I prefer "Rangers" v Accies! They are definitely vulnerable at the back but I can't really see us doing much in the final third. Fair play to those buying tickets for this but you couldn't pay me to go there again.
Not looking forward to it. A full Ibrox, "flag day" and our defence is very, very ropey. I also don't think D'Acol will make the ball stick up top as much as he needs to. Since our 3-1 win against United in 2008, we haven't actually won an opening game in the top flight (3 defeats and 1 draw).
We do not have a defence as such, they have decent attacking players. WE are pretty poor in 3rd half of the field generally, so cant see us having many chances. Only hope may be a set piece as their defence is also a bit ropey
Full house at Ibrox, return to big time for them, we have lots of young inexperienced players
On the plus side we generally would not expect to get anything from game
That will do nicely; well organised and hard working with some touches of class. Super goal, and performance, by Ali; who will perhaps only be properly appreciated by many when he is gone.
Kurakins and Longridge look short (which we knew) and we got away with Gills at RB. Great start.
PS the ref was a disgrace in the first half. Everything was a booking and in the second half barton makes no attempt to play the ball and its ok.
I wouldn't pick out any player for weakness tbh. Kurakins and Longridge both did well I thought. Matthews, Devlin, Sarris, Ali and Docherty were standouts. Donati made three mistakes but his calmness on the ball helps his team mates and for the most part we were very composed and knocked the ball about very well. Thought young Hughes looked very composed too for the final few minutes which we saw out comfortably.
Agree about ref. Kurakins and Sarris deservedly booked but Devlin seemed to be having a polite captain's chat with the ref and looked astonished when he was booked. Ali's was never a booking and yes, Barton should have seen yellow. Sky gave him MOTM, you'd think they'd give it to an Accies player. Media were gutted with that result.
Difficult not to make the obvious comment that, after four seasons away in other divisions, referee's at Ibrox for a Ranger's home game,penalise the away team far more than the home team. Two bookings were justified, but the others were a joke.
Still, a point gained there, will be more than other teams are likely to pick-up, with a partizan crowd willing the referee on to support their outfit.
Great team effort today with all doing well, and full marks to MC for organising the set-up to our advantage. Could this be the turning point for his tactical awareness?
Can I have a rather large portion of humble pie. Quite happy to admit I got it totally wrong, I predicted a 4-0 Rangers
Missed the first 20 minutes or so but from what I seen that is the level of performance we need every week. We know out limitations, but everyone today put in a shift and that is just about all we can ask, the rest will follow. Thought we looked need and tidy on the ball but just lacked that little bit of self belief in final third. I know he was only on for about 10 minutes or so but thought young Hughes looked confident and was not fazed at all by 50 000 fans
I think if we get a couple of season pros in to help the young lads, preferably a striker or 2 and someone to help out big Sarris at the back and maintain that level of performance we should be OK for the season
Remember this was a decent Rangers team on paper and their bench was also pretty decent as well
Kurakins was poor, but there were some really great performances out there today. Gillespie actually did really well at RB, and Crawford and Docherty gave us a great engine in the midfield. The two centre-backs were pretty solid - especially Sarris. I thought all of the subs had a positive impact, too. Just need to kick on from here.