Rangers v Motherwell 27/12/2025

[MJC]

The fact that Rangers lost today leaves me even less confident of us getting anything. They very rarely lose two league games in a row and we’ve seen this all too often over the years when one of the OF loses or drops points just before they are due to play us and we get the backlash. 
 

We will not beat either Rangers at Ibrox or Celtic at Fir Park. We might scrape a 0-0 in one of them but that will be our lot because we are not physical enough or nearly clinical enough to make it count when it will matter. I’ve heard detractors of this current Hearts side making claims that “they are a team of journeymen” or “a typical McInnes side, big and physical” but they are a well drilled team and being big and physical pays off in this league especially if you have that other critical ingredient that successful teams have…forward players who can score goals. And that is why Hearts are top of the league and deservedly so. Because they are well drilled, play as a team, have players who can mix it up and crucially have players who can score goals when it matters.

We are a good side and I am really enjoying watching us this season. But we will always fall short when it really matters for the reasons I mentioned above.

[texanwellfan]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

The fact that Rangers lost today leaves me even less confident of us getting anything. They very rarely lose two league games in a row and we’ve seen this all too often over the years when one of the OF loses or drops points just before they are due to play us and we get the backlash. 
 

We will not beat either Rangers at Ibrox or Celtic at Fir Park. We might scrape a 0-0 in one of them but that will be our lot because we are not physical enough or nearly clinical enough to make it count when it will matter. I’ve heard detractors of this current Hearts side making claims that “they are a team of journeymen” or “a typical McInnes side, big and physical” but they are a well drilled team and being big and physical pays off in this league especially if you have that other critical ingredient that successful teams have…forward players who can score goals. And that is why Hearts are top of the league and deservedly so. Because they are well drilled, play as a team, have players who can mix it up and crucially have players who can score goals when it matters.

We are a good side and I am really enjoying watching us this season. But we will always fall short when it really matters for the reasons I mentioned above.

Reasonable statements and time will tell if correct or not. Rangers Saturday followed by Celtic Tuesday is always going to be tough so maybe we’ll we see how we stack up after those two games. I’m sure both of us are hoping you’re wrong. 

[MJC]

9 minutes ago, texanwellfan said:

Reasonable statements and time will tell if correct or not. Rangers Saturday followed by Celtic Tuesday is always going to be tough so maybe we’ll we see how we stack up after those two games. I’m sure both of us are hoping you’re wrong. 

Absolutely and I will be delighted with 2 points, or 3 or 4 from the next two games. Obviously 6 would be the stuff of dreams but we need to be realistic. The reality is that we will probably get 0. 

[twistandshout1983]

7 minutes ago, MJC said:

Absolutely and I will be delighted with 2 points, or 3 or 4 from the next two games. Obviously 6 would be the stuff of dreams but we need to be realistic. The reality is that we will probably get 0. 

2 very tough games coming up,  but I think potentially at least a draw in one of those games is very possible

One comment I saw today from a Rangers fan today saying absolutely scunnered with his team in general,  even said thinking of giving up football completly

Does sound a bit dramatic of course,  onto the other mob and I think if Celtic had lost Wilifred Nancy would have been away before we play them.  Happy he is not

[Electric Blues]

14 minutes ago, MJC said:

Absolutely and I will be delighted with 2 points, or 3 or 4 from the next two games. Obviously 6 would be the stuff of dreams but we need to be realistic. The reality is that we will probably get 0. 

The only absolute certainty is that we won't get 5.

[joewarkfanclub]

Having watched both Rangers and Celtic today, I dont see anything for us to be worried about.

Rangers are a bit more solid than Celtic defensively but they look pretty toothless.

Celtic have more going forward, but they have been extremely wasteful of late and are wide open at the back. They only won today because Aberdeen played the whole second half with 10 men.

Not saying we will win both games or even one of them. But they are not the scarey proposition they used to be.

If we turn up and play our usual game and dont make any stupid errors we will compete and hold our own with both of them.

As for Hearts. Yes they are a good team and are well clear at the top, but they have also failed to beat us twice, so lets give ourselves a little bit of credit!

[grizzlyg]

I am pleased celtic won as it keeps Nancy in a job.  I expect them to beat Livi away also.   Hopefully we can give them a right good game but first we have the rangers game and we should go in with belief 

[BigManTam]

Next 2 games:

0 points - Dissapointing

1 point - meh

2 points - OK (surely not 2 goalless draws...)

3 points - Good

4 points - Fantastic

6 points - Could we actually win the league?

[grizzlyg]

9 minutes ago, BigManTam said:

Next 2 games:

0 points - Dissapointing

1 point - meh

2 points - OK (surely not 2 goalless draws...)

3 points - Good

4 points - Fantastic

6 points - Could we actually win the league?

0 points........taxi for JBA

yes.......that was a joke

[texanwellfan]

11 minutes ago, BigManTam said:

Next 2 games:

0 points - Dissapointing

1 point - meh

2 points - OK (surely not 2 goalless draws...)

3 points - Good

4 points - Fantastic

6 points - Could we actually win the league?

Let’s hope JBA pulls off a couple of tactical masterclasses and gets us 6 points. Both will be tough games especially since we don’t have Welsh for the Celtic game. 
Fingers crossed AP and Hendry find their shooting boots and start scoring, although I don’t care who scores as long as we do. 

[texanwellfan]

This is going to be a long week till next Saturday. 

[Stuwell2]

2 hours ago, texanwellfan said:

This is going to be a long week till next Saturday. 

Amazing how this season Saturday’s can’t come quick enough. 

