Remie Streete and Haris Vuckic, on loan at Rangers made their debuts today but did have a good start to their loan, as Rangers were surprisingly beaten by Raith Rovers 2-1 in the 5th round of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox.
Gael Bigirimana picked up a hamstring injury in training yesterday and wasn’t available.
Haris Vuckic after scoring equalizer
It was Raith Rovers first win at Ibrox since way back in November, 1959 – 56 years ago.
Mike Ashley may be saving Rangers financially with his loans, but his very involvement is causing concern and disruption at the club, and especially with the fans.
Remie Streete had to leave the game in the first half just before half time with another injury – this time it looks like a groin strain.
It was 0-0 at the half, and then Ryan Conroy put Rovers ahead after 54 minutes, before Haris Vuckic equalized 7 minutes later, but then the winner was scored by Christian Nade with 15 minutes to go, when he took advantage of a terrible defensive mix up.
Christian Nade scores winner after 75 minutes
Bear in mind that in the two league games they have played this season, Rangers have beaten Raith 4-0 and 6-1, so this defeat is a shocker – although maybe it’s Mike Ashley plan.
The Newcastle owner puts very low priority at Newcastle on cup ties, and we went out of the FA Cup at the very first hurdle in Jnauary for the fourth time in five years.
Derek Llambias, James Easdale, Barry Leach and David Somers did not attend the game today and neither was Board Chairman Sandy Easdale at the game, and that was explained by a club statement after the game:
“It is regrettable that the Board of Rangers Football Club were not in attendance at today’s important Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers.”
“Given the events over the past few days and after advice from the club, the decision was made not to attend the game.”
“The board has a duty of care to the fans, staff and stewards to ensure safety at the ground at all times and they believe this was the correct decision.”
Newcastle managed to get a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke today, with caretaker manager John Carver in charge, but we should have won the game 1-0, but Peter Crouch equalized in the last minute.
But considering we have been short of a striker and a center-back all season, we didn’t do too badly, although we threw 2 points away.
But once again Newcastle are getting by on what we have for the rest of the season, much like we did last season after Ashley sold Yohan Cabaye for £20M to PSG in January, and didn’t bother to replace him.
The only ambition Ashley has for Newcastle is to keep us in the big money of the Premier League, and since we were in 10th place at the end of the year – why spend money when you don’t have to?
That seems to be Mike Ashley’s mantra – keep Newcastle in the Premier League and spend as little money as possible in doing that.
It’s not good that he’s now involved with Rangers – well not for Rangers supporters anyway – or the iconic football club for that matter.
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27 comments so far
mindshaft
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:38 PM
Comment #1Not bothered abut the fate of Rangers to be honest – I know we’ve loaned them five players but I doubt any of them are actually going to make it in the pre anyway
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:40 PM
Comment #2At the minute – couldn’t give a monkey’s toss about Rangers –
Sorry to say having watched all Carvers games in charge – was going to give him a chance – but – sadly – not the man for me!!!
Gone back to the Pardew way of setting the team up – or was it Carvers all the time
Our Toon
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:48 PM
Comment #3I agree with the people that say we should have a non of the above option for MOTM.
Thought I’d seen it all in football but the Ivory Coast keeper just hit the deck with cramp, right before Ghana took there 5th pen…..absolute disgrace!!
Jenny Honey
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:49 PM
Comment #4Mike Ashley has planted all the seeds at NUFC, he is squeezing the life out of the club, the atmosphere today was seriously silent, virtually all fans body language is not good at all, seems no one has a spring in their step going to the match, and when the match finishes its like fans are coming away from a wake, the stuffing is getting continually knocked out of this club, no chance of the man Ashley going though is there, carver got the job to save money, its so obvious.
msk21dec
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:51 PM
Comment #5I think krul is absolute crap. i think we should get in petr cech so karl darlow could learn from him for few years. for a tall keeper how the ball goes over him a lot is shocking. crouch header was so slow and looping all he had to do was stand tall and go back to get ball. before people say that was only 1 mistake erm the steve ireland offside goal was not in top corner yet krul was nowhere near it!!!
