James Sands vs Red Star Belgrade thanks to @americanwigends https://t.co/KrpbxvWJ3J— Justin Moran (@kickswish) March 12, 2022
Both Aribo and Lunstram with knocks v. Red Star. Ramsey could easily feature tomorrow. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Sands starts, but hard to know.
Starts: 🆕 Today's #RangersFC team to face Dundee in the @ScottishCup. pic.twitter.com/L2RvCF6zWl— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 13, 2022
Gers are up 2-0 early going. Did not watch. Sands and Ramsey started. Goldson with first goal, Tav with PK for second.
Gers won 3-0. Sands went 90. Rangers on to Cup Semi. Didn't see it. Ibroxnews: James Sands – 6 It was a brillaint game to throw Sands into after a troubled start to life in Scotland but he came through it in flying colours. The American didn’t do anything over-spectacular nor massively disappointing in all honesty, just a very accomplished but insignificant day for the 21-year-old. He's also getting a lot of love on twitter, fwiw. 1503066974489829381 is not a valid tweet id
He was a safety valve, circulated the ball well, and started to control his area defensively finally, after a shaky start in the area. He was looking slower than in the US, but that was maybe part lack of comfort. That's the area where I think he still needs to prove himself in Europe to be a starter for Rangers' standard. On the ball he's looked pretty smooth from the beginning. But of course he's not going to break down a defense either. So at least has to be good at all the little things in the other areas. I think he at least earned trust to start in the non Celtic league matches if need be.
On the + side he's getting lots of good notes among "real" Gers fans on twitters (not just crossposting MLS/US folks.) On the - side, Gers had Aribo and Lunstrom (who seems to be Sands most direct comp.) out for mild knocks, and with Ramsey healthy (for now) Gio will have a good number of bodies to choose from. Additonal + for Sands is Red Star, coming up, then Dundee again in league (they are bottom of SPL table and Sands did well against them today by all accounts) before Celtic derby home for Gers. So a start next weekend v. Dundee again seems very plausible. But likely only sub minutes in the other 2 matches, would be my guess.
Just watched the first chunk of the match. My observation is that he was more assertive, physically and creatively, than in his minutes so far in Scotland. Granted, this was against the last place league side, but I think some of the positive reaction is that this was the first time he seemed to play like a Scottish veteran instead of the new guy. May not move him up a depth chart that is a little deeper than it needs to be, but probably improved his confidence and everyone's confidence in him.
This lines up with the response of a lot of the Gers regular posters on SoMedia (tho I have studiously avoided going back to FollowFollow - so mostly twitter, some blogs etc. As I wrote above, mostly very positive and a bit of "ah, this is why we got this guy" feel.
Finally it looks like my whining paid off. Negative jinx? ;-> In all seriousness, Rangers brought in a lot of bodies at CDM and it is clear they want their 6s to defend and attack. Sands is going to have to grow a lot to compete. He put in a great shift but it might be a bit overshadowed by the 18 year-old Scot Alex Lowry... who got another cameo and the assist on the 3rd goal (even though Sands started the play with the steal). That is a goal and an assist for Lowry in 3 appearances. It is early days so I will stop complaining about this move until I see how things work out. If the necessity to be aggressive offensively ends up making Sands a better player then perhaps the move will be worth it even if the benefits are not seen until after the loan.
Sands unlikely to start tomorrow, but the Thurs. game and good showing v. Dundee gives him a good shot at another start v. Dundee in league on the weekend. If Gers get a result v. Red Star tomorrow (they are up 3-0 from the home leg) the weekend is ripe for the traditional Gers let-down so Sands showing up on the weekend would be important. James Sands continues to fight for a role in a packed and competitive Rangers midfield. #USMNT https://t.co/uwz4n1uP2t— SBI Soccer (@SBISoccer) March 15, 2022
Sands on bench as expected. Would not at all be surprised to see him as a 2nd half sub. Gers just need not to get whomped here, so a defensive shell late is not out of the question if they are only down by a goal. Lundstram has for sure made himself the choice DM over Sands, though. Not that Sands can change that, but Gio clearly has more confidence in the Brit atm.
Rangers down 1-0 late in 1st half. (3-1 Rangers on Ag atm). Still good chance Sands comes in later. I think the only way we don't see him is if Gers turn this around and are really dominating, but just not scoring, of if Red Star manage to bang in 2 more quickly. Otherwise, I'd guess him for Aribo around 75?
Ended 2-1 Red Star due to last minute PK (Sands not involved.) He got 5 more mins that I predicted and came in for Ryan rather than Aribo (who came of 1 min earlier) but still suggests a Dundee start.
Red Star Belgrade fans at home to Rangers tonight."All we are saying is give peace a chance!"#fkcz #crvenazvezda #ukraine pic.twitter.com/vKqv7ZhgdN— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) March 17, 2022
Sands was partially at fault for Red Star's goal after he came on. Instead of safely clearing the ball to preserve an almost insurmountable lead, he tried to keep possession, by chesting it to his teammate at the edge of his box, shorted it, and the guy committed a penalty in a failed attempt to shield the ball. Clutzy by his teammate, otherwise we aren't talking about it as much. But it was a suspect decision tactically and executed at a sub-par level, leaving him open to the mini disaster and subsequent criticism. Hopefully this doesn't adversely impact his role going fw because he was started to gain confidence from the manager.
See, I thought his back foot slipped a little and that is why he awkwardly chested it down. Otherwise, you strike your foot through the ball and hit it into Row Z. A mistake for Sands for sure but I think it had more to do with that back foot slipping. Save this post. Jesus. I can't f***** believe I just defended a Rangers player. I didn't even do that with Beasley when he was at Rangers and he's my absolute favorite USMNT player of all-time. I've become soft now that I hit 40 last week.
I think it was a bit too clever, and not clever enough - at that stage of the game just get a head or boot to it, but Kamara's attempt at shielding, or whatever he was doing, was pretty awkward. Tired legs and mind, as I don't think Falco had any real play on the ball if Kamara just gets his body in the space... but not a good play by either, for sure.
The folks on SocMed swearing UEFA heated the Rangers ball so that they could give Gers an easy opponent is hysterical - not that UEFA is above cheating, but that they are dying to have an SPL team go deep. MacGregor was again/still great yesterday - at 40 years old. He was there in 2008 and still there now. Sands should start v. Dundee, I'd imagine, though lots of folks got 2nd half rest and every league point is critical, so Gio could go with his full "A team" tho with Celtic coming up next week, I'd say smart money is on saving a few.