02 Sep 2016 09:01:03
I can't be the only person who thinks our defence isn't bad at all.
02 Sep 2016 10:33:25
kiernan has a few lapses in concentration and looks a bit nervous which is understandable due to the abuse from fans, tav and wallace go gung-ho up the park (which they are told to do) but even when they are back they add no defensive capabilities both are shocking when trying to defend. we will concede goals we are an attacking team now we aren't the rangers of old with the defensive football.
02 Sep 2016 10:39:20
I wouldn't say it's "bad", I would say we need to find 2 CB that are compatible and stick with them.
I think we all agree we must do better.
02 Sep 2016 10:49:35
you might be.
02 Sep 2016 10:52:02
It's the current form that is my only concern! We have the talent in the squad and they just need a bit of confidence and to show some aggression. Senderos has the experience to lead from example now! For what it's worth Celtic don't worry me at all. They have zero players that have ever put in a big performance in a big match! We have Senderos, Barton, Niko! If we play to our potential we will win!
02 Sep 2016 11:30:11
Put it this way. The difference makers in the Celtic team that weren't at their club last time we demolished them are Sinclair and Dembele. Honestly don't know if I've left anyone out, just not as up on everything Celtic like some "Rangers" fans are.
We were without Waghorn, Forrester and couldn't even fill the bench and fans are going into this match with the fear?
As for the defence, it might be the area of the pitch where we needed to strengthen the most in the summer, but the HM role was more crucial and we've now got almost half a dozen players who can play that role. It's up to the manager to get the choice correct, not the fans.
02 Sep 2016 11:48:42
I think it's a mixture of things that make us look so vulnerable at the back and signing Senderos isn't going to change that over night but it will give us a more solid foundation to start with. Kiernan and Wilson have had plenty of time to click and it just hasn't happens for them.
Kiernan is the weak link and when he's not playing I think it will take away some of the nervousness.
Wilson and Senderos look like they could work on paper, one ball playing CB and one more rugged CB usually works so here's hoping. To be fair I think Kiernan could look better bedside Senderos as well.
I disagree about Tav and Wallace, Tav's defending has been spot on this year and he's been by far our best player. Wallace hasn't started the season well but he can defend once he gets his game back.
I still think the answer to all our troubles is to line up 4-2-3-1 the same as Man U and City. It suits our personell more what with all the CDM's we now have. Maybe just for the bigger games anyway.
02 Sep 2016 12:33:59
Just think the squad has took longer than expected to get up to speed, for me due to a terrible preseason which just didn't challenge us in the right way, imagine if mw could build it up the way he liked to the Burnley game I think we would have been looking a lot better right now. Celtic have played a lot more games than us especially against quality oppositions so they were always going to start faster, that and we have made many more signings.
02 Sep 2016 13:31:16
Recbob I totally agree with you regarding a 4-2-3-1 formation, I think with the squad we have that would be the ideal formation, but and its a big but, the gaffer won't change his 4-3-3 formation, he has his own ideas and he won't change them for no one, this is how I would like to see us line up at parkhead
Fod
Tav. Senderos. Wilson. Wallace
Barton. Rossiter
Waghorn. Kranjcar. McKay
Garner
Subs. gilks, forrester, kiernan, Miller, hodson, crooks, haliday
Anyway something like that would suit me, plus Celtic wouldn't be expecting us to change formation, which would surprise them.
02 Sep 2016 14:03:26
RFC Infinity,
I disagree with your comment regarding no current Celtic Player performing in important games,
Leigh Griffiths scored against yous in the first Celtic V The Rangers game at hampden, additionally he has scored in important champs league qualifies this season,
gamboa played in a world cup quarter final.
Toure has played in African cup of nations final and both Champs League and Europa League Finals, also he was at the heart of the Arsenal Invincibles Run.
Scott Sinclair has played in the championship play off final (richest game in the world)
can i ask what important games niko and barton have played in and done well in?
02 Sep 2016 14:09:39
RossW, your comment is way inaccurate as well.
whats harder?
to adjust to bringing in set amount players to a team that have played together for a year under a management duo that are still at the club
or
Bringing five players into a team that has just changed manager and the entire roster and club getting used to the new managers methods and practices?
its not about who has started quicker, its down to managment skills and squad quality, and to be honest Celtic have a more experienced and tacticly astute manager and they have signed better quality players (because the have the finance to do so) this is the reason they have started better. Come the end of the season Celtic will win the league by at least 10 points.
02 Sep 2016 14:15:05
Thorne,
can i ask how were Celtic demolished by the Rangers?
did rangers have more clear cut chances?
did rangers win in 90 mins?
did rangers win in 120 mins?
possession stats and the pen shootout aside. in what way were Celtic demolished as i seem to remember rangers having 9 shots, whilst celtic had 33. both had a similar amount of corners.
02 Sep 2016 14:15:06
Everyone knew that we would have to play these cup games well in advance so that's not an excuse for the poor preseason. We could easily have played more games and was the trip to the states really necessary.
02 Sep 2016 14:23:14
I agree with the 4-2-3-1 recbob. Would help out by giving extra protection to the defence while still being able to attack the way MW wants to.
02 Sep 2016 14:30:59
wish people would stop referring to the last Old Firm game.