i see willo talks a lot but he really is poor when it comes to penaly area defending and getting his head to ball first or reading game. i thought haidara and colo played well today.
midfield colbak and sissoko were poor until obertan came on. this then let sissoko run through middle with ball more. cabella comes in too much. i too would have put cabella in no 10 as hes not a direct winger and from this season i believe our best chance in games is to play with 2 direct wingers in obertan and aarons. sammy ameobi is not as good as aarons and never will be. we just need another right winger like aaron lennon or andres townsend which should give us some depth.
also perez game is to feet anyone can see that so why arent newcastle playing to his strength. very poor from newcastle today at home against stoke.
no game plan or pattern of play. what has carver done in training all week? this is all same as pardew.
trust me if carver get permanent end of season newcastle are doomed for a very long time they wont progress with current coaching team.
Our Toon
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:54 PM
Comment #6My team for the palace game is:
Krul
Janmaat, Willo, Colo, Haidara
Tiote, Abeid
Perez, Cabella, Sissoko
Cisse
The 3 lads playing behind Cisse would have freedom and will continuously interchange positions…..much like Spurs 3.
Our Toon
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:59 PM
Comment #7msk21dec
Petr Cech? He’s far to expensive, would want 100k plus and more importantly he’s well above our level as a CL team would take him.
On his abilities Cech is scared to come for crosses after what happened to him, i look at keepers in this league and not many are good at coming for the ball. We should have kept Frazer Forster because Krul’s replacement has been bought in Darlow!!
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 8, 2015 at 9:59 PM
Comment #8Agree it had all the hallmarks of a Pardew-esque performance. Clueless and at times simply disorganised – Carver has learned well from the King.
Our Toon
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Comment #9Tiote returns as AFCON winner….well done!!
Jenny Honey
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:01 PM
Comment #10By all accounts John Carver is a decent coach but if he looses the players in the dressing room then he is cooked. i have no great feeling that he can keep that dressing room settled, and the fact that we are still playing the exact same way as when Pardew was in charge is a worry, inconsistent i am afraid is what it will remain.
jimmysmith
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Comment #11Delighted to have Obertan back because of that wonderful pace. Newcastle have an enviable array of youth, pace, power and skill in attack when all their players are fit.
It seems pointless harping on about it, considering the owners immutable nature, but Newcastle are so close to having a side to match its stature, yet you just know that those final missing pieces will only fall into place if the deals falls within the owners very stringent budget. Its a chastening and sobering experience altogether, made all the worse because there is little or no financial imperative for it, beyond the owners personal one, beyond the nature of the beast.
magscar
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:26 PM
Comment #12Charlie
You mentioned on previous thread that you had felt sorry for Williamson and nobody was pulling short to receive ball. I don’t like to single out players (and he wasn’t alone today in being poor) but he causes problems for us in possession at the back in every game.
He is a genuine player but limited. He is petrified if any teammate shapes to give him the ball and is always pointing to clear ball upfield. We struggle to move the ball across and out of defence every time he is involved. Krulls kicking is poor (as bad as Givens) and is another reason we struggle to build from the back.
I know with Taylor out we are very limited at CB but either Dummet comes in or as a team they have to do something to over ride this perennial problem with his lack of confidence on the ball. Tiote does drop back for him at times but you are right that no one in front of him today was making it easy for him. Problem is he has the jitters if Janmatt or Colo wants to pass him the ball.
I have never seen someone with his arm in the air so much (not for offside) since the famed Arsenal back 4.
Thump
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:32 PM
Comment #13@magscar: I think Willo was brought in purely to combat the aerial threat of Crouch. A bit of Pardew thought creeping into Carver’s mind, I reckon, because he couldn’t win a header if he was going against Anita.
Belfast
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:35 PM
Comment #14They went out because they’re garbage nowt to do with fat boy.
