11 Oct 2026 08:26:10
First off, great to see the Rangers back after what felt like the International Break had returned us to pre-season!
Good result and performance yesterday to win on our return.
Top of the league - doesn't matter if only for 24 hours - as it shows we got our job done.
All over the place at times 2nd half as we gave Killie numerous chances.
Not sure why. I'm sure someone with a tactical brain like EHL will be able to share his thoughts.
Onwards and upwards. 🔴⚪️🔵
P.S. winning run from my birthday continues 😎.
11 Oct 2026 08:48:51
I don't think a Celtic win is a guarantee today, I think we could get a surprise today.
11 Oct 2026 09:36:07
Pretty simple MPH.
First half we controlled the distance between the backline and the frontline, which allowed us to play quickly and to get numbers around the ball.
Second half Killie effectively went 5-2-3, went man for man in the middle of the pitch, sat purposely deep and pushed their front 3 right up on our backline. This stretched the game and nullified the impact Neil was having on the game. As a result Naderi and Kelsy were having to drop really deep to get the ball off the backline and neither one of them could do it. Lost count of how many time Kelsey lost the ball in our half.
Have said in a couple of other threads that the way Neil fell out the game worried me, as we will face this set up more often than not in the league and so far he's not been able to adjust to it.
11 Oct 2026 10:53:26
EHL - I've seen this tactic now since Gio was manager where the CM goes into defence and create a back 3. I also see all the top teams doing the same. My issue with that tactic is they are too static. When the ball goes wide the should be back in midfield but there not.
I don't know how many times (esp 2nd half) where the ball goes to the full back and they do t have a pass inside. They then have to either go back (and repeat) or go long and play into the opposition,
For me we need to control the middle of the park and can't do that with one midfielder in there.
11 Oct 2026 10:55:16
What would you expect t him to do EHL? Does some of this fall under McInnes to change the system or are there basics that Neil could have done?
11 Oct 2026 11:40:45
Dado, its a tough one as when the game is as stretched as Killie made it and you're only playing 2 in the middle it's very difficult to influence the game.
Raskin was dropping deeper as that's his role and that left Neil a huge space to control from middle to front. When he was man marked he really struggled to find space and get on the ball, which is why Kelsy and Nadiri were dropping deep to get on it.
However as they couldn't hold it and bring the likes of Neil, Minsu and Gassama in to play. That's where we really missed Shankland or Chermiti as they're both much better in that role.
I just have a niggling worry about Neil.
11 Oct 2026 12:49:59
Yeah that's good feedback on Neil, to be honest, I don't see those details (I suspect most arm chair fans don't). It's great to read your thoughts on it.
I do really like Neil, I know how impressed he was with the club, history and vision of what we were wanting to achieve, I really hope it works for him.
11 Oct 2026 12:56:54
I thought Neil was one of our better players yesterday and I couldn't believe it when McInnes took him off and left Raskin on .Nico had a poor game giving the ball away and committing so many senseless fouls .Kelsy and Gassama should have been hooked earlier as neither contributed in the second half at all .
There may have been reasons for it but the second half was terrible. I hope there is an inquest about why we only had one man back at the Killie goal because something went wrong somewhere .
11 Oct 2026 12:57:28
Cheers EHL.
Did being 3-0 up influence any of McInnes decisions - in the sense that if we were only 1-0 up, would he have shored up the middle?
11 Oct 2026 14:09:53
After watching Stephen O'Donnell for the Well against the Tim's, there was no danger they were dropping points The guy was at it🥴😡😡😡.
11 Oct 2026 16:01:34
MPH you should consider having a birthday every year.🤣🤣.
12 Oct 2026 01:52:56
Jfm 🤣.