It seems now Rangers’ performance spurt in the autumn had little to do with the arrival of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and everything to do with key players wanting their moves out in January.
Playing in the big shop window of November to mid-January, we saw some stunning displays from the side, with key players finding a burst of form such as Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Connor Goldson, and Borna Barisic.
Since the winter break ended, and especially since the transfer window ended, the performances have absolutely crumbled, with clear loss of focus, attitude and concentration, with results reflecting this.
The only five players to shine (we use that loosely) the past month are Ryan Jack, Leon Balogun, James Tavernier, Alfredo Morelos and John Lundstram, at least four of whom are 100% not seeking a move, and only Morelos a little more debatable.
The ones who really were linked with moves away, the ones who have been strongly connected with wanting to head off, and didn’t get that switch in January, all look jaded, flat and disinterested.
The big disappointment this year is Joe Aribo, who is a shadow of his old self, while Glen Kamara is also pretty much going through the motions alongside Goldson and Barisic. McGregor is finished and Davis isn’t far behind him.
So once again a Rangers side performs through November and December, only to lose all impetus in January onwards.
Are we wrong? Are these post new year blues down to something else besides a host of players wanting a move out and not getting it?
Because we all bought into Gio having an amazing effect when he arrived, and of course ‘new manager syndrome’ is a thing, but it hasn’t lasted, and it’s fallen flat just like it has the last 3 seasons too.
While Gerrard clearly was jaded and had had his time at Ibrox, the players are no more playing now for Gio than they were for the ex-boss.
And it’s disheartening to see such a malaise on the pitch at a time when we need focus.
It’s not about performances, it’s about attitude. We can handle a draw if the team did everything – just like at Dundee Utd, there WAS a performance, and there was no lack of attitude, albeit fans didn’t really use the attitude as a defence of the team despite the cliché of doing so.
But that kind of dig has mostly been awol since new year, bar Europe.
If Gio can’t figure out how to get these players to give him everything, every match, his stay at the club is under threat.
And that’s down to the players, nothing else.
Yes they play great up to the january shopping window and if no offers come in, then there not interested,same always
Iam just glad we got the 3 points lastnight
Time for a clearout
WATP🇬🇧
I have to disagree with the points raised above.
Main reason being the referee decisions against us has been absolutely scandalous to say the least Clancy every time he has refereed games against us it was his outrageous decisions that have cost us.
Also off side goals scored by that lot across the city that all the officials seem to miss.
Playing 108 minutes stoppage time or even more until that lot get the winner.
Teams playing 5 & 6 at the back to frustrate us parking the buses yet when that lot across the city play certain teams players lie down because they support them St Mirren Dundee Utd Aberdeen all raise there game by 110% to frustrate the Gers.
Yes the amount of games played as we are still in Europe has taken its toll but that’s why we have a big pool of players to choose from but GVB for some strange reason is not using the squad maybe because he does not trust certain players or has lost faith in them only time will tell, if I was a betting man I would put my money on the Gers to come through strong as that lot need to go to Hearts Livingston St Johnstone and then us at IBROX.
Need to stay positive.
WATP GBTQ.
Every metric from expected goals scored to expected goals against has improved vastly under Gio from Gerrard but it’s the conversion of the chances and points on the scoreboard that matter in the end and so far this calendar year it’s not been good enough. We should arguably be in a much stronger position had got any of the major decisions in matches gone in our favour these last few months. This has certainly cost us multiple points and goals. However, the fact that the opposition seem to be taking every chance they get, like the run of 7 shots and 7 goals at the start of the season, has to stop now. Yesterday, although turgid was at least a move in the right direction proving that when we don’t conceed we have a much greater chance of winning games as we will almost always get one even if we’re poor.
Broxi, metrics and even our data and stats that we love so much matter nothing when, at the end of the day, we’re leaking lots of points. That last night was our first win away in 5 attempts is very telling indeed.
To be honest we’ve been really poor ALL season not just since the winter break and it’s ALL down to the players. We had a brief 3-4 game uplift when GVB came in as players tried to show they deserved a place in the team but once they established themselves in the team they’ve downed tools again. There’s a real lack of leadership throughout the team and until we change Tavernier for a real leader we won’t change.
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