Rangers banter 4

01 Nov 2026 08:07:47
Another questionable performance.
But in semi-finals, the result is all that matters.
So well done to McInnes and the players in getting to the first final of the season.
All we've been asking for years is to be in with a chance with winning domestic trophies on a regular basis. 🔴⚪️🔵.

01 Nov 2026 09:55:57
Absolutely MPH, nobody remembers a performance when we get through to the final.
Conversely, if we'd played amazing and got knocked out by a deflected goal, it would be sack the manager.

01 Nov 2026 12:33:27
If we'd taken our chances it might have been a doing on another day.
Our form has dipped a bit since the international break though.
Would like a deal sorted for Bouanani down the line, he's only going to improve.

31 Oct 2026 21:23:29
Our two-man midfield is becoming painfully predictable.

While it works perfectly fine against teams like Celtic who keep a tight distance between their defence and attack, it completely falls apart the moment an opponent decides to stretch the pitch.

When teams bypass the press and play long, our two central midfielders are left totally isolated. Both can't drop back to protect the back line so we're left exposed to second balls and they are never close enough to link with the forward line.

As a result we lose control of game and we end up hoofing it long ourselves, which plays directly into the opposition's hands.

Our goal today was the result of a counter attack, at a moment in time where Aberdeen's defence had pushed up the park. If it wasn't for that, I'm not sure had a goal in us.

I really like the squad we're building, but we desperately need to see something a little different.

31 Oct 2026 21:37:35
Couldn't agree more EHL and we say that Celtic are predictable and teams have sussed out how to play against them.
We are in danger of falling into the same trap.
The gaffer has to switch it up a bit.

31 Oct 2026 21:38:45
Do we actually have the players to play a 3 in there?

Looks to me we have decided as a club to play the 442 system and have recruited for that or 4231.

I like 433 because there is more balance in it but you need numbers from midfield to make up for the attacker missing up front. Take away the front two's goal right now and we have nothing imo.

I am really interested in seeing how the current formation does over a season. Since Jablonec its been really effective but understand there are question marks over it because its not been used to win a league in SPL for a couple of decades.

31 Oct 2026 22:07:06
EHL - excellent post and what formation do we adopt to make us less predictable to play against?
Still good to be in the Final.

31 Oct 2026 22:20:40
Getting through and another clean sheet, nobody will remember this game if we win some silverware. We are still unbeaten in what now!

31 Oct 2026 22:44:50
Would suggest that against Celtic it was more of a 3-5-1-1.

Penrice becoming the 3rd central midfielder (with Naderi more of the no. 10).

31 Oct 2026 23:12:09
Does Derek need a tactics man in to help his team?

Billy Reid would do that job for me?

31 Oct 2026 23:19:19
Totally agree ehl. Absolutely over the moon we are in a final, but that was horrible to watch again. Like against Hearts many will say we had an off day today, but how many times are we going to have an off day this season? Apart from bounani we were dreadful up top, if it wasn't for poor finishing from dons, we'd have been in trouble.

If we keep playing like that, the wheels will fall off soon enough, Aberdeen had so many players injured, these performances are worrying, it wasn't so much the dropped points at hearts, it was the manner of it. We won't keep getting away with it.

31 Oct 2026 23:33:41
IM over the moon with the tight win against one of our biggest rivals. Hard fought and well deserved, we had many more chances and our defence limited them to maybe 2 or 3 the entire game. Great striker paly from Naderi to get us over the line.

31 Oct 2026 23:39:47
Aberdeen had 2 shots on target, 5 off, we had 5 on target 12 off, 74% possession, double the corners Aberdeen had, Rangers didn't deserve to lose that game, Aberdeen were up for that game like normal, a semi final and reached the final, happy with that, let's win the remaining league game before the international break, we were playing better before the last one.

31 Oct 2026 23:49:49
Well deserved and should have been more - a few players not at their best right now - great to be in the final 🇬🇧.

01 Nov 2026 00:02:18
My star i agree with you Aberdeen didn't do anything in the game we didn't deserve to loose and which we didn't into the final and hopefully we lift the trophy next month.

01 Nov 2026 03:14:29
To be fair if not for some bad finishing , last ditch blocks and not much luck in front of goal we could of scored 5 or 6 goals in second half , two man midfield will cause us problems in games and DM must see it as welll but think not seeing where goal coming from is way off.

01 Nov 2026 04:31:12
EHL -For me the big isssue is when our defence has the ball trying to bring it out. The wingers are staying high and often (actually nearly all the time) one of the midfielders drop deep to offer a pass leaving one midfielder in there. Which forces us to either go long or like in the second have put a low pass straight from the defence to the strikers (normally Kelsy).