Good to see Llambias being held to account for being an utter kernt though.
lesh
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:45 PM
Comment #15Magscar
We must be OK for CB cover – Carver’s said he had options so there was no need to buy one this last window.
And, this just beggars belief:
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/02/newcastle-club-shop-selling-rangers-merchandise
Talk about cheek, you couldn’t make it up – Ashley’s got the tact of a cow-pat!
magscar
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:46 PM
Comment #16Thump
Think you are right and he is usually OK in air but I always watch match cringing when he plays. For a big lad he doesn’t impose himself enough on forwards. Shouldn’t he have been on Crouch for goal?
I really don’t like singling him out but it isn’t about conceding but how as a team we can confidently control games from the back and build through midfield. He simply hampers us at back. Defensive colleagues sometimes have to look for another pass as he doesn’t shape to receive it.
I’ll stop as I am sounding like toonbrother on Colo 🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:51 PM
Comment #17Just watching West Ham highlights its funny Downing and Noble have been great many would scoff at them being in our team
Then there is Song what a player hes like twice the player Tiote and Sissoko are
Then they have Carroll , Valencia and Sakho! Why the hell did we go to such lengths to deny we were after him for 3.5 million???
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Comment #18Also I think its time Curtis Good gets a go at centre back now
beermonkey
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:54 PM
Comment #19lesh
I wouldn’t mind the merchandise thing if this an open laid out partnership
that both clubs benefited from the only person benefitting is Ashley
jimmysmith
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:12 PM
Comment #20Newcastle have bigger problems at the back than Willo. The next generation, which the club seem to be pinning their hopes on, don’t look good enough. Curtis Good doesn’t appear to have the strength or pace for the EPL. Lascelle can’t get a game at Forest. Sreete has fitness, attitude and quality question marks about him. Dummett and Willo are capable stop gaps but seemingly no more, and Colo aging and increasingly in need of the imposing partner we lack when Taylor s injured, and who would make all the difference to the shape of the squad.
beermonkey
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:18 PM
Comment #21jimmy
we need a new pair at the back that can start most games
cant see the club investing in 2 centre back
we will have another year with willo colo taylor and by then lasechells good satka will be expected to replace
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Comment #22Watching Match of the day the Obertan pass at the end how did he not play Cisse in !!
Also highlighted the move for their equaliser with us passing it back rather than keeping it up the pitch we blew it in the end
BrightonMag
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:34 PM
Comment #23Um… Why is there so much bitching today about the game? Yes, we threw away a lead in the last minute, but… People saying cabella was the only good player on the pitch for Newcastle is totally wrong, I thought sissoko played some excellent balls and, quite frankly, we played some attacking football, something totally lacking under the P45due regime. I was really happy with the performance today, it bodes well for the rest of the season. As for carver setting up for a draw as I saw in a comment on a previous thread… What a load of **ite… I’d rather watch a Newcastle side setup like that over a pardew side any day…I wasn’t keen on carver, but at least he’s trying to give the fans what they want…some people will never be happy unless we’re winning the league…
Mister Tuff
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:38 PM
Comment #24I’ve been beaten 2-1 on a vote as to whether Obertan can play football. I think he is a knacker – still miffed at being out voted. Image of the other two voters who said he was a good player -gloating a bit.
http://wallingfordseniors.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/knitting-circle.jpg
BrightonMag
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:47 PM
Comment #25Ourtoon… Abeid could cause palace some major problems, think he was hounded out today, let’s hope he starts
magscar
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:49 PM
Comment #26Brightonmag
On my part just frustration at not seeing game out. Yes we were more adventurous than under Pardew but as highlighted on MOTD and mentioned by Carver we were amateurish at end. Even though we missed 2 excellent late chances I would have been happy if we had just kept a clean sheet for 1-0
BrightonMag
Feb 8, 2015 at 11:55 PM
Comment #27I understand that… But I was still more entertained today than at any point all season…i still think carver will come good if he keeps hold of the dressing room… More than willing to eat my words come the end of the season though :p