It was a one off, not 1 Celtic player played well and if there was any luck going we got it. Great day, great result.
Enjoy it - - now move on.
02 Sep 2016 14:39:03
Demolished may have exaggerated it a bit, it is a Rangers forum after all.
Did you watch the first half though Kaney1983?
Think every Celtic fan that day was counting their lucky stars that the game went to penalties. They were completely outplayed by a team they thought were a non entity.
We have significantly improved the team that DEMOLISHED Celtic. Celtic have only added two players who have improved their attacking options. Our squad depth has been added to in every area of the pitch.
02 Sep 2016 15:44:28
kaney 1983, even the most green eyed of selik fans will admit they where done by the better team on that day we played you off the pitch and for the rangers having 9 shotys to your 33 I don't know where u got your stats from but we where dominant that whole game and where unlucky not to be 4 up in the first half on that game . selik had a good 5 mins in the first half and 10 mins to 15 mins in the second the rest of the time selik where defending and rangers where running rampid .
we might not have beat yous by the difference we deserved but that doesn't mean that we didn't show yous how to plsy football that day.
02 Sep 2016 16:07:39
Completely disregarding the fact we are just promoted and we have added first team players across the board why would bringing in a new manager with the same core team take longer to gel? Can tell by how you construct your arguments that you aren't quite quite as smart as me. You lost in Astana and scrapped champions league qualification against nobodies you think your tactically sound because you went from a rubbish manager to a better one he hasn't shown anything special but you know green tinted specs and all that. I'll ask you to never directly comment to me again I'm not interested on what a Celtic fan has to say on a Rangers forum surrounding a discussions with Rangers fans. As I've said already your only here because you think you'll win you were missing when you couldn't even be bothered attending your games. You brought in 5 players over the space of a month and bedded them in gradually you have no basis to try and argue against the start both team's have made so please don't directly refer to me or comment to me again I don't have the time for your nonsense.
02 Sep 2016 16:40:18
Thorne, Celtic missed an open goal and we're half an inch away from winning it, and tbh Barton and niko have not improved you they have stopped your fluency. Also we're is the improvement in defence senderos? Attack well ill give garner time before I say he's an improvement over 28 goal (14 pens) waghorn. Rossiter, doddo i do rate as a big prospects though. The rest I. e gilks, crooks, windass, hill, hodson, are not any better than what u have.
02 Sep 2016 18:56:46
You know a lot about Rangers for a Celtic fan and you spend about much time on here as anyone else. Want to go onto Celtic Rumours, contribute to your own forum, socialise with your own fans. Doesn't matter what you say no one realistically values your opinion here.
02 Sep 2016 19:09:24
RossW, were to attack your peice is the question.
i have been a Celtic season ticket holder for 11 years, attended 95% of the games at home in that time.
and as for you being smart, i think you'll find we drew away with astana, it was the imps we lost too and HBS away (so much for you being smart, maybe you should check your facts before you post) .
Additionally as for showing something special, i do believe we are top of the league with a game in hand and as much as you like to highlight the struggle we ARE in the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE group stage, whilst the rangers fans are having a meltdown with regards to drawing with hamilton and killie (not to mention 30 mins against 10 men), and it took a late winner to beat Motherwell at home (coincidentally a team we thumped at home)
i will in future direct my opinions towards you if i think you are inaccurate with your statements.
the fact that you even suggested that it doesn't take long for a team to get used to a new manager and his methods shows that you do not understand football.
your starting 11 in most games this season consists of the same formation and 9 players from last season with barton or either rossiter or niko, am i wrong? whilst celtics is a whole new system, training methods, formation and approach.
celtics last starting 11 contained de vries, toure, and sinclair, so 3 new players.
the rangers last starting 11 contained dodoo, barton and rossiter, so 3 new players
so to query your statement again can you explain how your slow start (in contrary to celtics better start) is down to new players when both teams are fielding on average the same amount of new players in their starting 11.
02 Sep 2016 20:19:02
;rabof thank you for the compliment. it is appreciated.
with regard to the New Club debate can any of the rangers fans who have a good grasp and understanding of scots law and corporate structuring please pitch in.
from official fifa correspondance "Rangers’ perilous financial position had been an open secret but there was still shock when, after 140 years of history and a world record 54 league titles, the club was consigned to liquidation in mid-June. "
Also when Rangers played Brechin in August 2012 they did so on a, “conditional membership†of the SFA, while the old club still held their membership!
So in August 2012 there were simultaneously TWO legal entities with SFA memberships, both calling themselves “Rangers. †So how can the current Rangers possibly be the same club as the one founded in 1872, when they were simultaneously members of the SFA?
If The Rangers are the same club and never went anywhere then why in 12/ 13 season were rangers made to play qualifying rounds in the scottish cup if their history was intact, they should have started in the 3rd round as the scottish cup is based on league placings from previous year, when rangers finished 2nd, additionally why weren't they entered into the europa league?
02 Sep 2016 23:30:54
If these guys are MW's favourites, should we be concerned by his selection criteria?
02 Sep 2016 23:09:12
Yes Thorn, but look at the start they have made and Sinclair has been firing and Forrest and Rogic have been on hot form.