[fizoxy]

8 hours ago, twistandshout1983 said:

One comment I saw today from a Rangers fan today saying absolutely scunnered with his team in general,  even said thinking of giving up football completly

That's very believable. They've spent most of their lives watching their team ragdoll weaker opposition, and only having to worry about one other team, who they couldn't survive without. Now the poor souls are leaving for the game not even sure if they're going to win. Such a shame 😆

[texanwellfan]

Hopefully we can pile on a wee bit more agony for them. 

[Stuwell2]

7 hours ago, fizoxy said:

That's very believable. They've spent most of their lives watching their team ragdoll weaker opposition, and only having to worry about one other team, who they couldn't survive without. Now the poor souls are leaving for the game not even sure if they're going to win. Such a shame 😆

I find it hilarious at work this season listening to fans of both the arse cheeks arguing about who’s teams worse, who’s boards making a bigger backside of things and who’s got the worst most clueless manager. 
Love sitting watching them going tonto and just when they’re all just about spent with their wrath, chucking in another wee grenade and watching them all lose it again

[wellon]

17 hours ago, MJC said:

The fact that Rangers lost today leaves me even less confident of us getting anything. They very rarely lose two league games in a row and we’ve seen this all too often over the years when one of the OF loses or drops points just before they are due to play us and we get the backlash. 
 

We will not beat either Rangers at Ibrox or Celtic at Fir Park. We might scrape a 0-0 in one of them but that will be our lot because we are not physical enough or nearly clinical enough to make it count when it will matter. I’ve heard detractors of this current Hearts side making claims that “they are a team of journeymen” or “a typical McInnes side, big and physical” but they are a well drilled team and being big and physical pays off in this league especially if you have that other critical ingredient that successful teams have…forward players who can score goals. And that is why Hearts are top of the league and deservedly so. Because they are well drilled, play as a team, have players who can mix it up and crucially have players who can score goals when it matters.

We are a good side and I am really enjoying watching us this season. But we will always fall short when it really matters for the reasons I mentioned above.

I'd be happy with 2 draws or 1 win and a defeat...it's rangers and celtic,  even when not at their best, they should have enough. 

Without sounding paranoid , they will get the benefit of some decision/s over the 2 games..remains to be seen if it's game changing ones.

[star sail]

17 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

I am pleased celtic won as it keeps Nancy in a job.  I expect them to beat Livi away also.   Hopefully we can give them a right good game but first we have the rangers game and we should go in with belief 

I don't think Nancy is the mug that the Scottish media are making him out to be 

They dominated Aberdeen yesterday and whilst it is hard to get a true picture given that Aberdeen were down to 10 men, Celtic could have scored 5/6 goals.

If Nancy's system starts to click they will give some teams a real going over.

I think that our performances this season have matched Hearts and the two teams are very closely matched so if Hearts can beat Rangers we can certainly match Rangers. I can't see them step up their performance levels significantly.

We could come away with six points over the next two weeks, we could come away with nothing, but we are quickly establishing ourselves as a genuine top 4 side and even one victory in the two games would be a real statement of intent.

The fact that we are even considering these possibilities is dreamland after some fairly barren seasons.

Unfortunately the nature of the beast is that if we should come away with all 6 JBA will be on the shopping list for any big UK club struggling over the Christmas period. 

[grizzlyg]

8 hours ago, star sail said:

I don't think Nancy is the mug that the Scottish media are making him out to be 

They dominated Aberdeen yesterday and whilst it is hard to get a true picture given that Aberdeen were down to 10 men, Celtic could have scored 5/6 goals.

If Nancy's system starts to click they will give some teams a real going over.

I think that our performances this season have matched Hearts and the two teams are very closely matched so if Hearts can beat Rangers we can certainly match Rangers. I can't see them step up their performance levels significantly.

We could come away with six points over the next two weeks, we could come away with nothing, but we are quickly establishing ourselves as a genuine top 4 side and even one victory in the two games would be a real statement of intent.

The fact that we are even considering these possibilities is dreamland after some fairly barren seasons.

Unfortunately the nature of the beast is that if we should come away with all 6 JBA will be on the shopping list for any big UK club struggling over the Christmas period. 

I don't mean it will be easy if he is in charge,  I just meant if he got punted the fans would be boosted if it was o'neill back.   If sellik had a striker they would have destroyed Aberdeen yesterday.  Mind you we have sane issues striker wise.  Hendry looks so down when he misses chances, if he can get one then hopefully confidence increases 

[texanwellfan]

Celtic should also have easily beat Utd. They missed a handful of sitters but regardless I hope they are mentally on a downer. 

[texanwellfan]

I think I’d start AP in this one or maybe even push Cook inside and play Said as well

[joewarkfanclub]

7 minutes ago, texanwellfan said:

I think I’d start AP in this one or maybe even push Cook inside and play Said as well

Not bothered whether Jens plays Hendry or Stama. We will get a similar shift out of either and its hard to call which if any are more likely to score. Maybe Stama edges it as he at least has the confidence of his penalties to boost his confidence.

I agree re Said and RCC. Although Id play Cookie on the left in front of Longelo. I think he is more effective there and Said can play fine on the right side.

Id keep Slattery as a straight Just replacement as we will no doubt rotate fairly early with the 2 games in 4 days coming up.

[claretband]

Did anyone hear 5live tonight? Chris Sutton was on discussing Hearts title race etc. then the host said let’s not forget Motherwell. Sutton’s response was “you’re having a laugh theyre playing well but have serious lack of depth in the squad”.


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