Rangers Debates 2

23 Feb 2026 14:30:21
Hearts – 60 points.
Rangers – 56 points.
Celtic – 54 points.
Motherwell – 50 points.
Are Motherwell in the mix?
Or is 10 of the pace, even though they have a game in hand?
Plenty think they will have a say.
And they've still to face both Celtic and Hearts before the split.
You would expect Hearts & Motherwell to win their next game at home.
And I fancy Rangers to beat Celtic at Ibrox.


I would also expect Celtic to beat Aberdeen – they nearly always do easily.
And Motherwell to beat Dundee.
So before Celtic play Motherwell, the league would look like:-
Hearts – 63 points.
Rangers – 59 points.
Celtic – 57 points.
Motherwell – 56 points.
All teams will have played 29 games.
7 points separating the top 4.
Rangers away to St Mirren.
Hearts away to Killie.
Celtic v Motherwell.

23 Feb 2026 15:24:57.
For me, Motherwell are definitely in the race. I'm not sure, but I imagine they are the in-form team over the last 6-10 games. Certainly seems that way.

And, by the way, they play football. I can see them dropping fewer points than everyone else in the run-in, which, if they do, puts them in the top 3.

23 Feb 2026 15:38:02
It could get mental.

23 Feb 2026 16:19:03
We are in a situation where it's a must-win because I don't see Hearts losing many points. Sunday, we need a win; otherwise, 6 or 7 behind is too much.

23 Feb 2026 16:41:33
If you were a neutral, it's probably one of the hardest leagues to predict this year. Motherwell is definitely not out of it, and will have a big say in it.

23 Feb 2026 18:06:03
You can't rule them out, but personally, I think they are just a wee bit too far off to end up taking the title. What I will say, however, is that they will have a big role in determining who finally wins it.

They are capable of taking points off the top 3, and will gain points from some of those games, but a few draws will see them drop out of the challenge. Regardless, they will have had a fantastic season.

23 Feb 2026 19:13:45
It will really heat up after the split.
The way Motherwell are playing, does anyone think they will lose the 3 games against Hearts, Celtic and us?

In my opinion, Motherwell may well hold the destiny of the title in their hands.

23 Feb 2026 19:47:40
I think Motherwell will affect the end position of the table, but I don't think they will win it. btw over last 10 games the form is on points:

Motherwell 23
Rangers 24
Hearts 17
Celtic 19

So we might just have a say on it as well. 😉

23 Feb 2026 20:29:33
Last 3 away games we have 3 points, and most of our games are now away games, I think, which is worrying.

23 Feb 2026 21:11:24
Hopefully the same points difference happens in the last ten games, Angus.
Last ten fixtures: five games at Ibrox, one at Celtic, Hearts, St Mirren, Falkirk. I'm thinking Falkirk twice; I wouldn't like it being Motherwell.

23 Feb 2026 21:33:14
Baffling storm. We had 3 stands yesterday, and the fans were superb, the same at Motherwell and Hibs. I think we lack real experience guys who can drag us through games like yesterday.

23 Feb 2026 22:27:44
Our away record isn't as good, but we have won 6 away from home. Some are worried about a Motherwell team who have so far won only 12 points against top 6 teams; we have won 21.

Motherwell have 9 of their last 11 games against top 6 teams. So, yes, they might affect the league, but they will need to improve their draws to wins to do that.

24 Feb 2026 04:00:55
Correct ows and we are always told on here if the fans get behind the players we will win. 🤦‍♂️

24 Feb 2026 08:34:50
Love it Ows, so glad it's a good backing, beats Rangers fans throwing in the towel after half a dozen games, eh. 👍

24 Feb 2026 12:05:58
OWS, I think you are correct. Good fan backing does help the team; it doesn't guarantee the win, though. Our team is still relatively young, and what we are missing is the experience in certain positions to drag us through those games.

23 Feb 2026 14:20:06
A tale of 2 fullbacks.
Rommens v Tav.
Rommens defensive contribution – 8.
Tav defensive contributions – 6.
Rommens tackles won – 3 / 4.
Tav tackles won – 2 / 2.
Rommens ground duels won – 6 / 9.
Tav ground duels won – 5 / 6.
Rommens aerial duels won – 4 / 5.
Tav aerial duels won – 2 / 5.
Rommens had more clearances.
Tav had more interceptions.
Tav had more recoveries.
Rommens possession lost – 21.


Tav possession lost – an astounding 31.
Tav had double the ball carries. And over twice the carrying distance.
Both had similar pass accuracy.
Though Rommens had more pass accuracy in the opposition half – 85% to 77%.
Tav had the more accurate long balls – 53% to 17%.
Rommens had more cross accuracy, not by much – 27% to 21%.
Tav also created 2 big chances.

