Rangers v Motherwell 05/09/2026

[texanwellfan]

I’m thinking it is going to be a great season but as always with a few bumps along the road. 

[texanwellfan]

42 minutes ago, Happy Dosser said:

If you want MFC to play out from the back, which is the basis of our possession play, then the odd mistake is inevitable. Paulsen has been excellent this year but simply  made a misjudgement today.

Donnarumma of Man City committed a howler that escaped a goal by about three cms today so it can happen to the best of GKs.

Even then  I thought we could have  scored but three reasonable chances went a-begging in the first half and we looked out of it in the second: knackered.

The international break for once has come at the right time for us. I'm pretty sure we'll come  back strongly against The Mutton Molesters.

Alfred was honest in his post-match comments and I'm sure we'll make amends.

Aberdeen hopefully get a bruising tiring 120 mins game at Rugby park next Saturday before they play us on the Tuesday. Be nice for us to be the team that has rested. 

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, joewarkfanclub said:

Not sure what this team & manager needs to do to earn some leeway from some of our fans.

I get folk being disappointed with the result, and everyone is entitled to give their opinion on the performance, particularly second half.

But cheesy peeps, some of these takes are wild!

Its always the same when we lose a game, suddenly half the team are rotten and questions to be asked.

We lost a game, its our first defeat of season,  it happens 

[FirParkCornerExile]

56 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Its always the same when we lose a game, suddenly half the team are rotten and questions to be asked.

We lost a game, its our first defeat of season,  it happens 

The problem is some of our fans are believing the hype.

Against Dundee United we played well but we were against 10 men for 75 minutes. To listen to the media and some of our fans you'd think we were world beaters and we weren't,  just as today we were poor but we weren't as bad as some are making out. 

We are 3 points better off after same games as last year. . It also took us until 25/10/2025 to win two league games. We also lost to Falkirk  at home in round 8 and the second half performance in that game was worse than today. 

 

So lets take a deep breath of reality.

 

 

 

[Kmcalpin]

Always disappointing to lose a game, but we need to be realistic here. It was always going to be a huge ask to take anything from a team who will finish second in the league, in their own back yard. We've had a hectic and punishing early season schedule and that clearly took its toll today.  Now the players can look forward to a 10 day rest and AJ will have some time on the training ground to get across more of his ideas.  If you'd said to me a few weeks ago that we'd draw with Falkirk, beat Dundee United and lose narrowly to Sevco I'd have bitten your hand off for it.  

As for the minutae of the game, hopefully AJ has learnt some valuable lessons too. I would hope that he now realises that TJ is no main striker for example. No one individual to blame today, but I agree with Grizzly over Cookie and I half expected him to go out on loan to a Championship club. That may still happen. I'm not convinced that RB is a settled position. Right now, I'd say that Johnny Koutroumbis, although injury prone, is clearly No 1. SOD's days there may well be numbered, if not over, and Tom Sparrow has done a passable job as an emergency stand in, but thats all he is. A wee bit concerned to hear that some players were a little awe struck at Ibrox. Manny Longelo again appeared to be left isolated on the left as we concentrated our efforts on the right.  These are all detailed issues, hopefully, that AJ can sort out in the coming days.  

[Spit_It_Out]

I been waiting all day to see what folk have been saying and its embarssing to say the least.The toxic levels on social media some of things being said today these people are beyond having a word with themselves.

We have lost one game of league football i repeat one game of league football,got put out of Europe by the joint leaders of the Bundesliga and got put out of the cup by top club in the Championship unbeaten so far this season!(not that i think thats a good thing btw but it is what it is).

We are not the same as last season people need to let it the fek go its progress we are still progressing.

