Last night was the first chink in the Giovanni van Bronckhorst armour. The manager has been great, let’s face it, and got pretty much everything correct so far, so any Rangers fan with even a hint of turning on him can kindly exit stage left.
We remain fully behind him, of course, but we have always been willing to criticise when need be, and the boss had his lowest 90 as Rangers boss.
If we look at the starting lineup, we cut slack due to 6+ players still unavailable. They’ll be back fairly soon, but no Helander, Arfield or especially Aribo really made a difference to Rangers’ options, and gave Gio a lot less flexibility.
But starting a 21-year old rookie in James Sands at Pittodrie was a blunder. It was a gamble, to hope his composure and defensive attributes would thrive, and while his reaguard contribution was actually decent, the game otherwise passed him by and he was slightly rabbit in headlights. Can’t help feeling while John Lundstram isn’t universally flavour of the month, he’d have been a better option.
But the biggest problem was the tactics. Gio went with the same 4-2-3-1 which has been pretty darn effective, but overlooked the vitriolic atmosphere and oppression Pittodrie brings Rangers. He was naïve to select an attacking formation, and it exposed the rearguard way too many times, with Ramsey and Hayes getting way too many crosses in, and Ferguson breaking centrally with too much ease.
The substitution was also bizarre, bringing off a reasonably bright performer in Scott Wright, and replacing him with a holding midfielder. GVB’s reasoning was almost certainly to fortify defence, but it removed an attacking outlet which had been taking pressure off our own defence.
In short, it invited more pressure.
This was a valuable night for Rangers and GVB. He’s had an amazing honeymoon, and the fans still love him. We know we do. But this was the first time he’s made tangible errors that have ultimately cost us along with the players’ own poor displays for the majority.
We take it on the chin, we learn, and we move on.
I’m 100% behind GVB and his coaching team. But he needs to have various 1 to ones with those who are not engaging . Stats don’t win leagues. Skill guts and desire do . It’s not just about 1 game it’s about stopping it right now and getting it sorted . We need to win this league . Onwards 56 in GVB we trust .
Spot on Bill B
This was down to the players as it nearly always is. Sure GVB took a gamble on Sands which failed but had other players been at it then he could’ve been nurtured through the game. We just aren’t learning the lessons of the whole season that we just can’t turn up and expect to win. When the players watch video analysis of opponents it must be partially counter productive because they then have to consider that the opponents will be putting in an extra 30% effort against us. Just watch how Aberdeen perform in coming games. It also concerns me how easily the creativity disappears when Aribo doesn’t play.
Don’t think Aberdeen is the venue for nurturing anyone Rob, it’s dog eat dog and any puppies will be slapped.
Hope this is not the start of the new year blues as has happened the last 2 or 3 seasons
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