a very good report, the only bit i do not agree with, should of won the game comfortably. rangers need to keep clean sheets, a better team that fulham would of been 2-3 up at half time, like i have said before that fulham never play well for 90 mins, so inconsistent, that was ffc first back to back wins all season. S.w.p s chance was a very good save from M.S i was behind and thought it was going in until marks hand deflected it wide. Apart from that save i though M.S had a comfortable game, and could not see rangers scoring, A long way to go and you can stay up, the make or break game is bolton away if you lose that one, well need i say more. rangers are not jelling yet once they do, who knows. put it a better way 4 wins and 2 draws will be enough, the 2 draws should come against the top 6 teams, the 4 wins need to come against Stoke, Swansea (both crap on the roads) Everton w.b.a sunderland, and the key game bolton.good luck
You didn't see the sitter that Zamora missed when MS spilled the ball then or the resulting sitter missed by Taarabt....or the good chance Mackie put wide? If you read what I said, I stated that Fulham should have been out of site by half time. However, they were clueless in the 2nd half and were lucky to cling on to the lead against 10 men!!
Nice one Col. Much prefer adding my tuppence-worth to your thoughtful and comprehensive man-in-the-stand reports. Long may they continue. Constantly repeating meself in all those kneejerk one dimensional threads drives me nutso! Not much to add this time - other than what's below and a plea for a few paragraph spacings so I can find where I was up to after being rudely interrupted by people asking if I want another cuppa or not! (What happened to initiative, eh? They should know the answer to that by now!) As for them Rs... could start by asking, 'wtf is going on?' But apart from some puzzlers from super-gaffer Hughes, it's pretty clear for all to see. True we needed and got prem quality players - but that never implied top quality did it? Second, and more importantly still: the question of gelling and forging the kind of team spirit we had last year. Seen many sensible posts on here include a cautionary note on the gelling factor when anticipating incoming stock. Haven't noticed much in the way of tolerance for it since. Can only think those who spoke of the need for the team to gel, never actually thought it'd be the issue it evidently is... Management Whilst Hughes isn't known for hitting the ground running - usually takes around ten games for his schemes to begin to take effect - early signs suggest current venture could end in tears (ours as fans as much as anyone else's unfortunately). You've mentioned formation and leaving a supplier (Zamora) on point. That can work but only if there's sufficient midfield threat there to receive the ball laid off and hopefully convert the chance - and in our case that's most unlikely isn't it? But for me the big management issue yesterday was the need to smell the coffee with Diakite. Agree the potential is there, especially on the ball - but he's a foot or two slow atm and was clearly a dead man walking after the first booking. Why Hughes didn't act to preserve our full force by swapping Diakite out for Derry, only the manager knows. Even God would have a hard time working that one out! Equally, just cannot fathom why we aren't putting SWP on the right and Traore on the left to ensure pressure and crosses. And then there's the luck factor which with all the scoring chances should've found at least one effort crossing the line to nick a point or three, but this absence of luck increases the deeper into relegation territory you get doesn't it? In our case it suggests that if preparation and opportunity have met, they certainly ain't getting on very well atm. Is this the conspiracy Hughes was talking about in his post match interview? If so, we're gonna need further preparation that includes better coaching, planning and on-field leadership in the coming weeks; and thence to build the confidence necessary to create the kind of opportunities in the tougher games that we've failed to take against these lesser sides. Is Sparky Mark capable of breaking this increasingly vicious cycle? Time will tell but imho it's beginning to look less and less likely on the evidence of yesterday's debacle. Coaching Clearly some work being done. Paddy's clearing nearer to ensure we retain possession more often; and SWP passed a lot more rather than running into the inevitable cul-de-sacs as he's done so often since arriving. What still isn't happening is the quick, simple pass and move. We're being far to ambitious as you say, and trying stuff that inevitably leads to our losing possession (again and again and... ). Leadership This certainly ain't working. Captaincy is about leading from the front and by example. How can you be inspired into top gear by a guy who shamelessly makes so many balls-ups? 'Don't do what I do, do what I shout'? Joey does work hard but unfortunately that's not enough for a good captain. Takes a bit of nouse too. He needs to replace ego with education. Leadership can be learned but not without a bit of understanding and humility to kick the process off. That's all for now. Cheers Col.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I can't stand Barton, but I thought he was slightly better, apart from the dead ball kicks, than he has been recently (which was very poor!!). Taarabt would have had a 7 if he hadn't missed an absolute sitter!! Also...you don't think Hill rated higher than a 5? Seriously?
Bob, your views are reasoned and based on knowledge, probably more real understanding of the game than the vast majority on here (definitely me). And you don't expect everybody to agree with you. I doubt that you sit at games willing Barton to play badly so you can prove your point ( its a real shame he's doing it for you). But there are some on here that really give that impression, also that they want Hughes to fail essentially because he is not Warnock. Their hatred towards an individual becomes more important to them than the support of the club. I have no problem with people having these views and their right to express them, but it makes for boring, repetitive reading on lots of threads.
****!! I never realised that. We all had our heads in our hands wondering how neither of them had scored!! Did Adel know before he fluffed it do you think?
when ms spilled it, the player who missed the follow was flagged for offside,mackie was a hard chance, what failed to do was get behind ffc defence only did it twice, s.w.p and mackie did it, like i have said before jol can be a frustrating manager, if we are winning at half time, we never push on and if we went for could of wrapped the game up, thats why we cant win away, we bring trouble on, luckily we never threw it away like we usually do, with hughes away from home we use to go for it, instead of sitting back. I am not a rangers knocker at all
Cheers Brix. Sorry about the lack of paragraphs. Very deleterious of me, what with having an English "O" level and all!!
I actually thought that you were unusually generous with your ratings. Considering how often Fulham seemed to cut through us, the defence came out with high ratings, but therein lies the difference between being there and watching the whole match and just seeing Football First. Once again mate, an excellent report and it has triggered the first sensible debate since the match.
The Fellow Traveller has money on us to stay up Brix. And a decent win record (even if he is the witness). Think he's just trying to keep our spirits up, and we are not in a position to spurn such generosity.....
Cheers Roller. I just thought the defence were left exposed by the weird formation in front of them. Onouha kept Dempsey quiet, Ferdinand was better than of late, Hill was outstanding and Taiwo was much improved....with 10 men for 60 mins!!
That is so true ,sadly so........Thank you col for that very good report. I agree almost word to word but that Diakate.....I just cant see him to bring any strenght to our team on this season. He seems to be quite skilful ,strong and quick when he have a ball but when he is without it he is just reckless. I doubt very much he could adopt premier league before it is too late. So he will be another miss signing.
Could go either way imo. Looked a good player, but you're right, he may not have enough time to adjust this season........sadly!!
I admit i don't like barton and the baggage he came with contributed to that dislike but as a player i think his performances have been poor to average. my knowledge of the game is that of many, i coach at a pretty decent standard but it doesn't necessarily mean i know football better than others. we all think and do things differently in all aspects of life. I like mark Hughes and hope he stays along time, i can't really say anything about Warnock as he is sort of indirectly my boss now!! I just get annoyed like many on here and my opinions can be judged by others to agree or disagree accordingly.
