During the drive to the ground, my lad and I were musing over what was likely to happen in the game. We both came to the conclusion that we would be totally out-classed and well beaten. Well, we got the first part right. Harry set the team up in an ultra defensive 4-5-1 with Taarabt up front on his own, 3 central midfielders of which Derry was the principal holding player and Mackie and SWP out wide. Basically we were set up as if we were the away team. Following the away win at Chelsea I suppose that was fair enough. As soon as the game got under way the pattern was pretty much set. Spurs with nearly all the possession, playing good, neat football and Rangers working their collective socks off. Where Rangers really did well was in keeping Lennon and Bale very quiet and this means huge credit must be given to Onuoha and Fabio. The Brazilian in particular was superb on the day. Lennon simply got no change out of him whatsoever and Bale, becoming increasingly frustrated moved more and more into the over congested middle. Julio Cesar again proved his worth with an absolutely stunning double save, first from Defoe and then from Adebayor as he followed up. Park, working hard, but always a little off the pace let Defoe cut inside and the diminutive England forward hit a trademark shot which was heading for the top corner before Cesar clawed it onto the post at full stretch. The Brazilian was up in a flash and made another stunning save to deny Adebayor on the follow up. Lennon felt the full force of the Ellerslie Rd stand fury after an outrageous dive, probably born out of frustration as Fabio had him in his pocket. Meanwhile Taarabt was doing his best to hold the ball up whilst being criminally isolated up front. He linked well with Mackie and Park at times, but it was the link up play of SWP and Taarabt that really stood out. If only SWP's finishing could match his new found confidence. A superb ball from Taarabt set SWP up and to be fair the little man was unlucky as his goal-bound shot was deflected behind off Dawson's out-stretched leg. Later in the half, SWP created a chance for himself with a fantastic piece of skill to leave Walker for dead (not an easy thing to do), he cut inside another challenge but then disappointingly pulled a weak shot wide. The half finished with Spurs in nearly total possession without really threatening again. Spurs really went up a gear at the start of the 2nd half and it looked as though it would only be a matter of time before they achieved the breakthrough. Bale tested Cesar with a swerving free kick and Walker left the Rangers' keeper rooted to the spot with another free kick that looked in all the way, only for it to just miss the upright. With Derry, M'Bia, Park, Mackie and SWP working incredibly hard, along with all the back four, Rangers weathered the storm and started to look like they may pinch an unlikely win. With Spurs looking increasingly frustrated and finding no way through the Rangers middle, Taarabt sent a ball through for SWP to chase, but Lloris was quick off his line and beat the Rangers man to the ball to hack clear. Taarabt again found SWP with a superb reverse pass only for the latter to stub the ground as he went to shoot. That was probably our best chance to nick the win, but I'm afraid SWP will never be the man to get us the goals we need. The game ended just after Probert again let Naughton get away with a clumsy challenge on Mackie and Rangers had taken 4 points from Chelsea away and Spurs at home. In conclusion, I would be lying if I didn't admit that I'm sick and tired of sitting in my expensive season ticket seat and having to watch us get completely out-classed. However, as limited as we are, at least now Harry has made us hard to beat and got all the players playing for the shirt. It's arguable whether playing for a draw at home is the way to go for us, especially following Reading's unlikely win later on, but I suppose it was justified after having taken all 3 points from the Bridge. Draws won't keep us up though and I would prefer to see us set up as 4-2-3-1 so that the lone forward, Cisse or DJ at present could get more support, particularly from the creativity of Taarabt playing just behind in the centre. Looking at the table, it does feel to me that we just have too much catching up to do, but I remain hopeful of a miracle. Player ratings and comments: Cesar - 9 - World class double save early on and always looked in command. Onuoha - 8 - Kept Bale very quiet and put in another solid defensive display. Hill - 7 - Solid as ever. Nelsen - 7 - Same as Hill. Fabio - 8 - His best game for us and shut out Lennon completely. Good on the ball too. Derry - 8 - A master class in how to play the central holding role. Won header after header and challenge after challenge in front of the back four. Mis-placed a few passes, but hugely important on the day. M'Bia - 7 - Worked hard and never let the Spurs midfield settle. Park - 7 - Having watched the game back, I now feel Park had a better game than I'd thought whilst at the game. Although he looked off the pace, he retained possession well and worked tirelessly. Mackie - 7 - Gets a 7 purely for his work-rate. SWP - 7 - Worked very hard and made some great runs. Unfortunately he will never get the goals that we need imo. Taarabt - 7 - Held the ball up well at times, showed glimpses of outrageous skill and played some brilliant passes. Our only creative force. His dead ball deliveries remain frustratingly awful however. Thoughts?
