We’ll keep this one short and sweet – the warning sign was there against Stranraer, and now it’s bellowing loud and clear – in our current state, this Rangers squad will not win 55.
Because while our first choice first XI is the best in the country, and fully on its game, tonight’s abject misery v St Mirren following exactly the same against a team 2 divisions (practically 3) lower than us shows why the likes of Jon Flanagan and Jermain Defoe cannot carry the club when the first choice players aren’t there.
We’ve preached endlessly that the main group is good, very good, but as soon as you go out to the deputies, the standard drops horrifically.
Jermain Defoe is a unique case – a world class striker, but he struggles in many SPL matches due to compact tight defences, and it doesn’t matter how good your movement is, you can’t weave a free run through effectively 10 men. He was clinical where it mattered tonight but St Mirren are one of the worst teams in the SPL, and he can’t carry us in matches like these.
Jon Flanagan is simply not good enough for Rangers – nowhere near. He has some advocates among the support, including a few on Ibrox Noise, but for the majority of us, the guy is a waste of a wage.
And tonight demonstrated how flat the team has gone since Parkhead.
As if we put everything into that match, and there’s nothing left among the main group.
Only Borna Barisic and Joe Aribo got pass marks tonight, the rest were practically asleep. And we don’t really blame them. Why?
This is also what happens, Stevie, when you overuse a bunch of your favourites and never let the likes of Docherty, Jones or Edmundson (or to an extent Katic) get their chances.
We got the win, and we’re thankful – but this main squad of 18 already looks like it’s running on empty.
8 days to do something about that.
1 – 0, win, good enough. Walter's philosophy – performance is important but, failing that, just win. It keeps the pressure on Them, which They haven't had for 8 years. Another 18 1 -0's and we've won. On to the next one.
Flanagan wasn't the problem tonight. Although he should not have been playing ahead of Patterson. Defoe can't play in a 433 like Alfie does. Aribo is not a forward and should be played in a midfield 3 as our more offensive player thats what he was bought for. The lack of a striker on the bench was the biggest worry. We need to get 2 players in a centre forward and a goal scoring midfielder. Worried about the hearts game.
It almost seems like one person says there's rust and they all on cue, act rusty. Young men of that age, shouldn't get that, rusty. We certainly missed Tav's charging up the wing, tonight. Flanno is a reasonable stopper. Like you say, it's difficult, when other teams are playing anti-football, against us.
An utter lot of nonsense.
Grind games are gonna happen. We won the game, we move on. Stop being so negative and enjoy the fact we have a competitive team. Walter had plenty of games like these.
I have been saying the exact same thing in previous articles IN. The fringe/back up players are just not good enough. This is begining to show big time as we are without Tav and Morelos. We looked very flat. Like last year, we beat Celtic and downed tools thinking they have done the job and cost us the league!!
We all know the big bus is coming to Ibrox most of the time. We just need to be quicker and sharper. St Mirren were unlucky not to sneak a goal last night. As usual our concentration drops and we let other teams in with a chance of taking points from us!
We need to buy another top class striker.
I can't believe Gerrard criticised players after the Stranraer game for not producing the goods, yet he was "delighted" with the result last night. It's obvious he has his favourites in our team, but he better guard himself about not isolating the fringe players, we will need them in the run in!!
Happy with the 3 points, but the inconsistant Rangers team is creeping back in again, they need to shake it off and fight for 55.
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