Popular Post Smile 26,600 Posted July 3, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 3, 2018 https://Rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/gers-victorious-over-tns/ Rangers walked away 3-1 winners in their first 90 minute game of pre-season as they beat Welsh Champions The New Saints at the Hummel Training Centre. Goals from Serge Atakayi, Jamie Murphy and Ross McCrorie secured the victory. Steven Gerrard played two completely different outfield teams in either half as the Gers gear up for the Europa League. First-half XI: Alnwick, Hodson, Bradley, Katic, John, Halliday, Docherty, Jack, Middleton, Rudden, Atakayi. TNS started the game with a rush forward and profited from it after just a minute when Dean Ebbe planted a header beyond Jak Alnwick who had been left stranded with the goal gapping. That was a rare wobble from the Gers in this game though. On four minutes Serge Atakayi tapped Rangers back level after some good work down the right from fellow Development Squad man Glenn Middleton. The winger cut a ball off the by-line back across the area and when it bypassed everyone camped in the middle, including Zak Rudden, Atakayi popped up. The Finnish Under 21 squeezed the ball, with some help off the keeper, off the inside of the post to finish the move off. Nikola Katic was starting alongside youngster Kyle Bradley and looked dangerous in the air in the first period. When Atakayi whipped a free-kick in from the left the Croatian rose way above the rest of the field to launch a header fractions wide of the base of the upright. Rangers won a penalty soon after, Declan John was hauled down as he burst into the box after cutting in down the left. Andy Halliday had the resulting spot-kick saved by Paul Harrison and Rudden couldn’t turn the rebound in as he fired over the bar from a few yards out. Ryan Jack had the last good chance of the first-half when he produced a lovely strike from the edge of the area and the keeper was forced into a save as it rose on route. At half-time the game was all square at 1-1. Second-half XI: Alnwick (McCrorie 75’), Tavernier, Goldson, Wilson, Flanagan, McCrorie, Arfield, Murphy, Candeias, Morelos, Windass. The second-half saw a bright, high tempo display from Rangers. It started with Jamie Murphy putting a cleared corner just over the bar within minutes of the whistle. Connor Goldson was in the centre of defence alongside Aidan Wilson and picked out his teammates at will in a commanding display. He started with a lovely chipped ball over the top and straight into Alfredo Morelos inside the area. The Colombian put too much on his attempt to lift the ball over Harrison in goal and ultimately it cleared the bar. Morelos didn’t wait long to set-up Murphy for Rangers second though; minutes later he produced a cute lay-off into the winger, who was storming in on goal. The 28-year-old rattled the ball off the post and in to round off a move which started with Josh Windass threading Morelos in from the right channel. Murphy was having an inspired half and went close again when he worked his way across the top of the box before dragging a low shot just past the far post. Ross McCrorie was the Light Blues third goal scorer, thanks to a deflection. The 20-year-old tried his luck from 25 yards and rifled the ball home as the shot skewed off a TNS defender to evade their keeper. Murphy and Morelos both went close again in the same piece of play. First the former Brighton man fired the ball off the underside of the bar, after it was flashed in from the right by James Tavernier. Morelos then failed to head the rebound in as the TNS stopper scrambled to save high to his left. Rangers could have rounded off the half with another goal in a great move which saw Candeias pick out Murphy on the edge of the box, the forward dummy for Scott Arfield to then fire narrowly over. BlueKnight87, Bears r us, jintybear and 5 others 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitre_mouldmaster 21,509 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Interesting that Fod and McGregor didn't feature. Wonder if someone is interested in Alnwick and was along to watch him before making a decision. Second half half team seamed to be by far the stronger. Wonder why Katic was in the first half. Still no sign of a back 3 from Gerard, so think everyone that was sure this was going to be the formation may be sadly mistaken. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smile 26,600 Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 2 minutes ago, mitre_mouldmaster said: Interesting that Fod and McGregor didn't feature. Wonder if someone is interested in Alnwick and was along to watch him before making a decision. Second half half team seamed to be by far the stronger. Wonder why Katic was in the first half. Still no sign of a back 3 from Gerard, so think everyone that was sure this was going to be the formation may be sadly mistaken. You'd have thought Goldson and Katic would have featured together odd one. markem 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC55 108,725 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 1 minute ago, Smile said: You'd have thought Goldson and Katic would have featured together odd one. I'd imagine that will be Friday night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakbear 3,580 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 22 players involved and yet plenty didn’t feature. Just shows how much work there is still to be done to trim the squad. theredhandofNewcastle 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitre_mouldmaster 21,509 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Just now, Smile said: You'd have thought Goldson and Katic would have featured together odd one. Maybe wanting to test Katic a little bit to see him under pressure. More likely to see an attacking threat from the Welsh with that outfield ahead of him. Put him in with a full strength team and he is likely to have nothing to do for much of the game. Only thing I can think of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Shaw 30,347 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 7 minutes ago, mitre_mouldmaster said: Maybe wanting to test Katic a little bit to see him under pressure. More likely to see an attacking threat from the