05 May 2026 15:13:11
Watching back the game, for Hearts first goal Spittal plays the ball to Kyzi and then bursts a gut to run beyond him to open up the space for the shot that hit the post.
In my opinion, we only have 3 players in the squad who would have been willing to make that run - Barron, Rommens and Naderi.
Everyone one else would have stood and admired the pass or made a short move to get the ball back, which actually restricts the space for players to move in to and makes it easy for us to defend.
As soon as Hearts went to three at the back and bypassed the middle of the park we had no one who was willing to run beyond their backline in order to stretch them - every single player was only interested in dropping short and inviting even more pressure on to our own defence.
It's so basic and it's clear as day that it's something that's been coached out of our squad. The slight light at the end of the tunnel is it's something that really stands out with Rommens and Naderi, so hopefully it's something Rohl is looking to address.
05 May 2026 15:49:28
Maybe Rohl will adapt to those changes in the 28/29 season.
05 May 2026 16:17:07
EHL, I find your posts so informative and interesting. You really pinpoint and explain tactics etc so well.
I am right in recalling that, in the early part of the season, you said not many, if any, would get into Rangers' squad. Am I right that you said something along those lines?
If you did say something similar, would you revise that now?
05 May 2026 16:18:04
Manager should've changed our system, but didn't. He also didn't change v Motherwell. Until 2 down (half time). That's a concern, does anyone else agree or disagree? Or, are our players not good enough?
05 May 2026 16:27:08
EHL, for me, it's been about the vast majority of players we sign have not been able to adjust to the speed and physicality of the SPL. A few recent examples are Rothwell, Aasgaard, Lammers, Diomande, Aaron's and Chukwuani, to name a few. Rohl should have known how Hearts would come out fighting.
How Barron was not included is beyond me. We have too many slow players. How many times did Djiga, Fernandes and Diomande stop on the ball? Until we can play with the energy and intensity of a Hearts or Celtic we will suffer.
05 May 2026 16:32:56
Chenks, I think there is an element of both to be honest. Our players lack hunger, belief and quality. I also think Rohl could have changed it sooner in both games. However, the problem against Hearts second half was down to hunger and belief as well as Rohl demanding the team play aggressively, and we sat in. He should have made changes sooner, but at the same time he needed to change that whole midfield and majority of defence, which could destabilise the side and he has a limit on subs.
Ideally Tav could have come off for Rommens and moved Sterling to RB, Barron on for Raskin or Chuk and Antman and Gassama on for Moore and Skov. Leaving us Naderi or Miovski for another mid or for Chermiti.
We don't have a controller or a creator in that squad, and that was completely on show. We have bulldogs in midfield but that's it. Wingers who can dribble but little else. That's never a recipe for success.
05 May 2026 16:43:47
Great insight as always, Ehl. The concern I had, especially in the first half when Rangers had the most possession, was the acres of space Olsen had and not once did he put a decent ball into the box, even if Tav could've overlapped and put the ball in, never happened.
Maybe could've played Sterling or even Antman in right midfield and played Rommens from the start and when Rommens was tiring put Sterling/Aarons to left back.
Hopefully by that time being a couple of goals up. ??♂️
05 May 2026 16:52:29
I think as a fan we all knew Hearts would come out fighting. We were keeping it too tight to not lose a goal at start of the half, then we never recovered. I said to my son prior to the goal they will score. It's all very well saying this or that, but hope Danny's introduction to the SPL will help him next season.
05 May 2026 18:03:46
Ehl, informative post as always.
Whilst watching the first half I felt we had so many opportunities to play a pass between the defence for runners who had made the move, but it was almost as though nobody wanted to take the risk.
Is this something you noticed, and, if so, is this a player issue or a coaching issue?
05 May 2026 18:07:47
Ehl, I am sorry my last post to you did not make sense. I was asking, did I recall you saying, near the start of the season, not many, if any, Hearts players would get in our squad?
Am I correct that you said something along those lines?
05 May 2026 18:24:37
Once a Ranger, yip - I said it last week too.
I don't think a Hearts player gets in our strongest starting 11.
05 May 2026 18:28:04
Chenks, I agree but I also don't think we had the options to change the system.
BT, I agree, we badly miss a spine that understands the demands of the league.
Souness, yeah, it was frustrating, we were far too happy to keep possession. Should have put them to the sword.
05 May 2026 18:42:42
What are you basing it on, though, Ehl, in terms of Hearts players not getting in our starting 11? If it's desire, they all would get in our starting 11.
05 May 2026 19:30:28
I genuinely think Shankland is the best striker in the division and Braga has just won POTY, deservedly so.
Kyziridis?
05 May 2026 19:30:48
OT, my opinion and what I've seen of both squads.
For context, 6 of what I'd class as our best 11 didn't start yesterday.
05 May 2026 19:38:37
Technically, some may say we have better players, but there's so much more needed like mentality and determination. I maintain very few would get in the Hearts team based on what they've shown, and doubt McInnes would swap his team for ours.