23 Feb 2026 17:32:50
Mph shows, despite what people think, there wasn't a huge difference between both. Also, in a team playing 4-2-2-2, we need our FBs to be adding good attacking contributions. I didn't think Rommens was as effective yesterday, but possibly due to lack of space from Livingstone. Tav was also crossing from deep, so those weren't as effective as when we get our FBs wide.


Sofascore, as I have said before, counts corners, free kicks and throw-ins as lost possession. So, Tav taking all of those only lost the ball 10 times more than Rommens, who took only throw-ins. Not sure I saw either of them passing to the opposition that often, and passing accuracy would agree with that.

23 Feb 2026 08:39:49
I understand the frustration with Skov but a think the problem is with Tav constantly flying forward pass Skov or gets right beside him then gives him a pass. Tav isn't letting Skov do his thing

23 Feb 2026 10:13:40
You can't be serious. 😂

23 Feb 2026 11:21:08
Any excuse to blame Tav for some.

23 Feb 2026 11:49:37
Form, so far, So hasn't shown anything to merit the money he is on or the fee at end of season.
Prove me wrong.

23 Feb 2026 13:56:05
I realise he hasn't played in a while, but so far he's shown nothing. If I were a loan player at a club trying to earn a contract, I'd be busting a gut, but it seems he isn't, from what I've watched.

23 Feb 2026 13:59:53
Tav has a lot of issues, but Olsen playing poorly isn't one of them.

23 Feb 2026 14:06:44
Tav, really? So basically you're saying Olson can't play with an overlapping defender. 🙄 😒

23 Feb 2026 14:49:41
You can't blame Tav for Olsen's form, even though Tav is poor.

23 Feb 2026 15:00:33
Not excusing Skov's own poor performance, but I actually think there is a bit of something in this. Tav's increasingly erratic, random ramblings make it hard to develop any kind of understanding. U never seems to know where he's meant to be, so it must be hard to adapt to playing beside him.

Contrast that with Rommens on the other side, who already seems to have an understanding with whoever is on that side.

23 Feb 2026 16:31:15
Tav's fault for Olsen's performance? Heard that on the live chat 4 or 5 weeks ago, also from the usual guy. Olsen needs to improve, and you can see why Wolfsburg wanted rid? He's obviously a talented lad, but it's time to produce. 😇 🇬🇧

23 Feb 2026 17:38:11
Watch the Rangers Review tactic vlog someone posted on here after the Hearts game, and you will see how those overlapping FBs should work. The two wingers move inside to act as MF; FBs overlap, and defensive MF cover for these FBs. Or at least that is how they were showing it.


Also see MPH's post above to see that Rommens and Tav had remarkably similar stats yesterday. And if ASO is just being held back by Tav, what about when Sterling has been FB. ASO hasn't had a good game supposedly, but 2 of these have been with Sterling.

23 Feb 2026 18:12:56
Never been a fan of Tav, but I wouldn't blame him for Olsen's form. I think he needs to get match fitness and sharpness, but we've got to hope it comes soon. He has potentially a World Cup to play for, so he needs to find his form.

23 Feb 2026 20:31:40
He did have a good game when he came on against Killie, so why do you make stuff up?

23 Feb 2026 07:09:20
Well troops after watching the Livi game who in my opinion bottom of the table were by far the better team were still way off the pace. We were lucky to come away with the draw. 4 points behind hearts. If these players have any aspirations of possibly winning a league then they need to step up and step up now

23 Feb 2026 07:29:00
5 Shots 22
3 Shots on target 12
26% Possession 74%
18 Fouls 14
3 Yellow cards 2
1 Red cards 0
0 Offsides 2
3 Corners 15

Aye, Davie, Livi were the better team. Must be because they didn't get caught offside.

23 Feb 2026 09:04:00
Look, guys, Livi were totally anointed today. Any other week, with these stats we would win the game with goals to spare. Again, I felt that Bajrami was a better player than Gassama; the latter did nothing yesterday but repeatedly give the ball away. I am very impressed with Rommens, though.

imo, he is our best LB. Souttar and Fernandes were far too slow getting the ball forward. In Souttar's defence, though, he does provide some good long-range passing. On to them next week now, we have to show total urgency and go at them from the off.

23 Feb 2026 10:52:09
You're better off talking up another sport if you're thinking Livingston was better.

23 Feb 2026 11:23:48
I couldn't believe what I was reading, Mystar.
A phrase comes to mind re the game.
Remember the Alamo.
Even the brave defenders of the Alamo broke out and gave the attacking force a bloody nose on a couple of occasions.

23 Feb 2026 11:24:05
Davie, there is no metric in which Livingston were the better team.

23 Feb 2026 12:17:40
If we had won with 3 or 4 yesterday, I don't think Livingston would've had any complaints.

23 Feb 2026 14:50:38
Livingston weren't the better team, but we were lucky to get a draw. That is 100% correct. The only reason we got a draw is because they had a man sent off.