For me it's not the formation but the tactics. In this scenario I would like to see a box with the wingers coming centrally, either deeper than the strikers, coming centrally into midfield to provide passing and link up options.

Or let the strikers come a bit deeper and let the wingers go beyond for flick ons etc.

And regarding flick ons, it's becoming too predictable, we can't be trying it all the time with limited success. We need the strikers to try and hold the ball better to slow the whole team up the park at times.

01 Nov 2026 07:56:51
Well, this old man is delighted to be on the final, my opinion is we just need to instil some composure when we get the chances we made yesterday. The one area that really annoys me is the slow passing in the defensive area, get it forward quicker and who knows we may just get the additional goals we all crave.

01 Nov 2026 08:33:26
Part of the dilemma is our Strikers are at best in a partnership so we lose a man in midfield. So do we drop a striker when they seem to be linking up well to strengthen midfield but end up with no weaker up top? Strange also were suddenly so short of CMs that we have to play a LB there when we had an abundance of different CMs before.

I know we've been trying to adapt Dragos style apparently but is a natural LB really a better option than him?

01 Nov 2026 09:33:39
Ziko's I disagree, I really don't think it's the wide players that are the issue.

The 3 pieces of the puzzle that are lacking for me is RB, CM and CF.

We need a rb that can mirror what Penrice and Rommens can do. Unfortunately Sterling can't, which leaves us really lopsided and gives the opposition an out ball.

In CM we need a powerful runner who is capable of breaking the lines. Unfortunately that's neither Neil or Raskin, who are both very similar in that they want to be on the ball and they want dictate play.

And upfront we need someone who is comfortable to drop in to the midfield occasionally to make up a 3, someone who can take the ball in on the halfway line and bring others in to play. Unfortunately the 2 we have who can do this are injured.

Either that or just go to 433, which would be my preference.

01 Nov 2026 09:55:13
Neither of our strikers, who are scoring and assisting regularly, can play a line striker role. So our options are:

- Play 4-3-3 with only one of them and remove our current goal threat (see first half against Dundee).

- Play 4-2-1-2 and drop the wingers, so Bouanani and Gassama don't play. Kim squeezes into 10 where he hasn't been effective (better off the left IMO).

- play 3-5-2 which means none of the wingers or Kim can play (they aren't wing backs)

- play 3-4-3 which is a combination of all the above problems.

Maybe the manager has looked at all his options and decided this is the one with the trade offs he's willing to accept, because whatever system we go with is always going to have trade offs.

01 Nov 2026 10:00:26
You make a lot of sense EHL and its an informed argument, however I feel with a bit more pace of passing , we'd have found more space in the attacking areas quicker. Which in. Turn would have isolated their full backs more often.

Also, I feel like the counter attack for us is a valid option against any team, we break quickly usually, just the final pass needs to be better sometimes.

01 Nov 2026 10:36:40
EHL I agree those are issues. It I still maintain that when the backing has the ball and trying to build something that the wingers are too high and don't offer a pass unless we go long. Which means the defenders only have 3 options. Pass to another defender, pass to the 6 or go long.

And far too often we mess about with option one a few times then go long.

01 Nov 2026 11:32:03
I reckon our system is more 4-2-4 than 4-4-2. Of our wide players, only Curtis is effective tracking back. We still need much more in terms of assists and goals from them. I'll be disappointed to see Curtis go out on loan as whilst he may not have the pace or trickery of the others, he makes more of a real impact.

Mind you, he outpaced both Yogane and Sterling near the end of the game yesterday to win the ball.

01 Nov 2026 11:57:30
Bear your spot on - I don't know why I didn't put it that way before.

01 Nov 2026 12:48:32
Bear, Zikos you are correct, however the front 4 are high to press the defence.

However teams now sit deep with 5 at the back, which gives them a numerical advantage amd allows them to beat the press and go long quickly.

Additionally they are creating a numerical advantage in the mide by playing 3 against our 2, which allows them to dominate the second balls.

They then use their 2 up top to deliberately play off Sterling and Fernandez as they know that they'll get success.

That's how Killie lined up in the second 45, how Dundee set up from the start, how St J lined up in the second half, how Hearts set up from the start and how Aberdeen set up.

So there is a blueprint to play against us and we need to find answers.

01 Nov 2026 13:06:50
Absolutely My star 👍 Rangers absolutely deserved to beat Aberdeen yesterday not a doubt about it mate 👍🇬🇧.

01 Nov 2026 13:34:18
EHL I Completely agree with this.
For me, midfield is still one of the biggest weaknesses in this Rangers side, and it's something we desperately need to address.