 

[grizzlyg]

20 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

Always disappointing to lose a game, but we need to be realistic here. It was always going to be a huge ask to take anything from a team who will finish second in the league, in their own back yard. We've had a hectic and punishing early season schedule and that clearly took its toll today.  Now the players can look forward to a 10 day rest and AJ will have some time on the training ground to get across more of his ideas.  If you'd said to me a few weeks ago that we'd draw with Falkirk, beat Dundee United and lose narrowly to Sevco I'd have bitten your hand off for it.  

As for the minutae of the game, hopefully AJ has learnt some valuable lessons too. I would hope that he now realises that TJ is no main striker for example. No one individual to blame today, but I agree with Grizzly over Cookie and I half expected him to go out on loan to a Championship club. That may still happen. I'm not convinced that RB is a settled position. Right now, I'd say that Johnny Koutroumbis, although injury prone, is clearly No 1. SOD's days there may well be numbered, if not over, and Tom Sparrow has done a passable job as an emergency stand in, but thats all he is. A wee bit concerned to hear that some players were a little awe struck at Ibrox. Manny Longelo again appeared to be left isolated on the left as we concentrated our efforts on the right.  These are all detailed issues, hopefully, that AJ can sort out in the coming days.  

I wonder if jake GR right back is sn option

[grizzlyg]

5 minutes ago, Spit_It_Out said:

I been waiting all day to see what folk have been saying and its embarssing to say the least.The toxic levels on social media some of things being said today these people are beyond having a word with themselves.

We have lost one game of league football i repeat one game of league football,got put out of Europe by the joint leaders of the Bundesliga and got put out of the cup by top club in the Championship unbeaten so far this season!(not that i think thats a good thing btw but it is what it is).

We are not the same as last season people need to let if the fek go its progress we are still progressing.

 

Yup, that is problem some folk have.  Finish 4th last season and they expect that all the time.  Losing 1-0 at ibrox is hardly a crisis but some of the reaction is bonkers

[robsterwood]

It's unbelievable the hype people are believing. We have done nothing yet.  There should be no expectation of beating a team with vastly superior budget away. 

[robsterwood]

Think rcc not adequate. Sparrow also not adequat and thor not adequat for this level. 

[SteelmaninOZ]

2 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Think rcc not adequate. Sparrow also not adequat and thor not adequat for this level. 

Thank you for being adequately honest  

[Benson]

7 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

Yup, that is problem some folk have.  Finish 4th last season and they expect that all the time.  Losing 1-0 at ibrox is hardly a crisis but some of the reaction is bonkers

Agree with what you are saying,it is early doors,we have had a heavy schedule,mostly recovery time inbetween games,new bodies bedding in etc,yes losing 1 nil but tbh it could have been 5 or 6 if rangers were more ruthless and shanks still on,the way were carved open at times was very concerning.

[mio]

8 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

I wonder if jake GR right back is sn option

He is, also JKL is an option, we also have ODonnell who is now fit who would have brought a bit of experience yesterday as about 90% of their chances originated from their left wing. I’m just hoping Koutroumbas can get back asap and get a run of games. All proper defenders.

I like sparrow, he works his ar5 off but he’s not a full back. I also don’t think he’s recovered from his injury as he doesn’t seem to be able to run properly. In the cold light of day I felt for him yesterday … he had a stinker. But he wasn’t alone. 
this is not bedwetting either, I’m not even particularly annoyed at our crazy goal we lost, just disappointment on how we underperformed against a side who have spent millions but are totally disjointed….
And they won’t finish second.

[stv]

52 minutes ago, Benson said:

the way were carved open at times was very concerning.

Cmon now. We have just finished

a two month run of two games a week traveling all over Europe. In the process playing some outstanding football.

Nearly a with a new team and new manager.

Lost once in the league yesterday to a team with a massive budget and away from home .

The team is knackerd

Your concerrened ? Good grief some people are hard  to please.😂

The team is doing exceptionally well and the way we are playing is so enjoyable it's unreal. We have signed well and sold well . Full houses at Fir Park, Enjoy it while it's happening .

