17 Apr 2016 17:01:05
Hmmmmm.
Just back. Where to begin.
First half, Rangers blew us away. Yes they got lucky with their goal, yes we missed an absolute sitter but we were chasing shadows for most of the first 45. They had more desire, more will and the truth is RD got it wrong big time with team selection. Whatever was going on with Boyata, Svia should have started. When he came on, he was immense - and is far and away our best defender. If he wasn't 100%, he shouldn't have been on the bench. That decision cost us big time because we wasted one of our subs, which was more telling as the game wore on. By extra time there were more than a few blowing out their ass and we could have used the opportunity to change it up.
PR's head went after that miss and he didn't want the ball. I felt sorry for him - no one seemed to take him aside and wrap an arm around him. He's a young boy. Misses happen. Head up. Crack on.
SJ was very poor, as was SB. I'd struggle to even slate GMS simply because I can barely remember him having a touch. We sat so deep, and our pressing was non existent.
On a slightly different note, I think Scott Brown is done. I don't say that lightly but watching the game today, he was all over the place. Time, and injuries, have caught up with him. He was never about a killer pass, a goal threat etc - it was always about his engine, his pressing, his energy. But it's not there. Much like a Torres, Owen, who's main asset was their pace/ acceleration, was that goes it becomes difficult for them to be as effective. With his energy, and hustle, there is very little reason for Scott Brown to be in the team. As I say, that's not a conclusion I come to easily, nor take pleasure in. It's been evident for the last few weeks that the younger, more energetic midfielders in Scotland, run rings around him. He was chasing shadows today and it's even more evident in the flesh as the camera tracks the ball.
Moving on.
In the second half we came out strong but once we got our goal we let them back into it. As good as they were (and as poor as we were) I really thought that had we gone ahead, they would have struggled.
The introduction of Rogic gave us way more of a threat - but McGregor was a strange one. I have zero time for CKR but given our insistence at playing long cross diagonal balls for non existent flick ons, he should have been introduced. It would have also given us extra physicality, and a bit more balance which we lack. If you have a player on the right that cuts in (PR) you need a full back that overlaps - but ML doesn't have the legs. So we are narrow. Perversely on the left we have a player (GMS) who stays/ stayed on the touchline, and a full back that wants to overlap (KT) so they are at odds. Like I say, the balance was shot.
In ET, yes there was a bit of a kafaffle for our/ their throw in, but it was a wonder strike - as in, I wonder where our midfield were. Honestly, the amount of times simple triangles bamboozled our central two (SB/ NB) was ridiculous. It was like Pro Evo circa 2002.
And yet, even with all that - we should have won. But for a bounce to the left (rather than the right) LG's free kick wins it.
Only KT and Svia can hold their heads high after that, and Rogic did well when he came on - and he made us better.
Finally, with PKs, I thought our choice was odd. Notably ML and SB. Yes ML scored but there were other players I'd have had before them. For Rangers to miss their penalty (having gone first) and us to miss (twice! ) in the follow up is unforgivable. You need to score THAT penalty for the pressure pendulum to swing. Once it went to sudden death I felt it was only a matter of time before we bottled it.
So yes, all in all, bitterly disappointed - more so with the performance than the result. Bizarrely I was more gutted when we were beaten by ICT last year and RC this year. I'm not sure why, perhaps because even had we won on penalties my gut feeling would have been the same. The performance, and a few players in particular have really let themselves down. And I say themselves (as opposed to the fans/ club/ shirt) because it's probably going to cost RD his job - and RD's the only reason some of them are (still) here.
One last thing though, to give some balance to all the doom and gloom:
In the Director's lounge afterward, and on the radio driving home, the cry was that Rangers had played unbelievably well and we had played extremely poorly, which for what it's worth, I agree with on both counts. Now, this was said before the game, and in the run up to it; if Rangers play to their strength and Celtic have a poor game etc - Rangers have a chance. Now however, people are saying that the gap doesn't exist, Rangers can challenge for the title and so on.
All I'll say is this:
We did play very poorly.
Rangers did play extremely well.
