wee_od_88
Vital Football Hero
Been so busy the last few months with work that I've not been on the Forum much as I've simply not had the time. A few things to cover: first silverware under Ange, poor result against St Mirren resulting in a now 6 point gap at the top of the table, the Japanese Trio.
So lets start with St Mirren- ravaged by COVID and struggling to put out a team, we went to Paisley for what should have been a win regardless of the team we put out. Our team was weakened, no doubt. We had zero strikers, we were missing Turnbull and no Joe Hart in goal. St Mirren didn't really threaten us so not having Hart wasn't a big deal but we really lacked any sort of cutting edge or creativity in that match. Now St Mirren didn't help matters, they were SO defensive and played anti-football! We needed to do something different and it didn't happen. It was a really disappointing result.
We then went up against St Johnstone and I feared the worst. Kyogo was back but McCarthy was suddenly back in and we were playing a back 3 because we were missing so many players. Hell even Barkas ended up playing in goal! Although it wasn't officially said, we had a COVID outbreak that meant a load of players were having to isolate. We lost Kyogo after just 15mins but we'd gone 1-0 up shortly before so it became a question could we hold on. The answer was confirmed just 7mins later when Abada scored his second goal of the game and continued to look in control of the game. Abada had one of the best performances since his first few appearances for the club after joining in the summer. Joey Dawson came on to make his debut to replace the injured Kyogo and credit to him, he looked good. He was very unlucky not to get a goal later in the game but up until that chance he'd had little opportunity to show much of a striker instinct. However he held the ball up quite well, showed good touches and passing and looked a capable backup striker for us.
Lets move onto the more positive news. Firstly we beat Hibs to win the League Cup at Hampden. Kyogo managed to be fit enough to make the game and what a difference he made! 2 first class goals! We were the better team and it was a bit against the run of play that Hibs scored but it was poor defending from us. But to so quickly equalise was just brilliant! The second goal was just a thing of beauty, cleverly taken quick free-kick and Kyogo's movement was superb but to score the way he did was just brilliant! He is a special talent!
Lets be clear, we've been pretty fortunate that the winter break was brought forward due to restrictions on fans attending games. Rangers are clearly feeling very put out by it because they knew it was their best chance of beating us. By the break being brought forward, it gives us a chance to strengthen the squad with new signings as well as getting players back to fitness and with fewer players out due to COVID.
Speaking of new signings, I'm glad to see the Japanese Trio brought in nice and early. All 3 can improve us immediately and provide good options and depth in areas we badly need it. Ange has confirmed that Reo is going to be a midfielder for him, an attacking midfielder. So he'll be in competition with Turnbull and Rogic for a place in the team but his versatility could see him play out wide as a winger, at full back or even as a striker if we really needed him to. Maeda will likely be considered a striker but can easily play out wide as a striker or again if we really needed him to for whatever reason, I think he could play as an attacking midfielder in a more central role behind the striker. Guchi is going to be a defensive midfielder so he'll provide cover/competition for CalMac and Bitton. Bitton to his credit has been getting better and better as the season goes on. He's not suited to every game but can't argue with his effort so far this season.
It looks as though young Irish striker Johnny Kenn is coming in too but not sure how involved he'll be in the first team initially. It seems there are no real plans for any further additions this window but if the right deal and player becomes available then we will look to move on it.
So lets start with St Mirren- ravaged by COVID and struggling to put out a team, we went to Paisley for what should have been a win regardless of the team we put out. Our team was weakened, no doubt. We had zero strikers, we were missing Turnbull and no Joe Hart in goal. St Mirren didn't really threaten us so not having Hart wasn't a big deal but we really lacked any sort of cutting edge or creativity in that match. Now St Mirren didn't help matters, they were SO defensive and played anti-football! We needed to do something different and it didn't happen. It was a really disappointing result.
We then went up against St Johnstone and I feared the worst. Kyogo was back but McCarthy was suddenly back in and we were playing a back 3 because we were missing so many players. Hell even Barkas ended up playing in goal! Although it wasn't officially said, we had a COVID outbreak that meant a load of players were having to isolate. We lost Kyogo after just 15mins but we'd gone 1-0 up shortly before so it became a question could we hold on. The answer was confirmed just 7mins later when Abada scored his second goal of the game and continued to look in control of the game. Abada had one of the best performances since his first few appearances for the club after joining in the summer. Joey Dawson came on to make his debut to replace the injured Kyogo and credit to him, he looked good. He was very unlucky not to get a goal later in the game but up until that chance he'd had little opportunity to show much of a striker instinct. However he held the ball up quite well, showed good touches and passing and looked a capable backup striker for us.
Lets move onto the more positive news. Firstly we beat Hibs to win the League Cup at Hampden. Kyogo managed to be fit enough to make the game and what a difference he made! 2 first class goals! We were the better team and it was a bit against the run of play that Hibs scored but it was poor defending from us. But to so quickly equalise was just brilliant! The second goal was just a thing of beauty, cleverly taken quick free-kick and Kyogo's movement was superb but to score the way he did was just brilliant! He is a special talent!
Lets be clear, we've been pretty fortunate that the winter break was brought forward due to restrictions on fans attending games. Rangers are clearly feeling very put out by it because they knew it was their best chance of beating us. By the break being brought forward, it gives us a chance to strengthen the squad with new signings as well as getting players back to fitness and with fewer players out due to COVID.
Speaking of new signings, I'm glad to see the Japanese Trio brought in nice and early. All 3 can improve us immediately and provide good options and depth in areas we badly need it. Ange has confirmed that Reo is going to be a midfielder for him, an attacking midfielder. So he'll be in competition with Turnbull and Rogic for a place in the team but his versatility could see him play out wide as a winger, at full back or even as a striker if we really needed him to. Maeda will likely be considered a striker but can easily play out wide as a striker or again if we really needed him to for whatever reason, I think he could play as an attacking midfielder in a more central role behind the striker. Guchi is going to be a defensive midfielder so he'll provide cover/competition for CalMac and Bitton. Bitton to his credit has been getting better and better as the season goes on. He's not suited to every game but can't argue with his effort so far this season.
It looks as though young Irish striker Johnny Kenn is coming in too but not sure how involved he'll be in the first team initially. It seems there are no real plans for any further additions this window but if the right deal and player becomes available then we will look to move on it.
