SuperMario wrote:

Do we gamble with Watters and Graham essentially 3 games in a week if you include the county game.

Can’t decide between 2 teams.

Richards
Sevelj Graham KK
Strain Stephenson camera sibbald ferry
Sapsford Watters

Or

Richards
Strain Graham kk ferry
Stephenson camera sibbald
Fatah Watters sapsford

 
I would go with the first set up. Naturally it comes with a risk, but, I really feel we play better with width. For most of the home games this season, we seem to start off on the back foot and then try and dig ourselves out the hole. I was impressed by Ross Graham lasting the 90mins on Saturday. I would like to see a decent atmosphere too. Finally, I think Stirton should get a chance at some point.

Despite the general consensus that the current Rangers 2012 team is shite they have gone 17 away matches unbeaten. And only lost once in the league.
It's always difficult to beat them due to them getting their 'fair share' of decisions and most Scottish teams not having the belief to play what's in front of them rather than the history of the original Rangers.

I would love to be wrong but I don't think this current UTD team have enough.about them to get the win tonight.

No Strain, Sibbald Graham or watters.

Esselink Sevelj moller Fatah in.

Just go tonight Goodwin. And let someone else save our season.

Jim Goodwin is a very good club manager but I think we should invest in a really good number 2 who has outstanding coaching ability. A coach who can work on fluidity with the ball, patterns of play that will open up tight defences, building play from possession and daily drills of keeping the ball away from an opponent, finding the right pass not just the easiest.
There are coaches in the league with identifiable styles, McGlynn being one I would aspire to, Robinson being one I wouldn't, but you cant look at our performances this season and say it has any sort of obvious coached style.

Which begs the question, what exactly are they doing at St Andrews? Some training drills followed by videos outlining how great the next opposition are?

Macho Man wrote:

Surely if there is a doubt over 3 players match fitness after lengthy spells out and there being a lot of games being played over a short period of time, you would want those players to be rested if needed, no?  Or are we best to rush them back to regular first team football and risk them being out injured for longer?

I'd rather we used the squad sensibly if those players are just getting back to fitness and I'd prefer to have them available for the St Mirren game, that we are more likely to win than playing against the Zombies and their VAR.

Agree with this. I’m also wondering if they’ll be on the bench.

Why doesn't Sam Harding get a fucking game? Esselink is fucking shite

Last edited by Arabdownsouth (03/12/2025 6:36 pm)

Just seen a snippet of apparently Goodwins interview after the game, complete soft touch, actually embarrassing

He had to go to full levein tonight

Firstly, i thought that was a brilliant game of football. I expected it to a defensive War of Attrition tonight, but it was anything but. Both teams styles seem to make for an entertaining watch this season.

SOOOO many talking points.

Let's start with he positives. Scored two great goals, could have scored more. We were cavalier in attack and it was back to the swagger of the late Summer when we played Rapid etc.

That and the defence looking much more assured. Yes, Rangers scored and created chances, but a lot of boys put their bodies on the line and their was some excellent defending and blocks at vital moments.

Now to the negatives.

Not seeing out yet another game we have by the scruff of the neck. We have now led Rapid, Falkirk, Hearts, Hibs, Rangers X2 and not seen out a match we dominate. Our season will be one of disappointment if we can't start turning draws into wins.

The stonewall penalty not given to us for the handball in the Rangers box. For the VAR team to decide (for the 2nd time in just 4 days) that the incident didn't merit the referee going to have a 2nd look at the monitor is absolutely mindblowing. 

I actually think their penalty is a penalty. Stupid, slow swipe of the ball from Ferry. He doesn't touch the ball and there is contact with their player (however minimal).

My player ratings -

Richards 7/10 - Some good saves and good kicking.

Iovu 8/10 - Great game from Iurie. Defensively sound and could have scored a couple from headers.

Bert 8/10 - Back to his best tonight.

Keresztes 8/10 - Unbelievable range of long passing. Boy could easily play CDM for us imo.

Stephenson 7/10 - Hard working and all energy.

Camara 7/10 - Was having a fine match until injury curtailed his involvement.

Sevelj 7/10 - Better performance, but still not quite back to his best.

Ferry 6/10 - If we had another fit option at LB/LWB then i'd like to see him dropped. Caught out positionaly far too often. Never really rated him defensively, but when he was bombing down the left wing and assisting goals it was a no brainer to start him. He hasn't done that for months. 

Fatah 9/10 - Outstanding. That was a throwback to watching Jerren Nixon in the 90's. A joy to watch.

Moller 6/10 Flatters to deceive. Doesn't win many headers for such a big guy, and just doesn't get on the end of chances.

Sapsford 8/10 - Great, hardworking, tireless performance. His goal an absolutely outstanding bit of attacking football topped off with a virtuoso finish.

Subs - 

Watters 5/10 - Not seen much.

Trapanovski 5/10 - Frustrating.

Dolcek 5/10 - Lazy.

Strain 6/10 - Tries, but just not particularly good. He's be my 3rd choice RB/RWB. We could do better at both Full back positions.


 

However disappointing it is to drop points to the late Rangers penalty overall I think a draw was the most we deserved.
It was an entertaining match as both teams looked very vulnerable at the back.
Some good performances . Fatah has that bit of pace and trickery that our other ' wingers' are no where near.
Sevelj though just dosent have the ability to play ina midfield two.
Any signings in January need to be in Central midfield.

Last edited by Stillliving (04/12/2025 7:55 am)

I thought there was a lot to like about the performance. After some of the most recent home performances, there was a togetherness and sense of purpose from the whole team. I was delighted to see that Iovu and Bert looking much more confident (maybe being rested last Saturday helped them).

I do agree with Tek in terms of our inability to finish teams off. It’s all very well playing  well and getting draws, but, do we lack a “Fergie” desire to win?

I noticed Richards punching the ball, when in my opinion he should have caught it. This bothers me. Two weeks ago, I questioned what Mathers was doing vis a vis Kuch. I am still unclear whether our goalkeepers are being coached to punch the ball or whether they lack the confidence to catch the ball. McCann (on Sportscene) suggested that goalkeepers are being coached to “parry” the ball.

Lastly, in terms of the refereeing decisions, it is an inescapable fact that we have lost four points in two games. If it was just us, I would be livid, but the whole thing has reached a farcical point. Managers are going to get sacked and teams are going to get relegated due to the utter failure of officials to apply a set of rules consistently. This in turns raises questions of biases, corruption and even betting syndicates. The fact that Rangers are getting crucial decisions going in their favour nearly every week just perpetuates the lack of faith in the whole VAR system.

The first goal comes from Richards not catching the cross, wtf is he punching that for- seriously? No cunt near him, didn’t even have to move for it- the simplest catches you can get- baffling, the first signing in January has to be a goalkeeper- the Craig Gordon move just makes total sense if we can get it done.

SuperMario wrote:

The first goal comes from Richards not catching the cross, wtf is he punching that for- seriously? No cunt near him, didn’t even have to move for it- the simplest catches you can get- baffling, the first signing in January has to be a goalkeeper- the Craig Gordon move just makes total sense if we can get it done.

 
100% agree, why the hell he punched that I’ll never understand.  Same with that shot in the 2nd half that he punched up into the air.  What is going on with these keepers, can’t they just do the basics anymore?