Holmes_and_Watson

We set up to hope our defence was solid enough to absorb pressure, so we could catch them on one of our quick passing moves. The home side, like every side that face us, showed that they are sharper, stronger and with more tactical awareness than anything we have. The only defence that was caught out was ours, as they played it over our static back line. We have our SR possession system, although the world has moved on, and ours never fully convinced anyway. Every other club buys to be quick, strong, have awareness and purpose. When we lost under Martin, there was always the feeling that we played within ourselves because of the system. Passive, reactive with no other ideas. Capitulation by design. At least we got some late points back then, with our stronger squad. This is a combination of the worst of Martin and Selles, with the added cluelessness of Nate, Juric and Still. All run by SR who repeatedly put all the pieces in place for such outcomes. A shambles of a setup.

On balance, somewhat even. Both teams had spells, both had shots, and no one really troubled the keepers. We were quite happy to soak up pressure and look for breaks, as we do, for most of it. That gave the home side dominance from their early injury to around 32mins, before we started getting some space. Fellows got some very early joy down the right, but that vanished when we dropped back. Boro switching to a back 4 was too much for us. Azaz had a couple of efforts, Fellows put one well over and AA had a snap shot. Tonda keen to get THB forward at times. More in direct runs, than an extra body to control midfield. Quarshie popped up across the park with some good touches. His long throw in was, as Neil Maddison said, absolute rubbish. The game could go either way. We give Boro plenty of the ball in our final third. It's our usual balance of hoping they keep missing, and that we can break quickly.

Faced with freezing to death playing possession across the back, we get it forward briskly. 'Boro baffled at our sudden change, with their defence caught out handing a thermos about. They expect to win, and push forward, giving us space for a second. We fall off a cliff when Tonda starts making subs, but hold on for the win.

Still can't find a 'keeper - SR remix

Defeat

Keeps us up, or gets us up?

Metal

Or the next manager taking more of a liking to him. Wait it out on a big contract. Slightly different, if they go down and he loses 40% of his wage. Even then, quite high for us. More so, if we're staying in this division.

Fisher really stood out as the man moving the ball into our wealth of attacking riches, and controlling the game. Lovely to see, and Gabriel being so versatile and getting the goal.

Double

A tale of 2 fragile clubs. 6 out of 8 defeats for one of these 2 is the end for the manager. Just as Martin's lack of wins was the end for him. Yet, Celtic were miles better in that first half. The striker, Iheanacho, they brought in late is injured. From what I've seen of Kenny, he's incredibly wasteful. A finisher would have made all the difference to all those first half attacks. Rodgers left because of the lack on incoming quality. Nancy can look to how many chances they can create under him. Yet, as Rohl executed in the second half, over complicating things in Scottish domestic leagues can be counter productive. Martin O'Neil knew that when he came in and brought wins with the same squad. Rohl ditched a lot of pitching his system against Celtic's. Take off an attacker, win the midfield, support a flatter defence and trust in the physical attributes of your forwards. Physical strength is something Celtic have none of up front. Rangers were able to use it to go more direct in behind and use their extra midfielder to support. Celtic were pushed back with their iffy defence repeating blunders of the first half and now conceding goals. Nancy coming out with an equivalent to Martin's it's not the winning that counts isn't going to work there. Changing so much, without the squad in place to see it through, isn't going to work either. Despite that first half, there were chants against the board, and Nancy walked off down the tunnel alone. With the window open, and having not invested as many felt they should have, in the summer, there's pressure on the Celtic board. Rangers have had an uptick since they changed at the top, and are looking to recruit.

Unlike Martin, Rohl ditched a number of things from the first half. All level.

Rangers getting taken apart by Celtic in the Old Firm match. Only a goal in it, and Celtic are poor enough to have conceded a couple of chances. But they should have been out of sight. Interesting to see a 3 at the back Rohl team, assembled by Martin, get hammered when playing it out. Poor decision making and taking too much time against a team playing at a higher tempo. Although, nominally 4 at the back, Celtic are a 3 when supporting their wingers you are causing all sorts of problems. Remember the deliberate gaps we would leave at full back under Martin? Those are getting exploited. Celtic 3 on 1 from Rangers own corner was another flashback. A game showing how to pass through a team at pace, with a plan. One for Tonda to watch.

No problem. When you return, could you tell us what position he plays? - This post was sponsored by the ACME Football Gags Emporium.

"Hello Holmes! Hello Watson! We're certainly seeing more of you here, these days." "Since trousers made us realise the futility of supporting my club, our weekends have really opened up. Thanks trousers!"