23 Feb 2026 15:31:27
Correct, Fib. We should have won that game. 9 out of 10 we do.

23 Feb 2026 15:43:42
"Remember the Alamo." All I can think of is "American Werewolf in London" when I hear that. 😉👍

24 Feb 2026 04:03:49
9 out of 10 we do. 🤦‍♂️ Just happened to be that 10th time we didn't on Sunday. 😬

22 Feb 2026 23:22:10
All the people that said Chermiti would make us millions upon millions last week are affy quiet about him this week. Another game he hasn't been good enough in. He certainly didn't improve this week that's for sure.

23 Feb 2026 06:07:23
He won't do for us, Storm. I'd take our money back and buy an actual goal scorer. 8 million for a guy who scores every 6 weeks? Nah, that doesn't work at Rangers. 👍 Gassama as well. I've never watched so many games and forgotten a certain player was even playing. I do it with him; he needs to be an impact player.

23 Feb 2026 13:58:27
Chermiti gets isolated. I think he needs to play with another striker close by.

23 Feb 2026 14:53:16
Paul, I had said he was improving, but it's still not good enough.

7 goals this season and 5 of them in 3 games. Dessers found chances when being isolated, missed and scored his fair share. Good strikers will find a way.
Chermiti may be better next season, who knows.

23 Feb 2026 16:33:15
If we can make our money back, and get a 20% sell-on as part of the deal, I'd take it every day of the week.

22 Feb 2026 23:08:40
I remember a poll asking if we didn't sign a striker would it cost us the league. 80/20 ssid it would. If we had a penalty box striker today wed have won.

23 Feb 2026 08:40:26
But we signed a striker. 🤷

23 Feb 2026 12:06:14
Isn't Naderi a penalty box striker, ows? He seems to get into the correct positions for not being one.

23 Feb 2026 14:54:27
We did sign a striker, Angus, but it's still early to determine if he is the one that will score us goals.

23 Feb 2026 17:41:23
Storm, we agree on that, but the OP was saying if we didn't sign a striker; we did, so the OP's 'I told you so' post is wrong. 🤷 He is also a penalty box striker; the only difference is we drew a game. 😉

24 Feb 2026 04:05:10
Everyone new here meant a goalscorer, as he has said it time and time again about having a striker as a goalscorer.

24 Feb 2026 04:06:00
His being a penalty box striker has still to be decided. We don't know what he is yet.

22 Feb 2026 21:44:18
Does anyone else feel we won't win a title as long as Tav is captain or is it just me? Tired of it, i get the feeling he's too soft. At half time today we needed a Ferguson or a davie Weir 1 0 down to get them told and grab the game by the scruff. I just don't see that with tav

23 Feb 2026 00:12:00
We've already won a title with him as the captain. He has taken many, many games by the scruff. He also set up our second goal, did he not?

He's 34 now and is on his way out. Lots to be excited for, can't wait for all the league titles we are going to win because someone else has got a fabric armband on their sleeve.

23 Feb 2026 00:48:20
I personally think Tav should leave at the end of the season, but saying everything is his fault is very demeaning to a boy that's given years of service. Did Ferguson or Weir never draw any games, Baxter? And, as Tav123 said, he's been here for a league title, mate.

23 Feb 2026 14:55:11
One title with no fans in the ground, Tav123. Funny that.

23 Feb 2026 15:32:13
What's that got to do with what anyone has said? I really don't get this narrative. If we had a different captain we would have won more. It's bonkers. What player would we have given the armband to that would have steamrolled us to more titles in the last 10 years, then? If winning the title was so easy with no fans in the ground, how did Celtic not make it 10 in a row? Funny that.

23 Feb 2026 17:46:45
So is it fans in the ground which is the issue then? Should we stop them from being there in general to improve our chances. 😂
Are those fans in the ground just for Tav or for every player?

If Weir or Ferguson were playing now with the squads we have had, would they still be winning titles? Weir lost 2 out of 5 league titles, and Ferguson lost 5 titles, so having them on the field didn't mean we automatically won.


I am also looking forward to winning every title when Tav goes, if he is the only issue though. 😉

22 Feb 2026 19:58:29
3 strikers on the pitch and the only one I can remember having a shot was Miovski. Naderi needs time but he isn't the not mobile. What we needed was a goalscorer.

This Röhl love in is a wee bit false tops couldn't bet Dundee utd, Hearts (away), hibs, Motherwell, Livingston

Still a bang average side. They have lost 7 games 7 21 points! And they can still go above us! Draws killing us!

Gassama needs dropped

22 Feb 2026 19:20:32
Hopefully we can start games the way we end them. We cause our own problems with sloppy passes and lapses of concentration.