And yet, even with that in mind, we could have, and should have still won. Forget about missing open goals and the ball bouncing left rather than right at the death. We bottled it TWICE in the shootout and would have still scraped across the line despite how poor (and great) they had played.
I still think there is a gap. It's just a question of whether or not it, or RD, will be there next season.
17 Apr 2016 17:39:46
No TPP not for me! no more your synopsis of the first half the game in general is okay
But this keek under RD is a game to far! This "Le Guen" throwback has and NEVER will work in our league!
Mowbray, Barnes, Le Guen now RD they don't get it
OUR game is about FIGHT! That's it not pretty, not conventional, NO style you win the fight you win the match
I am sick to death of watching this utter keek under RD! I want back the games we are up easily after bulldozing our opponents!
If RD is still there TONIGHT! He should be hunted another bad experiment gone badly wrong IMO
We were out fought, out played, out matched! and RD never had an answer as per usual
#ROTTENRONNY.
17 Apr 2016 17:46:09
I'm not sure what you are agreeing/ disagreeing with Jamie?
"We were out fought, out played, out matched! and RD never had an answer"
I agree with that.
17 Apr 2016 18:00:57
Neither TPP
Was that acceptable to you? Are you like me mortified by that today?
Your synopsis if Rangers were @ full tilt and we were rotten they would have a chance (condensed TPP)
By in large that to me has been a "familiar RD team to me" and given his tenure in the post he was asked not that long ago who has strongest ELEVEN was ANSWER "dont know"
#FKINCLUELESS.
17 Apr 2016 18:07:53
Sorry, TPP am not having a pop at you, you one of the brighter lads on here but it's the tail end of your main point leaving the door open for RD to recover from it
No way mate. Not a Fkin chance! I am RAW mate and that's that (y)
17 Apr 2016 18:24:29
Jamie, I'm in total agreement mate.
It wasn't acceptable at all (especially the first half) and I am, and continue to be, mortified by the whole thing.
To be clear re the last point: that wasn't even about RD, or him recovering from today. In all honesty I don't think he can/ will. I was just making the point that it's an emotional time and a lot of people can (and will) go over board on how good Rangers are. My contention is that despite us playing at our worst, and them playing at their best, we still nearly (and SHOULD have) won, be that in ET or in penalties.
17 Apr 2016 18:29:00
RD should never have been given the job in the first place> He has done NOTHING to improve our team in any department.
17 Apr 2016 18:42:19
Fair enough TPP mate, I agree cannot see him surviving now either mate (y)
Careful bestybhoy I think I coined that phrase " rabbit in the headlights " phrase seven or eight games into RD's tenure on here and got nothing but pelter's for it (y)
17 Apr 2016 19:00:23
RD's never had it. It's a shame it took this long and for this to happen.
Good riddance though!
17 Apr 2016 21:17:54
Poeticpatient, I know we had a disagreement the other day, but I think your summing up of the match was pretty accurate.
In last years semi final we could at least point to a terrible refereeing decision, and a sending off as reasons for our defeat, but the thing that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth this time is that we were beaten by a hungrier team.
As you said the only comfort you can take from it is that they played to their maximum and we were awful, but on chances created we still should have won.
17 Apr 2016 21:51:34
Agreed Gerry. I honestly think my anger stems from the fact that I was so disgusted by the end that I doubt winning on penalties would have changed my, or anyone else's, mind on what I had witnessed. Had we won, we would have stolen it - and that's incomprehensible. A team of rejects and journeymen, but a team none the less. We should be wiping the floor with them, but more than that, we should be matching their desire - and we didn't. That I can't accept.
I know there is an argument that we had x shots, and they had 2/ 3 and scored a wonder goal etc but anyone who watched that game, especially in person, has to admit they toyed with us in the first 45 minutes. We had no shape, no real hunger and worst of all, no plan. I was slated by Precious a few weeks ago for saying Warburton has done a good job (in relative terms) and I stand by that. You look at Rangers, 8/ 9/ 10 months in and there is a different, discernible style of play from the team that Ally left.
We have better players, I still believe that, but what I witnessed today was a team lacking in heart, in bottle, and in fight. And that's unacceptable.