Warburton Content With Strikeforce

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Warburton content with his Rangers strikeforce - and set to shun a move to route one football

Rangers striker Martyn Waghorn.

Matthew Lindsay, Chief Football Writer / Saturday 28 November 2015 / Sport

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MARK Warburton has indicated he is content with the attacking options currently available to him and will not seek to strengthen the Rangers squad with another striker during the January transfer window.

Warburton has also stressed he will not alter his side’s attractive style of play and adopt a more direct game plan - despite dropping points in two of their last three Ladbrokes Championship matches.

The Ibrox club lost to Hibs at Easter Road earlier this month – the first time in the 2015/16 campaign they had failed to win a league game – and drew with Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Stadium last weekend.

Those results have prompted many supporters and pundits to question whether Rangers should change their approach to games against opposition who pack their defences and look to score on the counter attack.

However, Warburton, whose side is now level on points with Hibs at the top of the second tier table with a game in hand, has revealed he will not be looking to bring in a target man, of even another centre forward, at the start of next year.

Asked what positions he would be looking to bolster, he said: “You have to look at the what-if scenarios. What if we get an injury here? What if we get a suspension there? Where do we have cover?

“Up front we have (Martyn) Waghorn, (Kenny) Miller, (Nicky) Clark and (Ryan) Hardie, so centrally we are strong. Wide left? We have (Barrie) Mackay. Wide right there is Nathan (Oduwa). So maybe width is an area we might be looking at for example.

“It’s just looking around the team and saying where do we think we need to add quality to have that strength in depth to get us through the heavy months of the season. It’s just tweaking.”

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Rangers have earned plaudits for the way they have endeavoured to playing passing and attacking football in the 2015/16 campaign and crowds at their games have increased significantly as a result.

Yet, their rivals have become increasingly defensive as the season has progressed and, after narrow wins were scraped over Dumbarton, Falkirk, Livingston, Queen of the South and St. Mirren, points have been dropped in two of their last three outings.

Warburton, though, was pleased with the number of chances his side created in their loss to Hibs and draw with Livingston and believes more quality and composure in the final third, not a change of approach, is all that is required.

“Our style of play will never change,” he said. “We’re not going to be a team who launches a 60-yard ball to a 6ft5 centre forward. That’s not going to be our style, we won’t be doing that. As long as I am here we won’t be doing that.

“A lot of bigger teams play the same way and aren’t going to play the way we want them to. If we were to have teams open up and play expansive football against us in this league I think we would do very well. We would come out on top.

“But teams aren’t going to play the Rangers way. Teams are going to do what they have to do to get something out of a game of football and all credit to them. They are fully justified in doing that. They are adapting their tactics.

“We have to break down eight, nine, ten players behind the ball and it’s difficult. They are compact, they are solid, there are bodies blocking us. But we have to deal with it.”

Andy Halliday backed up his manager’s comments and stressed the players, who can pull three points clear of Hibs at the top of the Championship if they win their game in hand against Dumbarton at Ibrox on Tuesday evening, believe they are on the right track.

“I’ve got faith in the way we’re trying to play,” he said. “When we’re on our game, playing that way, I don’t think anyone can stop us. We’ve not really got the personnel to go to that target man. We’re doing the right things and don’t need to change anything just now.

“Our style of play will never change, but the shape can sometimes change. We went to Hibs and went three at the back. Our 4-3-3 shape is quite expansive in terms of the rotation of the midfield three and the front three, so it’s not a rigid shape.

“It’s not just been the last three games (that teams have sat back in), it’s been the last eight. In the first five we got wins out of them. We’ve got the quality to break them down. Last Saturday I think that penetration was lacking a little bit.

“We just need to get back to that. I still think we did the right things in terms of playing our style, because we think it’s good enough to break teams down, but on the day the quality wasn’t good enough.”

[legalbeagle 3,734]

Bit of a nail in the Temps coffin there, and Aird, for that matter.

I disagree with him, I don't think Waghorn is a central striker, I don't think Miller has enough in the tank to cover, I don't think Clark is good enough and Hardie is untested to date. But, let's be blunt, he knows a hell of a lot more than me

[A Gallant Pioneer 555]

Not great from the gaffer, very underwhelming in fact, Waghorn is not a central striker, Miller is garbage, Clark is even worse and young Hardie is still learning the game. Sure we batter the dross but against the better teams we have really struggled for goals. We are short all over the team if truth be told.

[BridgeIsBlue 66,790]

“Our style of play will never change,” he said. “We’re not going to be a team who launches a 60-yard ball to a 6ft5 centre forward. That’s not going to be our style, we won’t be doing that. As long as I am here we won’t be doing that."

[Ibroxholm 2,312]

Good to hear that he is going to stick to his beliefs in how football should be played, despite the doubters. I suspect over the next year he will strengthen all areas of the team. Would be stupid to undermine the current players by saying too much in advance, in addition to avoiding other teams hiking their price.

[Smile 26,624]

I think he will strengthen the weak areas and upfront is that without a doubt.

[ThatNightInFlorence 696]

Bit of a nail in the Temps coffin there, and Aird, for that matter.