Thanks Col, didn't go yesterday as was so knackered I thought the drive would be unsafe. What you write closely echoes the commentary on the wireless, where they really praised our organisation and resiliance. Sounds like I missed a sound defensive display and not much else, and not much else aspired to. Good to know we can do this, as I really rate Spurs this season. But I'll be a bit pissed off if we shut up shop at home against anyone else other than Utd and City. Lets start winning.
Thanks Col! Can't argue much with that. If only TF had got rid of Hughes and brought in Harry earlier, we'd be out of the bottom 3 now I think. The fight all 11 showed yesterday, and at Chelsea, compared to under Hughes this season was crystal clear even from here. Also Harry's tactics at Chelsea, yesterday, and earlier have been spot on IMO. If Harry can find a quick and good CB before the end of January this alone will be a huge help in enabling us to get forward more to take more 3 rather than 1 pointers. We are looking solid at the back with all the midfield support the CB's are getting now, but when we push forward more against even the weakest PL teams, our present lack of speed at CB leaves us very exposed. We need another good CF too, and a goal scoring midfield player would be a big bonus, but I feel a quick top quality CB is vital to give us the platform to go into the more attacking formations we need to have to win games.
Accurate summary of what I saw Col - and despite some on here rubbishing Park's performance, you've rightly credited his hard working contribution to the cause of effectively neutralising Tottenham's fearsome attacking options. What really impressed me yesterday was our confidence and solidity throughout the entire game. Never once was I particularly worried we might concede and/or fall apart like we've done before now. And the quick pass and move interplay between defence and midfield was top drawer from start to finish. No doubt whatsoever that Spurs came out of that knowing they'd been in a hard fought match. Much better energy, commitment and resolute determination from Rangers than we've seen hitherto. Just hope we keep it up and don't wither back into la-la land like we did at West Brom last term after a similarly sterling performance. All in all, had this performance come and set the standard earlier in the season, I'd have no problem believing we could do much better than simply survive. As things stand, with no forward threat to speak of, we have but the faintest glimmer of a hope - which it has to said, is an awful lot more than we realistically had under Hughes.
Thing is Brix, I think we would have a forward threat if Taarabt was played in a withdrawn, central role playing those delicious little balls through for someone like Cisse to run on to. I still believe Cisse could get us the goals with the right service.
Cheers Col, saw it very similar to yourself. Is DJ eligable to play? not sure he's actually in the 25, or does it not count in Jan? buggered if I know.
Must say I didnt think we were outclassed. Tactics were spot on for me and but for poor finishing by SWP we would have nicked the points.
I do mate yes. We struggled to keep the ball for more than 3 passes most of the time, whilst their pass and move play was very good. That doesn't detract from our superbly hard-working performance mind you. But for superb goal keeping from Cesar we would have lost. 1 shot on target all game.
I was intrigued to see what you made of the match Col and must say that this is an excellent report (which is clearly code for me saying that I completely agree with you right down to Park and Cisse). While I appreciate why we were set up that way and thoroughly welcome the unexpected point it gained us, I can’t say that I like it. My opinion is clearly irrelevant, but how long do you think that our long suffering supporters would accept watching that sort of performance? Two of our next 3 home matches are against the Manchester teams, presumably we can expect similar against those two (unless Redknapp tries to bluff one of them), so the Norwich match will be revealing. Like you I feel he has to find a way of getting Cisse firing again. He has played wide before, if he had be running onto the thorough balls instead of SWP we’d have had a goal, but, of course, Fabio would have been left far more exposed. Who’d be a manager? Out of interest which players would you select in your 4-2-3-1 formation? Who of those would you see getting into the opposition box to support our attacks?
