One thing has become apparent over the last number of matches. Rangers need a break.
There was enough in the tank to complete a late turnaround at St Johnstone, but the players looked off the pace in the first-half, particularly.
Fixture congestion was also one of the main talking points from the Christmas Eve press conference. Both the manager and his vice-captain, Connor Goldson, touched on the issue.
🎙️SG: The number of games we have played, the boys are really looking forward to this break to get refreshed.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 24, 2018
🎙️CG: There is a lot of boys in there who have played a lot of games, we have had 35 games which is basically a full season in 5 months. There are a lot of boys in there, including me, waking up with sore legs every day but we don't moan as this is what it takes to be successful.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 24, 2018
While a club the size of Rangers should be able to cope with whatever fixtures they are handed, there’s no doubt that playing upwards of 30 matches by Christmas is quite extreme.
WAYNE ROONEY TO EVERTON IS A JOKE.
Lets not forget, this is a team who have been in competitive action since mid-July. Shkupi travelled to Ibrox on the twelfth and there hasn’t been a discernible break ever since.
Rangers kicked off the season with a 2-0 win over the Macedonian minnows (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Just as well then, that a significant one one is coming after the Old Firm.
They face Celtic on Saturday and then wont be in action again until the third week of January.
That should serve as a big motivation to anyone carrying a niggle or feeling fatigued.
Plenty of knocks have been picked up over five months of continuous game time. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
These guys are professional athletes, but they aren’t robots. Two more huge efforts and then it’s time to get the feet up for a couple of weeks.
If all goes well over the next few days, they’ll be restarting in a strong position.