Welsh with that outfield ahead of him. Put him in with a full strength team and he is likely to have nothing to do for much of the game. Only thing I can think of. Or he could be trying out different partnerships having a look at fringe players and then on Friday play Katic and Goldson together RFC55 and terry739 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitre_mouldmaster 21,509 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 1 minute ago, Tiger Shaw said: Or he could be trying out different partnerships having a look at fringe players and then on Friday play Katic and Goldson together Could be, but would seem a bit strange that the 2nd half team is what most people would consider the strongest outfield with the exception of Wilson being in for Katic. If it was an even split across the field then I could see your point. To single out Katic to be the one player who would expect to see in the first team to play in the weaker side makes me think there was a point to it. Unless of course he is shite, and will be a backup player ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Shaw 30,347 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 1 minute ago, mitre_mouldmaster said: Could be, but would seem a bit strange that the 2nd half team is what most people would consider the strongest outfield with the exception of Wilson being in for Katic. If it was an even split across the field then I could see your point. To single out Katic to be the one player who would expect to see in the first team to play in the weaker side makes me think there was a point to it. Unless of course he is shite, and will be a backup player ? McGregor and Fod were left out completely. I think you’re looking too much into the line ups. terry739, Skyson1872 and Ozblue 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitre_mouldmaster 21,509 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 3 minutes ago, Tiger Shaw said: McGregor and Fod were left out completely. I think you’re looking too much into the line ups. Yea, I have a possible reason for why they were left out. Listen, stop arguing with me, I've decided Katic is shite and has been dropped to the reserves. Don't give me this shite about friendlies not mattering. Guy conceeded a goal after 1 minute of this Rangers career against the mighty Welsh team. He is worse than Cardoso, anyone that can't see it is a fool. Tiger Shaw 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DariuszAdamczuk 548 Posted July 3, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 3, 2018 Hodson and Halliday featuring Concerning. its_an_extender, theweebluenose, K.A.I and 4 others 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Vandenbroucke 26,128 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 3 minutes ago, DariuszAdamczuk said: Hodson and Halliday featuring Concerning. Not really Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaudrupsPatrickBoots 13,510 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 20 minutes ago, Tiger Shaw said: McGregor and Fod were left out completely. I think you’re looking too much into the line ups. Hopefully Fod being left out completely will be a regular thing. Mr Soprano 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DariuszAdamczuk 548 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Just now, Bronzy said: Not really You seen Hodson play? Has to be a young player that’s better in that position Vwbear 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Shaw 30,347 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 1 minute ago, LaudrupsPatrickBoots said: Hopefully Fod being left out completely will be a regular thing. I expect McGregor will be first choice mate, far better keeper than Foderingham. LaudrupsPatrickBoots 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Vandenbroucke 26,128 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 4 minutes ago, DariuszAdamczuk said: You seen Hodson play? Has to be a young player that’s better in that position It's a friendly though BridgeIsBlue 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Vandenbroucke 26,128 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 4 minutes ago, LaudrupsPatrickBoots said: Hopefully Fod being left out completely will be a regular thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeIsBlue 66,595 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Just now, Bronzy said: It's a friendly though Spitting blood over a friendly Davy Vandenbroucke 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Williamson. 81,999 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 I hope thats not one of our kits Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DariuszAdamczuk 548 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 15 minutes ago, Bronzy said: It's a friendly though The fact that he’s playing in a friendly means he’s at least being considered for being kept in the squad surely?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Obviously can't read anything at all into it but 4 at the back for the whole game. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PRW. 5,631 Posted July 3, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted July 3, 2018 1 hour ago, Smile said: You'd have thought Goldson and Katic would have featured together odd one. Probably didn’t want Bradley & Wilson playing together, two very inexpierenced centre halfs. Helps to have someone alongside them who has played a bit. Tiger Shaw, jintybear, Smile and 3 others 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRW. 5,631 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 30 minutes ago, DariuszAdamczuk said: Hodson and Halliday featuring Concerning. Yeah, they’ll probably start next season. Mr Soprano 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulboy 2,518 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Laudrup1984, Smile and Mr Soprano 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sairheid_bear 166 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 34 minutes ago, DariuszAdamczuk said: Hodson and Halliday featuring Concerning. 2 minutes ago, PRW. said: Yeah, they’ll probably start next season. For Livingston hopefully Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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