“The Players Have Got To Make it Happen” – County Chairman Addresses Slow Start
Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor stated it is down to the players to come up with an instant solution to fix their current league form. The Dingwall side were relegated from the Scottish Premiership last campaign after defeat against Livingston in the playoffs sealed their fate. Since then, it hasn’t been what the County supporters would’ve expected, as the Staggies sit eighth in the Championship, in which some tipped the Highlanders as favourites for the title. Earlier in the season, Ross County coach Don Cowie was relieved of his duties after crashing out of the League Cup, as well as collecting just one point in their opening three Championship fixtures, with former Dundee man Tony Docherty taking charge. It was a busy transfer window in the Highlands, with Ross County capturing some pretty high-profile players such as Declan Gallagher, Ross Docherty, Garry Mackay-Steven, Jamie Lindsay, Scott Fraser, Dean Cornelius and most recently Trevor Carson, as well as loan signings of Sean Mackie, Ryan Duncan and Miller Thomson. Ross County have suffered league defeats against St Johnstone, Arbroath, Queen’s Park and two defeats against Partick Thistle. They have also drawn with Airdrieonians, Dunfermline, Ayr United, Greenock Morton and St Johnstone, as well as their only league win, which was a 2-0 win over Raith Rovers. Chairman Roy MacGregor spoke to the Press and Journal, saying: “The fans, the management and the directors are all doing their bit. We’re just needing the players to gel. “There’s no lack of effort from the players, but this is a team sport and we haven’t been able to put it together. The lack of league wins tends to create negative vibes. If we go behind in games, you ask, ‘Can we respond?’ “We haven’t been scoring goals as freely as we were. There’s maybe a feeling of being a wee bit more protective rather than expansive — a feeling of ‘let’s not take risks.’ “The habit of winning gets you out of that (mindset). It gives you momentum, and we haven’t been able to create that momentum. Everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction. If we need to tweak things, we will tweak them. “Ultimately, this is a results-driven business. We haven’t yet managed to conquer that. We have to find a way to return to getting three points, particularly at home. Our record has not been good. “Three of the next four games are at home, so we have an opportunity to kick into gear. Everyone is waiting for that to happen, but the players have got to make it happen.”
“We’re Too Easy To Play Against” – Callum McGregor
Celtic captain Callum McGregor claims that his side don’t make things difficult for their opposition anymore, following a shock 2-0 defeat away to Dundee on Sunday. The midfielder and his manager Brendan Rodgers have came under increased scrutiny as the Hoops failed to score in a game for the sixth time this season. But the retired Scotland international insists the focus from him and his teammates is fully on how they can turn things around. “You only win trophies if you’re together and you’re ready to fight, and you’re ready to run, and you minimise the amount of days like this” said McGregor. “Because at this moment in time we’re too easy to play against.” When asked if the squad were taking notice of Hearts, McGregor recognised their start to the campaign but is relishing the Bhoy’s trip to Tynecastle on Sunday. “I think we have enough to be getting on with ourselves. “Obviously Hearts are winning games but the great thing is we get to play them next week, obviously they’ll be full of confidence. “But like I said for us, we’ve so much work to be done and so much that we have to look at ourselves internally first before we can even lift our head and look at anyone else.” The Celtic skipper also stressed how important the job of the players is to bring back a sense of unity at the club. “I get the supporters are frustrated, they’re angry, and again a lot of that comes down to the fact that the performances aren’t there. If we can affect the performances then hopefully the noise will get less. “I think there’s a lot of disharmony, which can make it difficult for a club like this that is so used to winning. “It’s great when you are winning games. From the outside it looks easy, it’s not easy. The reason why we win so many games is because we work so hard. “If you come off the boil slightly, and you’re not quite there and that disharmony is there, then it can be a difficult place to play football. Our job in the changing room is to try and make the team as strong as it possibly can be.” Celtic travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts this Sunday, as the title holders look to cut the Jambos five point lead at the top.