We lack creativity, physicality, energy and, most importantly, a proper box-to-box midfielder who can influence the game at both ends of the park.

Raskin and Neil are decent footballers, but they're too similar in what they offer. Both want to receive the ball, dictate possession and play in front of the opposition. What we're missing is someone prepared to drive forward with the ball, break through the lines, make late runs into the box and actually give opposition defenders something to worry about.

How often do we see our midfielders making dangerous runs beyond the strikers? How often do we see someone picking a defence splitting pass or taking responsibility for creating something when teams sit deep? Nowhere near enough.

We have players who can recycle possession, but not enough who can turn possession into genuine attacking opportunities.

That's a massive problem, especially domestically, where so many teams are happy to sit deep, frustrate us and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.

We also need a midfielder with the engine and physical presence to win second balls, cover ground quickly and get back to support the defence. Someone who can carry the ball 20 or 30 yards rather than constantly looking sideways or backwards for the next pass.

At the moment, when our press gets bypassed, the midfield is far too easily exposed. And when we're attacking, there's often a huge gap between the midfield and forwards. We're asking two players to do the work of three, and it's simply not sustainable against every type of opposition.

That's why I'd much rather see us move towards a 4-3-3, with a proper balance in the middle:

A holding midfielder who protects the defence and controls possession.
a powerful box-to-box midfielder who wins battles, drives forward and supports both ends.
And a creative midfielder who can operate between the lines, unlock stubborn defences and contribute goals and assists.

That would give us far more flexibility, better protection against counterattacks and, crucially, more attacking options through the middle instead of constantly relying on the wide players to produce something.

The other thing we're missing is goals from midfield. A successful Rangers side should have midfielders capable of contributing regularly, not just sitting behind the attack and watching everything happen in front of them.

I agree about right back and centre-forward as well, but a genuinely creative, athletic, box-to-box midfielder would completely transform this team.

There's definitely the makings of a good Rangers squad here, but we cannot keep expecting to dominate games simply by having more possession. We need players who can change the tempo, take risks, break lines and hurt teams.

Possession means absolutely nothing if we don't have the creativity or movement to do something with it.

The RB Skoglund, I think would also have been a great addition to match the LBs we have.

31 Oct 2026 21:05:31
Stevie G, Bouanani is one very talented footballer, let's hope he continues on the upwards path and we can do a deal for him in the near future mate.

31 Oct 2026 22:14:11
If he steps up another 10% mate we won't have a chance of keeping him.

He's real quality I'd expect him to go back to France it even Saudi

He's going to be too expensive, i think.


Do we have an option to trigger? Is it in our hands?

31 Oct 2026 22:21:09
Stevie we have an option to trigger a permanent purchase set at €17 million.

I think it more likely he returns to Germany my friend as his parents' club is Stuttgart 😂.

31 Oct 2026 23:37:33
Why do you think it more likely, is that just a gut feeling and what do you base this on. My gut says we get him for 10-14 million pounds and that's within our reach.

31 Oct 2026 23:42:09
I dint think was that much nato are u site mate.?

Not doubting u just didn't think that high. Though was -€15m so about £12m.

31 Oct 2026 23:47:32
The players ambition will dictate where he plays next year.

If he shows his talent consistently and adds some numbers to his game he'll have French and German teams aftet him. And as I say Saudi probably.

31 Oct 2026 23:48:42
TJBB, he performers constantly like he was today, we'll be all in for him, maybe 12m.

01 Nov 2026 00:00:23
I'd activate in January if he's earned it.

Wee bit to go with numbers but I would try early to make sure we get him.

01 Nov 2026 08:00:48
We need to get a more physical presence on our midfield, we're being out muscled far too much.

01 Nov 2026 08:39:55
Think it's far too expensive for us even though he looks good, enjoy him while we can. The one complaint I heard on radio was about him not releasing it quick enough at times. Sometimes strikers looking for the early ball but he chooses to not to too often.

01 Nov 2026 08:50:10
Stevie, I actually thought it was even more! Euro 18m! About 15mil pounds Sterling. We can only enjoy having him for the season then see what happens come summer. You know the old saying. Don't fall in love with a loan player!( They'll only leave you and go back to their ex😅)

01 Nov 2026 11:14:56
Nothing wrong with not signing him will be 20million plus player and won't want to sign for us imo.

01 Nov 2026 11:17:11
Sorry Stevie I am afraid I was incorrect.

The purchase option is €18 million (£15.5 million)

01 Nov 2026 13:08:53
I might be wrong, but i think we've got an option to buy bouanani at the end of the season 🤔Whether we will/can pay the amount stuttgart would want for him, is another matter 🤔🇬🇧.

