***The Official Rangers v Celtc Thread***

[NOLUWDC 1]

:mcgregor:

:whittaker: :weir: :bougherra: :papac:

:davis: :mendes: :thomson:

:novo: :rothen:

No 4-4-2 please Walter.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

This game has just become 10 times more important, the main question is can our team get motivated and win at all costs?. Cause we can't afford to lose this one!

One thing is for sure we'll find out for sure, what our team is made of come Sunday.

[chris_glasgow 2]

we simply can't afford to lose this. lose and we are well and truly fucked

[port_bear 86]

No 4-4-2 please Walter.

This is the thing though, we don't have the players capable of playing the 4-5-1 effectively.

For a start we dont have anyone capable of playing the lone striker role. Boyd can't do it, neither can Novo, Lafferty (if fit) still hasn't shown me anything that says he could either and as for Miller, well he makes alot of runs but there is no end product and his first touch is simply shocking. Naismith did ok last night but he needs support, whcih brings me onto my second point.

Any successful team playing the 4-5-1 formation has at least one or two central midfielders capable of supporting and going beyond the lone striker. Chelsea has Lampard and Ballack, Liverpool have Gerrard and Arsenal have Fabregas, hell even the likes of Diaby and Denilson make runs into the box.

Us on the other hand don't have that type of player. Mendes, Thomson, McCulloch and Edu aren't that type of player, you won't see them making runs beyond the striker. I mean take last night for example, Naismith was isolated for alot of the game (even when we were playing well). I lost count of the number of crosses whipped into the box from Rothen, Whittaker and Davis only for there to be none in the box, or for it to be only Naismith trying to reach it.

Davis is the only player that has the game to make these runs and provide the support but with Walter having him stuck out wide all the time he is wasted.

[Chookes 21]

:mcgregor:

:whittaker: :weir: :bougherra: :papac:

:mendes: :thomson:

:novo: :davis: :rothen:

If the players produce anything near last night's first half then we'll gub that mob. Carry on our second half and we'll get beat.

I just got my ticket for this, I cannot wait. My second OF game, the first was our 1-0 win last season. A crucial win at a crucial time last season and another would do me nicely this Sunday.

Come on Rangers!!

[ScottBF2 3,540]

In fairness, I can't remember the last time ANY of our strikers scored a ripping header.

I can't remember the last time we score from a free-kick direct, had a player who could provide us with width & who could take on a man and put a ball in (well I can haha, it was Neil Mccann), the list could go on

Phil Bardsley v Falkirk?

[BlueIsTheColour 35]

We need the same tempo that we had for the first 45 minutes last night. That is the way we should be playing in every domestic game.

If we do then i'm confident we will win comfortably.

[BlueIsTheColour 35]

In fairness, I can't remember the last time ANY of our strikers scored a ripping header.

I can't remember the last time we score from a free-kick direct, had a player who could provide us with width & who could take on a man and put a ball in (well I can haha, it was Neil Mccann), the list could go on

Phil Bardsley v Falkirk?

Boyd in the Scottish Cup Final against QOTS.

[BlueSuedeSambas 54,145]

No 4-4-2 please Walter.

This is the thing though, we don't have the players capable of playing the 4-5-1 effectively.

For a start we dont have anyone capable of playing the lone striker role. Boyd can't do it, neither can Novo, Lafferty (if fit) still hasn't shown me anything that says he could either and as for Miller, well he makes alot of runs but there is no end product and his first touch is simply shocking. Naismith did ok last night but he needs support, whcih brings me onto my second point.

Any successful team playing the 4-5-1 formation has at least one or two central midfielders capable of supporting and going beyond the lone striker. Chelsea has Lampard and Ballack, Liverpool have Gerrard and Arsenal have Fabregas, hell even the likes of Diaby and Denilson make runs into the box.

Us on the other hand don't have that type of player. Mendes, Thomson, McCulloch and Edu aren't that type of player, you won't see them making runs beyond the striker. I mean take last night for example, Naismith was isolated for alot of the game (even when we were playing well). I lost count of the number of crosses whipped into the box from Rothen, Whittaker and Davis only for there to be none in the box, or for it to be only Naismith trying to reach it.

Davis is the only player that has the game to make these runs and provide the support but with Walter having him stuck out wide all the time he is wasted.

We don't have the players to play a 4-4-2 either.

Our team has a far better balance to it when we play 4-3-3/4-5-1 and thats the formation we should stick with.

[ShootSpeedKillLight 0]

In fairness, I can't remember the last time ANY of our strikers scored a ripping header.

I can't remember the last time we score from a free-kick direct, had a player who could provide us with width & who could take on a man and put a ball in (well I can haha, it was Neil Mccann), the list could go on

Phil Bardsley v Falkirk?

Boyd v. Aberdeen two (?) seasons ago was more recent. Boyd's in the SC final was indirect I think.

[BlueSuedeSambas 54,145]

A lot of people forget that Charlie Adam scored a stonking free kick against Celtic a couple of years back.

[Gaz52 11,837]

McGregor

Little

Boogie

Weir

Smith

Davis

Mendes

Thomson

Rothen

Naismith

Boyd

[Muff 245]

No 4-4-2 please Walter.