[wellsince75]

we didn’t look like a team who believed we could win but also worth noting this was a much better Rangers team than we’ve seen . 
 

overall we have a really strong squad , better than we’ve seen in many a year. 
 

RCC and Sparrow are good players and add value - but perhaps neither played in their natural position. 

I agree SOD could have come on yesterday , as could Jamie KL or even Williams and play at right back . 
 

re koutroimbis - aka mr glass . He’s missed far too much time in his time at FP.  We need a perm solution in RB. 

[wellup83]

7 hours ago, robsterwood said:

It's unbelievable the hype people are believing. We have done nothing yet.  There should be no expectation of beating a team with vastly superior budget away. 

I don't think expecting a result yesterday was entirely hype. We were up against a Rangers team who have had a mediocre start to the season and by all accounts have been rotten in every game they've played. That plus we've become accustomed to beating McInnes teams sometimes fairly easily in the past. Their form was always going to improve and we were on the end of it yesterday. Beat but we move on.

[Kmcalpin]

1 hour ago, Benson said:

the way were carved open at times was very concerning.

Overall, we are doing not too badly in the league despite our hectic early season schedule.   We didn't win all 5 games so far, so there is scope for limited and positive criticism.  There's nothing wrong in airing concerns, so long as its kept within reason. Falkirk also carved us open a few times and I'm sure AJ will be examining this, along with other deficiencies. Yes, some players did look like they were rabbits caught in the headlights yesterday and AJ will likely know why. Maybe they were overly nervous playing in front of a huge crowd in a strange new stadium; maybe they were mentally exhausted from our Euro campaign; maybe they were carrying injuries.  For whatever reason, their mentality was in doubt. The next 10 days will allow them to recover and for AJ to get them on the training ground. 

Robsterwood commented on 3 players, with some justification. I think RCC is talented but perhaps his time at Dingwall was an outlier. I was pleased when we signed him but he's been an exaggerated version of Stuart Elliot, and just hasn't shown enough. Tom Sparrow, I feel sorry for. He's helped out at RB, a position he's not suited to, in an emergency and probably carrying an injury. He's an out and out midfielder end of. So we can't really judge him so far. Thor? Suffered from an injury and he hasn't been given a straight run of games. I'd like to see him get more gametime before we judge him.     

[mio]

29 minutes ago, wellsince75 said: 

 

re koutroimbis - aka mr glass . He’s missed far too much time in his time at FP.  We need a perm solution in RB. 

Can’t believe you are suggesting a guy who broke his wrist putting on a polo shirt is made of glass…. You should hang your head 🤣

I do get your point, I just like Koutroumbas, any time he played last season…. And his cameo this season, I felt he did well.

[wellsince75]

23 minutes ago, mio said:

Can’t believe you are suggesting a guy who broke his wrist putting on a polo shirt is made of glass…. You should hang your head 🤣

I do get your point, I just like Koutroumbas, any time he played last season…. And his cameo this season, I felt he did well.

When fit he’s very good - last season he was superb (when fit) 

i think he’s played something like 30 games since 2024 so he must have missed c50% of games . 
 

from what I can see that’s a similar trend throughout his career . that for me is the rub of it - we need someone who we can rely on .

[wellup83]

1 hour ago, mio said:

he’s not a full back.

You're 100% correct and as we saw yesterday and against st mirren teams have recognised that and are exploiting it. He's been given a torrid time in both games. Surely JGR is the better option at right back with either SOD or JKL partnering Moormann in the middle.

[joewarkfanclub]

I think this squad is about where last years squad was at the League Cup semi final.

They have done a lot of good things. They have made a few mistakes and are struglling with the balance between possession based football and attack.

If we ignore set pieces (which ironically we dealt with much better yesterday) we are giving up the majority of chances on the transition. Its something Jens took a bit of time to get on top of before we went on that insane run of clean sheets.

Hoping the next 10 days on the training ground will allow Alfred to work on our rotations and allow us to firm up at the back.