us. We battered them for 90 minutes.

  2. Pretty spot on, only addition for me is Ibrox Noise hype of Morelas was in general well founded apart from one thing, he needs to grow up J

  3. Totally agree but Steven said some terrible stuff tonight after game and as a club we cant condom that opinion .

  4. That about sums it I.N i also was impressed with that Frimpong fuckin solid little hard bastard we couldnt shift him stood his ground,

    This oldfirm match reminded me of the old days when celtic used to dominate the games but couldnt score to our advantage with Ally poaching on the goaline

    I dont think ive seen an oldfirm where celtic had so little chances on goal shagger had fuckall to do bar pick it out the net,,so basically celtic played pish and still won

    Still a lot of work to do live n learn move on

  5. I think you guys know me by I'm worse than troopz from arsenal tv .. ..proud of that your having a laugh ..we couldn't even score v 10 men for 36 minutes ..7m million for Kent what a joke that kid frimpong kept him at bay as for karmara and aribo get both sold in january they where passengers yesterday once again ..alf was shocking 20m no more he's far to greedy and defoe should have come on and Stewart …big game bottlers once more ..thats celtic twice this season and Aberdeen away blown all 3 and can't handle the pressure ..we will win nothing unless the players step up ..yesterday is the lowest point since losing ramsdens cup final to raith 2014 when we where really poor ..no excuses for losing and don't blame the officials we had loads of chances and the penalty was abysmal …everyone is deflated apart from the deluded supporters …not good enough and Gerrard needs to stop playing his mates ..another massive let down ..proud that's laughable …I'm seething

  6. Strathclyde police have issued an urgent message concerning a missing person,Ryan Kent has gone missing from Glasgow since three o clock yesterday

  7. It's hurting bad ..if that if this …We did not put them to sword . Alfredo has still got a long way to go to be a 'Real' Rangers Striker…never mind EPL ! We did miss Steven Davis his experience his class his Rangerness. Katic is our best Central Defender Fact Stories about Edmundson ..off field ??
    We will win this league this season …

  8. It's hurting bad ..if that if this …We did not put them to sword . Alfredo has still got a long way to go to be a 'Real' Rangers Striker…never mind EPL ! We did miss Steven Davis his experience his class his Rangerness. Katic is our best Central Defender Fact Stories about Edmundson ..off field ??
    We will win this league this season …

  9. BillB, I hope we do but it is hope (win the league), did you notice their bench compared to ours (way way stronger). Hearing Davis might be out for a month and Alfredo has suddenly hit something that comes to most strikers (poor form for him) in a season. If we were to tank (hopefully not) on Thursday night the financial situation might become really serious J

    • Don't see the financial position changing too much by Thursday. Obviously be great to qualify and get another big home gate but realistically getting to the group stages was our financial target.

  10. Good points Robrob57 but our financial position changed a bit when we bought Kent and increased terms for players and prob manager, results will surely go for us on Thursday (one point) but if not it might mean we can't strengthen enough for the rest of the season, whereas they have (my view) a strong looking squad that you need for the season, unless you escape injuries hence my Davies comment.J

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