01 Nov 2026 13:51:28
TJBB no it is not a gut feeling.

I base this on the fact that he is owned by Stuttgart therefore if Rangers do not meet the pre-agreed purchase value then it he is obligated to return to Stuttgart.

Therefore returning to Germany as I wrote above.

In my experience renegotiating a pre-agreed settlement is extremely difficult, especially if it is after a successful loan period.

01 Nov 2026 19:27:09
It's a high price indeed.

I feel if successful enough to justify us paying that price then he will have better offers on the table from elsewhere.

31 Oct 2026 20:34:55
Can anyone shed any light on the situation with young Dragojeavic?

20 year old 4.5 million signing, Captain and regular for his previous side and can't even get on as a sub with us?

And when he has played, he's looked decent. Feel for the kid.

31 Oct 2026 20:50:32
It does seem strange Gazza. Must be frustrating if seeing others out of position instead of him getting a chance.

31 Oct 2026 20:58:50
Kinda agree, I know EHL has mentioned he's being worked with in relation to playing in a 2 in MF, whether we continue to use a 2 in MF or not I still think the boy will get in soon, liked what I've seen in the limited minutes he's had, add to that how vocal he is on field and off, he was up and down the touchline a while back urging the players on.

31 Oct 2026 21:02:57
My take is this:

Coaches don't think he can play in a 2 man mf. He's taking intensive one to one training g to get him used to that role.

I feel if he can't play the role of the formation we play why sign him? We didn't sign Dahl when he was valued at €7m then €8m before couldn't afford at €12m

Because he doesn't suit a mf 2 role he's a 3 on the left so why not sign him as the 10 who can drop deep as a mf player better than minsu or Naderi.

We knocked one back cause he wasn't the right fit. Signed another who wasn't either and he's kicked less balls rHan the balls boy.

31 Oct 2026 21:26:54
I can't shed they type of light you'd like, but he's in very good hands and we just need that very un-Rangers thing. Patience.

31 Oct 2026 22:15:16
Ehl, I hope u know how highly I rate him and how much confidence I have he will be a success.

31 Oct 2026 22:40:20
My issue is he should be playing already in a 3 man mf.
Possibly allow Dan Neil to do what he does best and take that defensive issue he has away from him.

01 Nov 2026 08:43:14
Even if he's not suited to the 2 and needs time to learn is a LB really a better option than him?

01 Nov 2026 09:34:59
Just to confirm, Drago was originally dropped to work on some tactical training, however that is not the reason behind his prolonged absence.

01 Nov 2026 13:24:10
We won so you could say it worked out but I do find it interesting that we thought having 5 players available to play in the two midfield roles was too many but we go into a semi final with a left back in there rather than pick one of the other three who are fit.

01 Nov 2026 19:29:30
Wsl I believe that was a tactical choice by McInnes and not based on ability of mf's.

31 Oct 2026 20:28:20
Since our back to back victories over that lot playing good attacking football I feel we are kidding ourselves we are playing well, not having lost any games, I believe our style of play is boring negative football where our back to middle kill momentum going in the wrong direction Derek has got to address this as a priority.

Fullbacks getting the ball forward to the midfield who create opportunity for frontmen, sounds simple, is simple it's what good teams do not back to back and side to side the boring crap we've adapted. Just a point.

31 Oct 2026 21:21:52
The style of football is absolutely irrelevant, just win, nothing else matters.

31 Oct 2026 22:42:11
Dado spot on.

01 Nov 2026 09:04:53
Dado, this winning thing will never catch on mate! If we're not playing like Pep's Barca team then it it doesn't count.

01 Nov 2026 13:12:05
Absolutely Dado and some are just never happy mate 🤔If we were playing outstanding and losing they would be up in arms and when we don't play so well but win it's the same 😲 Just are never satisfied 🤔.

01 Nov 2026 13:28:58
At the moment we are rebuilding the squad and settling on our best team , personally I would rather be boring and win than be entertaining and lose . A 1-0 win beats a 3-4 loss every day of the week for me.
People keep comparing McInnes with Sir Walter ( wrongly in my opinion) but winning was everything to Walter and even with some of the great players we had in his eras he wasn't averse to being practical and grinding out results.

.

31 Oct 2026 19:20:38
Well fought win a very hard game and a massive massive well done to Derek his team, and the players but also to Dan Purdy and his team. And most of all to AC for backing this club to the hilt.

31 Oct 2026 19:35:34
It was a hard watch. Plenty of endeavour but not a lot of quality.
Take the win on we go.

31 Oct 2026 19:45:42
What game were you watching, hard game, yes cause we were that bad gave a poor Aberdeen team hope and encouragement.