I disagree with him, I don't think Waghorn is a central striker, I don't think Miller has enough in the tank to cover, I don't think Clark is good enough and Hardie is untested to date. But, let's be blunt, he knows a hell of a lot more than me

I think Aird is seen as the back up right back these days. Even in the matchday programmes he is down as a defender.

[_mcv_ 107]

I'd feel a lot more confident with another quality striker. Worry about Waghorn losing form or being injured.

We do get nice goals from other areas, but feel is leaves us open to counter attacks more.

Miller are Clark were rotten last season, and both on their way out.

Would like to see Hardie get a go, see if he has anything to offer.

Would also go for a DM and a quality CB, that can do the hard tackles, and put the fear up others.

Been very pleased with Warburton. Confident and speaks really well. Think he is understanding what is required as a Rangers manager.

Hate those managers that slaver shite, making it up as they go, can't even understand them most of the time.

[_mcv_ 107]

Bit of a nail in the Temps coffin there, and Aird, for that matter.

I disagree with him, I don't think Waghorn is a central striker, I don't think Miller has enough in the tank to cover, I don't think Clark is good enough and Hardie is untested to date. But, let's be blunt, he knows a hell of a lot more than me

Time for Temps to go. Had plenty of time and chances. Nothing impressive up to now so no chance against the top SPL teams or Europe. Also made of cheap glass.

I'd give Aird a chance at RB, but really think he is not built for it.

[DrLaudrup 5,038]

I think he's keeping his cards close to his chest. Harmony etc is important to him. I suspect there will be players we want but don't know yet if we will get. If he comes out and says 'I'm not happy with the strikers and am looking for another one' this will not only make existing players unhappy but push the price up of any targets that we might have. I think its a sensible interview.

[Prso's headband 36,721]

He will know exactly who he wants already, he isn't exactly going to come out and say yeah Kenny, Clark and Hardie aren't good enough we need a striker.

I can see where hes coming from anyway after scoring 50+ goals already what is the need?

We need a RB to give Tav competition IMO.

[K.A.I 36,183]

I hate saying it because I love the guy but I think he's kidding himself on

Miller is done, Clark is piss poor and Hardie is not the finished article yet

[WCPRANGERS1 2,997]

I dont think we should change our style but i believe we should have a main striker, rotation of players is fine and well but i believe its a position for a main striker with the wider players inter changing.

Also MW has said himself that we should always be striving to improve and build a better team. He may be suggesting that for this league that is good enough and his January targets are other priorities.

[Hoosier Ranger 1,554]

I think Aird is seen as the back up right back these days. Even in the matchday programmes he is down as a defender.

Aird was listed as a defender for Canada in their Wirkd Cup qualifiers recently. I think he has made the switch.

[folkestoneger 8,977]

We do not have to change our style of play just because we buy another forward. Nobody is asking him to buy Crouch ffs

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Why is it whenever anyone questions our play they get accused of wanting back to Ally's route one football, nobody wants that we just want the best player for our style of play.

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Good chance he thinks differently in private.

Can't risk fucking up team morale by saying he's looking for replacements publicly.

[danger ranger 922]

Bit of a nail in the Temps coffin there, and Aird, for that matter.

I disagree with him, I don't think Waghorn is a central striker, I don't think Miller has enough in the tank to cover, I don't think Clark is good enough and Hardie is untested to date. But, let's be blunt, he knows a hell of a lot more than me

Davie White knew more than most, he still lost his job because his team could not win crunch games and they played the same way as Warburton does. That front line won't do, yesterday we should have won by about eight goals against a poor side.

The crunch games will come next year, time will tell.

[allgers 735]

Warbs has stated a few times now that he think a big squad just makes for strife, going by that I think we will see one player, a defensive midfielder join the squad, unless a quality player becomes available that will really strengthen the squad.

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

I know most on here think Clark isn't good enough but I honestly believe with a run of games and a boost of confidence he'd actually be ok.

[Da Kool Blue 139]

From what I've seen of Warburton, he seems very protective of players and all about that harmony within the squad. So even if himself and DW think that they are lacking in a certain area, I don't think he the sort of manager to come out and say we need "x amount of players in y position" because it could upset the camp.

[Bad Robot 21,513]

I dont think we should change our style but i believe we should have a main striker, rotation of players is fine and well but i believe its a position for a main striker with the wider players inter changing.

Also MW has said himself that we should always be striving to improve and build a better team. He may be suggesting that for this league that is good enough and his January targets are other priorities.

I think he knows we have enough in the tank for this league but I also think he's a shrewd operator and will never show his hand.

He always does the double sub at around 60 minutes and although I thought taking holt off was a wrong decision it's kind of hard to argue against the final result.

I just worry that taking a player off when he's playing great can be the wrong decision especially if he does it during a match where the opposition are more in the game.

I also think he's instilling into players that subs are happening every game and players can't get upset about it as its all about doing your bit in the time you've been given.

W&W know a lot more than me so I do have trust in them to make the right decisions.

[gogzy 31,195]

Good chance he thinks differently in private.

Can't risk fucking up team morale by saying he's looking for replacements publicly.

agree with this.

i think most of us can see that we need someone else up front, and if we can then he can.

[chris182 6,520]

We'll have to agree to disagree on the striker requirement Mr W

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,370]

Hope this doesn't come back and bite him on the bum.

We need a proven goal scorer, we need options.