ClubDeckBear
Well-Known Member
Just re-watched a lot of the games from this season's European run on RTV and it looks as if we've lost a lot of aggression in our movement, passing and pressing.
One or two touches and most balls played quickly to feet. You can see the team focusing on retaining possession but there's a purpose to it. The short passes are much quicker which draws the opposition out which leaves gaps. Our off the ball movement is much more aggressive as well so there are actually options for the forward ball to be played when those gaps occur.
If the forward ball is unsucessful, there are 2 or 3 Rangers players pressing immediately to win the ball back. It's coordinated and even though we are defending higher up the park, we don't look like we're going to get caught out (Game in Moscow aside).
In the Vienna and Villareal games at Ibrox especially, a good portion of the passes are switches to drag the opponent from A to B and create gaps that way. It's not "Tav 4 touches, up to DC 5 touches, back to Tav back to Goldson, across to Worrall, out to Barisic, up to Kent". It's "Tav, one touch, head up, ball to Kent".
We don't get as much space domestically because the teams are tinpot and sit 10 men behind the ball but the principal is surely the same? If we press in packs to get the ball back, pen them in by staying high (not getting deeper as game goes on and IMO inviting pressure), move the ball quicker and be more aggressive in our off the ball movement then we can go toe to toe with some great teams and break down the defences of **** teams.
Anyone else noticed this? Are we tired? Do we have no confidence left? Can we only motivate ourselves for glamour games?
One or two touches and most balls played quickly to feet. You can see the team focusing on retaining possession but there's a purpose to it. The short passes are much quicker which draws the opposition out which leaves gaps. Our off the ball movement is much more aggressive as well so there are actually options for the forward ball to be played when those gaps occur.
If the forward ball is unsucessful, there are 2 or 3 Rangers players pressing immediately to win the ball back. It's coordinated and even though we are defending higher up the park, we don't look like we're going to get caught out (Game in Moscow aside).
In the Vienna and Villareal games at Ibrox especially, a good portion of the passes are switches to drag the opponent from A to B and create gaps that way. It's not "Tav 4 touches, up to DC 5 touches, back to Tav back to Goldson, across to Worrall, out to Barisic, up to Kent". It's "Tav, one touch, head up, ball to Kent".
We don't get as much space domestically because the teams are tinpot and sit 10 men behind the ball but the principal is surely the same? If we press in packs to get the ball back, pen them in by staying high (not getting deeper as game goes on and IMO inviting pressure), move the ball quicker and be more aggressive in our off the ball movement then we can go toe to toe with some great teams and break down the defences of **** teams.
Anyone else noticed this? Are we tired? Do we have no confidence left? Can we only motivate ourselves for glamour games?
