06 Sep 2026 09:05:33
Was at the game yesterday with my son. I have watched Rangers since pre 9IAR. He has watched them since Waghorn et al.
He said it was "the most complete performance " that he's seen for a long, long time, including pre McInnes. I sat there massively frustrated about being played through (1st half), dominated (possession only) and our inability to score.
Looks like I've been spoiled and need to lower my expectations.
But, a win's a win.
06 Sep 2026 09:30:57
Positives: Fernandez didn't put a foot wrong, Dan Neil had his best game in a Rangers jersey, and there's a player in him, Gassama seems to be consistently performing at a high level and will get better, another clean sheet and Kelsey and Naderi cause defences a lot of problems.
06 Sep 2026 10:25:21
Fernandes didn't put a foot wrong? Other than messing around with it, second half, and leaving them 1v1 as a result?
He was much better than he's been recently, but still shouldn't be in the team. As soon as Godfrey is fit, it's him and Maka for me.
I thought we started poorly, allowing Motherwell to play through us centrally too easy in the first 15 mins. After that we were much more compact centrally, and you could see we were encouraging them wide rather than through, so a lot of their possession was going nowhere. Bar for a few individual errors (see above), it's the most solid we've looked defensively in the DM era, and more like what I'd have expected of him.
Going forward we were more threatening too, up to the finishing. Previously we were creating next to nothing to miss, so this was a step forward that we created enough to win two games.
I thought Gassama and Curtis were a threat all afternoon, and though Minsu had a poor game, that's kinda what we need. The 3 aren't always going to play well at the same time, so if we can get 2 of the 3 playing well every week we'll have a chance.
Overall, best performance of the season for me up to the finishing and a far more structured team which is more like what I expected from a DM side.
Progress.
06 Sep 2026 10:27:47
Yeah, Dan Neil was much better and his best performance in a Rangers jersey. Big Manny looking good again. As you said, didn't put a foot wrong and attacked the ball in both boxes. Superb defensive display. Kim had a stinker. He needs to be much better than that for 8.5 million. The only way is up for that kid, cause that performance was rock bottom.
06 Sep 2026 11:01:34
Kim is a winger though played one good game out of position. We need to play players where they are best, not an 8.5 million winger shoehorned in at cam.
06 Sep 2026 11:52:56
Think Neil will overall be good for us, seen McGeady talking about him on Open Goal and was raving about him.
06 Sep 2026 12:14:11
Seen that, Baz, he was wanting him at Celtic, I've liked Niel for years now.
06 Sep 2026 12:14:58
He played with him as well, Baz.
06 Sep 2026 12:49:49
A good team needs to be hard to score against. Our back four are definitely getting there. We need a midfield to stop them coming under pressure. I think playing Curtis, Gassama, and Kim with 2 up front is too much. Think we need 3 midfielders and either one of the wingers with 2 up front.
06 Sep 2026 13:13:28
We didn't play Gassama, Curtis and Kim with 2 up front. We played with one up front until Kim went off, then we played with two strikers, though one was dropping deep.
06 Sep 2026 14:57:47
Team getting used to formation, think the fans were patient as well when without the ball as they can see when we overturn it we usually make a chance or at least look dangerous with the speed we have, two sitting midfielders grew into game which I think will be the key with this formation going forward, we bit better decision making with our ball carriers, more accurate finishing and a bit of luck and we could be an exciting team to watch as season progresses, can't wait for Wednesday, hopefully get a look at new winger as I prefer both Gassama and Curtis on the left.