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid: Clinical Second Half Spell Seals Win for Gunners
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid Magalhães (57′) Martinelli (64′) Gyokeres (67′ , 70′) Arsenal bulldozed their way past Atletico Madrid to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League after a dominant second-half performance. In a goalless first half, David Raya almost gifted the visitors the lead in the 24th minute. After tussling with Giuliano Simeone at the corner flag, the resultant Julian Alvarez strike narrowly missed as the goalkeeper scampered back to his goal. Arsenal thought they had opened the scoring in the 35th minute, after Gabriel Martinelli bundled home Bukayo Saka’s sliding cross. Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s side, the Brazilian attacker was positioned offside in the build-up. The home side pulled away to a routine victory in the second half, after scoring four goals in 13 minutes to seal the win. Gabriel Magalhães powered home Declan Rice’s inswinging free kick in the 57th minute to open the scoring. Martinelli then made up for his offside goal in the 64th minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly’s clever pass allowed the Brazilian to advance into the box unmarked. He curled a delicate right-footed shot past the outstretched Jan Oblak for a superb second goal. Summer acquisition Viktor Gyokeres added two goals in three minutes to finish off the rout. He bundled home from inside the six-yard box after Eberechi Eze’s initial strike in the 67th minute. The Swede added the fourth shortly, prodding home another Rice set piece to the delight of the home faithful. The emphatic victory moves the Gunners into 3rd place in the Champions League table; they are yet to concede a goal in the competition, and look the real deal. They return to Premier League action against Crystal Palace. Arsenal: Raya, Timber (White 83′) Magalhães (Mosquera 72′) Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi (Nørgaard 83′) Rice, Saka, Eze (Nwaneri 73′) Martinelli, Gyokeres (Merino 83′) Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Hancko, Gimenez (Baena 63′) Le Normand, Llorente, Gonzalez (Ruggeri 63′) Kokę (Gallagher 63′) Barrios, Simeone (Griezmann 72′) Sorloth (Almada 72′) Alvarez
Danny Rohl officially unveiled as new Rangers Head Coach
Danny Rohl has officially been unveiled as Rangers’ new Head Coach joining on a tw0-and-a-half-year deal. It was a lengthy process the Light Blues had gone through to find a replacement for Russell Martin but they have finally got their man in Rohl, who withdrew himself from the process last week. Over the weekend, talks broke down between the Gers board and Kevin Muscat, which led to the German coming back into the frame. The 36-year-old’s only managerial job role in the game was with Sheffield Wednesday, where he was able to keep them in the English Championship under extremely difficult financial circumstances. Rohl has worked with Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton and Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich and was his number two for the Germany national team. The Zwickau-born coach addressed the Scottish media for the first time today and believes winning games is the most important thing at the Gers before thinking about playing attractive football: “I’m really looking forward to being part of this amazing football club. We want to win, we need wins because we want to turn around the position at the moment. “I am looking for an ambitious club, a club that is wanting more. This club has everything for all these goals. “My job is clear. My focus is on my person, what I can bring to this football club. We want to create chances, we want to create goals. We want to defence as a team. “We have to win games then we can speak about playing attractive football.” Rohl says that there is huge potential in the squad and it doesn’t phase him if he was first, second or third choice for the Ibrox club, only thing that matters to him is that he’s here now: “We need wins in a row. I see so much potential. “If you can bring the squad together with your style of football then you will go in a fantastic direction. “You can be the first, the second or the third choice. The important thing is to win games. I cannot tell you which choice I am. I am here. “I’m very well prepared over the last 16 years to be here now. I really enjoy to have such supporters behind you. “In this business, you have not too much time. Pressure in the business is usual. “I look from game to game now, to prepare the team, to pick the right players. I need all the players. “I’m looking forward to the future.” Rohl’s first game in charge is in the Europa League away from home against Brann as the Govan club look try and get their European campaign back on track.
