- Prso and Novo. Now, humble FPC does not have the footballing acumen to describe quite how it will be done, but one thing is certain, we need to devise a plan for dealing with Dado Prso and Nacho Novo. They link up very well and their attributes compliment each other. Worryingly enough, in the two games between the sides this season we have not been able to contain them at all. Prso is brilliant at nothing but very good at nearly everything. Our defence has struggled against pace for years and that is what Novo has in abundance. Craigan will probably be given the task of nullifying the Croat’s aerial threat whilst it could well come down to Scott Leitch giving Novo an early ‘reducer’ to make him more playable.
2. Keep the ball on the deck. How many times have we thumped long balls high to the head of Marvin Andrews? The huge defender is invincible in the air but McDonald and Clarkson will be relishing the chance of getting the ball at their feet and running at him. Just as crucially, since we’ll be defending a lot, we can’t give the ball away cheaply when we do win it. Getting the ball into Skippy’s feet will allow him to hold it up, turn, or spread the ball out wide to the supporting Paterson or Foran. It’s a very simple thing but our outlet balls need to be of a sufficient quality to give McDonald a fair chance of doing something.
Skippy needs the ball to feet
- Attacking down the wings. In recent seasons we have focused on the left with Hammell, Pearson and McFadden playing down that flank but now our dangerous wing is on the right. Corrigan, McBride and Foran all have good football brains and are capable of playing neat paces down the wing. Rangers will have the inconsistent Gregory Vignal at left wing and the equally suspect Maurice Ross in the right back slot. Whilst their two centre halves are big lads, their wings could be weak links and if we manage to beat them, the better position for crossing could give our men in the box the edge they need.
4. Neutralising the midfield. Only a mad man would argue we have better players in the middle of the park than Rangers but whilst they have an advantage, it is not something we can’t deal with. If we play the expected 4-5-1, we will have an extra man in the centre of the park and that should allow us to continually harass Ricksen and Ferguson. The King Ned has not fully settled in since his return but he will be fired up by the big occasion. Ricksen is a lunatic but has been in top form this season. We will need to deny them space and rush them into playing bad passes. This is possible but on the large Hampden pitch there is always the chance we will tire.
Vital in the midfield
- Control our aggression. We will want to win this game more. Rangers would obviously prefer to win but let’s be honest, they have bigger fish to fry than the League Cup. If a maniacal Scott Leitch is lunging into a fifty-fifty with a player eyeing a title fight, who will win? That being said, we need to focus our aggression. There is no point in throwing ourselves into silly tackles and picking up bookings (unless it is a deliberate ‘reducer’ – see point one). Should an over wound up ‘Well player commit the cardinal sin of getting sent off for a needless lunge or retaliation, our goose is well and truly cooked regardless of how much we want to win.