This is the thing though, we don't have the players capable of playing the 4-5-1 effectively.

For a start we dont have anyone capable of playing the lone striker role. Boyd can't do it, neither can Novo, Lafferty (if fit) still hasn't shown me anything that says he could either and as for Miller, well he makes alot of runs but there is no end product and his first touch is simply shocking. Naismith did ok last night but he needs support, whcih brings me onto my second point.

Any successful team playing the 4-5-1 formation has at least one or two central midfielders capable of supporting and going beyond the lone striker. Chelsea has Lampard and Ballack, Liverpool have Gerrard and Arsenal have Fabregas, hell even the likes of Diaby and Denilson make runs into the box.

Us on the other hand don't have that type of player. Mendes, Thomson, McCulloch and Edu aren't that type of player, you won't see them making runs beyond the striker. I mean take last night for example, Naismith was isolated for alot of the game (even when we were playing well). I lost count of the number of crosses whipped into the box from Rothen, Whittaker and Davis only for there to be none in the box, or for it to be only Naismith trying to reach it.

Davis is the only player that has the game to make these runs and provide the support but with Walter having him stuck out wide all the time he is wasted.

We don't have the players to play a 4-4-2 either.

Our team has a far better balance to it when we play 4-3-3/4-5-1 and thats the formation we should stick with.

I completely agree with that - we don't have the personnel to play 4-4-2 successfully, especially in a game like an Old Firm.

And tbh, Naismith did pretty well against Sevilla up there on his own. Plus, celtc don't have anything like the quality Sevilla posses.

There is a better balance to the side when we adopt the 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 formation, and it's one we should continue with.

[Mansion 120]

same again lads please

hutton in that game was brilliant , pitty we dont have him now . Even lastnyt he would have been immense instead of whitty who was poor!

BRING BACK HUTTON AND THE BILLY BOYS!!

[McBoyd 355]

With bougherra and whittakers runs its more like a 3-5-3 or 3-4-4 anyway

[Amac9 2,060]

I think we can expect to see McCulloch and Miller in the team.

[bluenose_72 198]

We need to play 3 centre mids to get a good balance. When we play that we seem to pass it about a lot better as our movement is a lot better. Davis also excels in a midfield 3.

[WilliamFyfe 1,438]

Hmm for me;

:mcgregor:

:weir:

:bougherra:

:davis:

:mcculloch:

Who else deserves to play?

[Davy 68]

I honestly do not have a clue who I would play.

Naismith deserves it, but he will be shattered.

[Amac9 2,060]

I honestly do not have a clue who I would play.

Naismith deserves it, but he will be shattered.

Which is why him or Davis should have been rested when we 4-0 down.

[Davy 68]

I honestly do not have a clue who I would play.

Naismith deserves it, but he will be shattered.

Which is why him or Davis should have been rested when we 4-0 down.

That to me suggests Miller will start up front on his own.

[WilliamFyfe 1,438]

I'll decide on a team when we learn more about Lafferty

If Lafferty was ready I wouldn't think twice about playing him

[Amac9 2,060]

I honestly do not have a clue who I would play.

Naismith deserves it, but he will be shattered.

Which is why him or Davis should have been rested when we 4-0 down.

That to me suggests Miller will start up front on his own.

That was never in doubt tbh.

He will run around like a headless chicken, loose the ball, miss chance after chance... he should be stuck on the bench where he belongs.

[docspiderman 1,247]

No 4-4-2 please Walter.

This is the thing though, we don't have the players capable of playing the 4-5-1 effectively.

For a start we dont have anyone capable of playing the lone striker role. Boyd can't do it, neither can Novo, Lafferty (if fit) still hasn't shown me anything that says he could either and as for Miller, well he makes alot of runs but there is no end product and his first touch is simply shocking. Naismith did ok last night but he needs support, whcih brings me onto my second point.

Any successful team playing the 4-5-1 formation has at least one or two central midfielders capable of supporting and going beyond the lone striker. Chelsea has Lampard and Ballack, Liverpool have Gerrard and Arsenal have Fabregas, hell even the likes of Diaby and Denilson make runs into the box.

Us on the other hand don't have that type of player. Mendes, Thomson, McCulloch and Edu aren't that type of player, you won't see them making runs beyond the striker. I mean take last night for example, Naismith was isolated for alot of the game (even when we were playing well). I lost count of the number of crosses whipped into the box from Rothen, Whittaker and Davis only for there to be none in the box, or for it to be only Naismith trying to reach it.

Davis is the only player that has the game to make these runs and provide the support but with Walter having him stuck out wide all the time he is wasted.

Superb analysis of our problem; even in the much vaunted Uefa run the 5 man midfield failed to do the job of stifling the opposition and preventing them getting through on goals; Werder Bremen 30 plus shots on goal. We no longer have Hemdani who could read the game and Ferguson who had the composure to hold the ball. Defensively we are far poorer and upfront no Cousin.

[Muff 245]

I'll decide on a team when we learn more about Lafferty

Don't think he should start, even if he is passed fit.