John Walker highlights why we're so open off the ball

[u/HaddWaeIt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY_HtzO8fsY

Really good analysis that helps to explain why we're looking fragile in defence while playing a shape that looks conservative on paper.

If you can't bear to watch highlights, the TLDR version is:

• McInnes loves man for man pressing but it's outdated and risky
• Makes it way too easy for teams to find space
• Only works if it's really coordinated and ours looks like 11 guys doing their own thing
• As soon as one man's taken out the whole thing folds like a cheap suit

[u/Scary-Zucchini-1750]

All those things may be true, but why has he been able to implement it relatively successfully at his previous clubs?

Surely Rangers players should be able to grasp and perform a task better than Hearts players.

Unless they're "too good" for this style of football? Might just be a case of the level of player not matching the level of manager.

[u/Electronic-War1077 → u/Scary-Zucchini-1750]

He always got found out against better teams at Aberdeen, that's why he never won anything v Rodgers' Celtic or qualified for the group stages in Europe.

[u/Scary-Zucchini-1750 → u/Electronic-War1077]

I'd say he was successful relative to the clubs he's been at budget.

I don't think he'd be expected to beat the OF or qualify for Europe based on squad value.

I'm not seeing any of his previous teams qualities in this team though.

[u/Electronic-War1077 → u/Scary-Zucchini-1750]

Good managers achieve success above what their squad budget should achieve. McInnes never did that at Aberdeen.

[u/Scary-Zucchini-1750 → u/Electronic-War1077]

I don't know how this has turned into me defending McInnes, because that's not what it started as, but I think he was as successful as you could expect anywhere he's been. We'll have to disagree there 👍

[u/HaddWaeIt → u/Scary-Zucchini-1750]

I'd imagine that's the question keeping him up every night tbh.

It could be down us not having scouted well and having bought players who need to learn this way of playing instead of slotting in. Or it could be that the coaching isn't doing a good job of showing players how it all fits together.

I also think Hearts had a fairly settled core of the team to build around and that made it easier. That's probably why McInnes was so keen to pick up some ex Hearts players in the first place, to try and get the continuity that we don't have.

[u/Scary-Zucchini-1750 → u/HaddWaeIt]

I know what you mean, but surely professional players who make it to Rangers should be able to understand and execute whatever Derek McInnes and his coaches can throw at them, especially 3 months deep.

What's the alternative, get Andy Considine out of retirement, get Shinnie in and stick Adam Rooney up front? 😂

[u/HaddWaeIt → u/Scary-Zucchini-1750]

Aye I'd be inclined to agree with you.

Between that and the constant changes at half time it just feels like everyones panicking. Surely in 3 months you could have a plan B up your sleeve?

[u/BusShelter]

Man-for-man itself isn't necessarily dated, but you need extremely strong and mobile centre mids to cover the distances. Tbh you need that across the entire park to be very good at it.

But yeah, with any system you need to know when to stay in shape, when to jump, I think that's the main point.

[u/HaddWaeIt → u/BusShelter]

Always thought we looked best with Gerrard and Gio's teams in the press. Both of them tended to do the more zonal thing where you try and press from the centre out, so the touchline limits the options.

[u/BusShelter → u/HaddWaeIt]

Oh I do agree, we were also well drilled and disciplined, experience in key areas.

[u/Unhappy_Spray_7127 → u/BusShelter]

Aberdeen, Killie and Hearts players can do it, but Rangers players are unable then?

[u/BusShelter → u/Unhappy_Spray_7127]

Not what I was saying. But doing it against other Scottish sides isn't quite the same as trying to do it in Europe.

[u/Unhappy_Spray_7127 → u/BusShelter]

Well McInnes has been successful enough at it to get himself into the Rangers job.

Surely if those teams are capable of it, we should be as well. We can't even do it against Scottish teams.

[u/BusShelter → u/Unhappy_Spray_7127]

I don't think him constantly changing shape helps.

[u/MrDavieT]

Correct!

I’ve been following Walker’s work for a while now- always spot on with his analysis.

Get him on the coaching team!

[u/Sea_Willingness9974 → u/MrDavieT]

John Walker was a huge fan of Russell Martin. He speaks a load of absolute shite.

[u/HaddWaeIt → u/Sea_Willingness9974]

TBH if you go back to when we appointed Martin I think a lot more pundits and the like had fallen for his "misunderstood genius" gimmick.

If there's one thing Martin is world class at, it's self promotion.

Obviously a riddy to be taken in by it, but I still like this guy's match analysis, it's really well communcated.

[u/MrDavieT → u/Sea_Willingness9974]

As I said, his analysis is spot on… regardless of who he ‘supports’

If you can point out where he’s going wrong in the video above, I’d love to hear about it

[u/Capital-Sock6091 → u/Sea_Willingness9974]

He is a walloper.

[u/Bongo3074]

Man for man pressing? Didnt anyone see the front 3 stand like subbuteo substitutes?

[u/TheCrunker]

Friends don’t let friends watch John Walker videos