31 Oct 2026 19:53:22
Clean sheet and into the final can't complain. Enjoy your night folks!

31 Oct 2026 20:17:58
Big Del got his tactics spot on, we are in the final, let's repay Andy with some silverware.

31 Oct 2026 20:18:51
Bertiboy. May want to read my post again. D i'd you not say the same thing but differently. 🤔.

31 Oct 2026 20:23:19
Just enjoy the night folks.

31 Oct 2026 20:34:27
If you had offered me a 1 nil win of any type I would have taken it before kick off.
Dominated most of the game and if not for some poor finishing and decision making could have been so much easier.
Into a final is all that matters and I am one very happy Rangers fan tonight.

31 Oct 2026 21:06:26
We win a semi final at Hampden with a clean sheet and people still want to complain!

McInnes' style isn't going to be pretty, but it's going to be successful.

We want to play fancy or win games, I know what I choose.

9 wins in 11, 2 draws no defeats.
45% clean sheet record this season.

Into a final and beat centipede. Home and away without conceding away too.

Miracles man, miracles.

31 Oct 2026 21:17:51
Them wanting possession based, we had 74% tonight.

31 Oct 2026 21:28:16
Lol, you were just complaining about Gassama on another thread Stevie.

31 Oct 2026 21:31:21
Heaven for bid people have opinions on a game.
I think everyone has said glad for the win am I wrong?
But we can still say what we seen and how we thought we played.

31 Oct 2026 22:17:29
Ehl, I don't rate Gassama at all mate, I really don't.

I know how highly you rate him, so I try to take that into account as I trust your view on most things, mate. I know you don't have a lot a time for me, I can tell, but I've tried to see it and I don't.

He's only wee, but better than Matondo and not as good as Sakala.

31 Oct 2026 22:18:46
Huistra opinions work both ways, buddie.

If we want to win?

We're doing it.

Rangers fans are never happy.

31 Oct 2026 22:42:39
Stevie, I'm very happy, mate, some fans want us dominating every game from start to finish and winning 5 nil, very sorry but football never works like that for far better teams than we have, 9 wins and 2 draws since we last got beat, but still not good enough.

31 Oct 2026 23:06:08
If that's the results we get when we're that bad how good we going to be when it eventually clicks lol.

Dels football isn't pretty but it's effective.

I'm over the moon with the club and team now.

Lots of room to improve but I believe some of that's already at the club.

Godfrey for manny he's too inconsistent for me. Was outstanding today for me.
2 great footballers at cb and both great in the air.
Manny loses concentration a lot and I think pace of Scottish game could be the reason. Best to sell.

Drago motives the mf issues

Penrice could be the captain for me too.

01 Nov 2026 06:05:58
Final it is then, yass get in there would take the 1-0 all day long over the sheep in any game and big Naderi again man just keeps popping up at big moments superb. Kelsy has his moments as well we are in goods hands enjoy the day lads.

01 Nov 2026 09:49:26
That's the point Stevie. You and a few others are having opinions on people having opinions on the game. Pulling them up.

01 Nov 2026 17:22:52
I suppose that's a fair comment u make huistra I never looked at it like that.

However that's called a debate mate and it's the whole point of the site.

Otherwise wef all just be posting out own views without any actuall discussion.

31 Oct 2026 18:36:49
This going long constantly is brutal. We have spent a hell of a lot of money to play this style.

31 Oct 2026 18:40:55
Totally agree. It's so poor and too many players not in it again.

31 Oct 2026 18:51:05
It's not just poor, it's horrendous. Upwards of 15m on Minsu and Kelsy and both are bang average. McInnes tactics are garbage and his midfield selvtion is baffling. It's a joke.

31 Oct 2026 19:05:36
How poor a commentator is Bomber Brown.

31 Oct 2026 19:49:35
Going long? What, that means going from back to front when did we do that. Our problem is we play back to back and back again!!

31 Oct 2026 20:09:08
Geez into a final and loads of fans still whinging get a grip.

31 Oct 2026 20:14:42
I would listen to bomber Brown every day of the week. Aye ye need to listen in one ear because he speaks from one side of his mouth but who cares he is a true Rangers legend.

31 Oct 2026 21:06:37
Not moaning Mcmillst, simply disappointed in our style of play over the last couple of games. Delighted we won. I genuinely believed that now Derek had some real money to spend he would look to mould a team to play the type of football he most probably always envisaged playing but perhaps didn't ever have the budget to implement.

01 Nov 2026 10:36:06
Three Cheers big Bomber takes the corners at blow football 😂👍🏻.