After beating their Old Firm rivals 2-1 last weekend, Rangers have an extended break until their next competitive match. The club is set to play its next competitive match against Stranraer FC on January 17, 2019 (Sky Sports). But, in an attempt to keep their momentum running, Rangers have set up a friendly against Uzbekistani Super League champions, Lokomotiv Tashkent. The match will take place on January 11 (Rangers).
Rangers fans were not looking at this game as just a midseason friendly though. Their expectations of their team are high and they fully expect them to win. They don’t want Gerrard to play a weakened side.
Right into this mob from the first whistle.
— fiddy5 (@thupertherial) January 2, 2020
Just get the win and 3 points.
— seanHamilton (@HamiltonM8) January 2, 2020
Do you want Steven Gerrard to play for a win in this game?
Yes
No
Other fans would rather see their team set up a friendly against Hamburg’s HSV. The two clubs’ sets of fans have a strong relationship that extends back the 1970s, supposedly (Rangers News). These supporters would love nothing more than to play their sister club.
Thats great and all but its not HSV is it? pic.twitter.com/xDRhLwTiWe
— Mitchell (@Mtch94) January 2, 2020
That’s no Hamburg
— Caleb McDowall (@Tp_ManiaAc) January 2, 2020
Is that short for Hamburg?
— Dave (@Nimsay1872) January 2, 2020
That’s a funny way of spelling Hamburg
— Chrissy Macdonald (@ChrissyWATP) January 2, 2020
announce hamburg friendly
— Bryan Shaw (@bryan43796346) January 2, 2020
What do we think?
While Gerrard and his staff are only looking to keep their team fit during this fixture, it is a great opportunity to keep the team’s winning momentum against a side who are proven winners. But it is clear that fans would love to see their side play a match that, from the supporters’ perspective, is more than just about the football.