I agree Harry was right with the tactics yesterday keeping it tight and eeking out a draw however our next home game against City i honestly think we have to be more attacking as with teams around us picking up points its only wins that are going to save the day now on in particularly at home.
Hello mate. I think Cisse could still be the lone striker, as long as Taarabt was played behind him to create the chances. As for the 4-2-3-1? Well, I'd like to see Hoilett given more of a run in one of the 2 wide attacking roles. Problem with that is that you won't get the work rate out of him that we get from SWP and Mackie. Having said that, we need wins. Safety first draws will send us down, so I think at some point we'll have to gamble a bit. If, as you say, we play for a draw at home against the two Manchester clubs, then there will be huge pressure on the Norwich home game and we all know how we tend to fair in those "must win" games. I mentioned 4-2-3-1 because I feel it's a formation that still offers plenty of cover for the back 4 but gives us more chance to get players forward. If we don't sign anyone, I think I'd play this, except maybe selecting the more defensive minded SWP for the away games: ------------------------Cesar------------------------ Fabio----------Nelsen--------Hill---------------Traore -----------------Dery--------M'Bia------------------- Mackie----------------Taarabt----------------Hoilett ----------------------Cisse------------------------- An even more attacking option could be this: ----------------------Cesar---------------------- Fabio-------------Nelsen---Hill-------------Traore -----------------Derry----M'Bia------------------ Hoilett--------------Granero--------------Taarabt -------------------Cisse-------------------------
Pretty much sums up the way I'm thinking too. Reading's win (very much like ours v Liverpool last year) really downgraded the effect of the point v Spurs imo.
Great commentary as always, Col. I think the Rs did a great job in nullifying what is a pretty fearsome attacking force in Defoe, Adebayor, Bale and Lennon... And later Dempsey. When you think of what the Rs can call upon in response, I think Mr Redknapp got the tactics spot on. If I were Harry, then I'd be looking to set up like this against those teams challenging for European places, but going to your 4-2-3-1 when perhaps facing the Villas, Stokes and Wigans of this league. To grab 4 points from Chelsea and Spurs is a great achievement and I don't think we should be too disappointed. Pragmatism is all when you're fighting for points. My big fear is that the Rs are too open playing the more offensive formations, certainly with squad they've got. Outgunning opposition to thrilling 5-4 wins is not going to happen with these players, so perhaps tactics where we contain the opposition for maybe 75% of the game is the way forward? Pretty it ain't, but maybe Redknapp is correct in making the Rs hard to beat first, then look to steal the points and shut up shop? It won't be good for our nerves, that's for sure! Standout performances for me yesterday in particular were Cesar and Fabio, so was a tad surprised to see Nelsen get the Sky MoM award. I didn't think, however, that any player performed badly. Spurs were limited really to a few chances in the first half, and resorted to long-range efforts for much of the game thereafter, none of which particularly troubled Cesar. SWP could have had a hat-trick.
Mate Derry and Mbia together in 4-2-3-1 wouldn't give us a lot of possession. IMO Faurlin or Granero should be there
I very much share rangercols view about yesterday´s game and in particular about our performance - we were outclassed but at least our workrate was much improved compared to many games we have seen at LR this season. Of course again we did not see any nice football and standing deep into our own half for most of the game is not what I would like to see going to a football match. On the other hand we have to aknowledge that Harry has managed to earn us some points and there will be different teams where we really have to score goals. Happy with the point and possible to stay in the PL.
I agree with you, we need one playmaker in the middle who can pass the ball, if you watch Barca build from the back they look to pass to Xavi everytime to spread the ball about
Sorry guys, I think Harry is playing it one game at a time and setting the team up according to the opposition. He clearly doesn't see Cisse putting a shift in up front and plays the team accordingly. To have taken Spurs on yesterday would have been suicidal, go for the bore-draw and hope one bounces our way as it did with Chelsea. He's playing percentages until we get better players in to have a go. Expect more of the same against both Manchester clubs, we are written-off but if we nick a point here or there it might just make the difference in the end!...
