Uefa Cup charm
Rangers’ European run continued last night thanks to another professional and polished display against Maccabi Haifa of Israel.
Domestically it is safe to say Rangers form has been fragmented at best and downright dismal at worst. A position of third in the table is the sum of our fortunes and reflects our erratic results at both Ibrox and on our travels. It is simply not good enough for a club of Rangers history or heritage, and 12 points off the pace in the SPL is a quite pitiful haul so early in the season.
However, when competing against European class teams rather than sides from our own shores, all the drive, commitment, guile and class which is sporadically missing from our league endeavours returns in abundance and we actually look a good side.
Team news last night was the return of Clement to the midfield, Svensson to defence, the dropping of Rodriguez, the dropping of Buffel and the starting of Prso, not to mention the placement of Hemdani in defence alongside the Swede. Furthermore a last minute shock surfaced as late as the teams lining up the tunnel, for Allan McGregor was witnessed in the keeper strip, spelling an absence for Lionel Letizi due to initially mysterious reasons. They were later revealed as injury.
The game did not begin especially well, with Haifa penetrating the backline with alarming ease and a dangerous cross missing Masudi by inches. However, Novo, with the aid of a deflection, put Rangers 1-0 up thanks to a visionary glancing header from Boyd.
A dream start then, and the dominance and class began to belong to Rangers, with Clement pulling the strings at the heart of midfield with a touch of real poise, vision and utter conviction, not forgetting composure; indeed, his hard graft allowed Ferguson plenty of freedom to express himself and drive forward with plenty of craft.
At the back the defence was not massively tested although Svensson’s ill-conceived clearance nearly found its way into the back of the net when given away to a Haifa striker in the box. Nonetheless, when called upon the 2 in the middle were resolute and solid.
At the other end Novo was heavily involved throughout, although his former strike partner Prso continues to struggle with both fitness and physical exertion. Boyd too did not have the best match, missing a penalty with alarming impotence.
However, when Adam stepped up to take the second penalty awarded, there was no doubting the outcome as the ball flew into the back of the net, expertly taken.
The only real sour note of this match was a foolish political activist who stormed the pitch with a view to chaining himself to the goalpost. Quite why these fools believe such actions will ingratiate others to their causes is beyond most sane people.
Full time though, and 2-0 the outcome, a good performance with some particularly commendable performances from Clement, Novo and Ferguson.
However, Le Guen will be forced to note that another clean sheet was achieved by having McGregor in goal. Another unsettled defence without doubt, but apparently buoyed by the stability the Scot gives them. If Letizi returns without McGregor making mistakes, then Le Guen must take a look at himself and explain to the fans why he’s made such an unjustifiable decision.
That said, there were no complaints about the lineup last night; it was attack minded and the only arguable qualms were the absence of Bardsley and Buffel. However, this did not detract from a comfortable European performances; 11 matches now without a defeat excluding the defeat at the Meazza to Inter. Pretty impressive.
Domestically it is safe to say Rangers form has been fragmented at best and downright dismal at worst. A position of third in the table is the sum of our fortunes and reflects our erratic results at both Ibrox and on our travels. It is simply not good enough for a club of Rangers history or heritage, and 12 points off the pace in the SPL is a quite pitiful haul so early in the season.
However, when competing against European class teams rather than sides from our own shores, all the drive, commitment, guile and class which is sporadically missing from our league endeavours returns in abundance and we actually look a good side.
Team news last night was the return of Clement to the midfield, Svensson to defence, the dropping of Rodriguez, the dropping of Buffel and the starting of Prso, not to mention the placement of Hemdani in defence alongside the Swede. Furthermore a last minute shock surfaced as late as the teams lining up the tunnel, for Allan McGregor was witnessed in the keeper strip, spelling an absence for Lionel Letizi due to initially mysterious reasons. They were later revealed as injury.
The game did not begin especially well, with Haifa penetrating the backline with alarming ease and a dangerous cross missing Masudi by inches. However, Novo, with the aid of a deflection, put Rangers 1-0 up thanks to a visionary glancing header from Boyd.
A dream start then, and the dominance and class began to belong to Rangers, with Clement pulling the strings at the heart of midfield with a touch of real poise, vision and utter conviction, not forgetting composure; indeed, his hard graft allowed Ferguson plenty of freedom to express himself and drive forward with plenty of craft.
At the back the defence was not massively tested although Svensson’s ill-conceived clearance nearly found its way into the back of the net when given away to a Haifa striker in the box. Nonetheless, when called upon the 2 in the middle were resolute and solid.
At the other end Novo was heavily involved throughout, although his former strike partner Prso continues to struggle with both fitness and physical exertion. Boyd too did not have the best match, missing a penalty with alarming impotence.
However, when Adam stepped up to take the second penalty awarded, there was no doubting the outcome as the ball flew into the back of the net, expertly taken.
The only real sour note of this match was a foolish political activist who stormed the pitch with a view to chaining himself to the goalpost. Quite why these fools believe such actions will ingratiate others to their causes is beyond most sane people.
Full time though, and 2-0 the outcome, a good performance with some particularly commendable performances from Clement, Novo and Ferguson.
However, Le Guen will be forced to note that another clean sheet was achieved by having McGregor in goal. Another unsettled defence without doubt, but apparently buoyed by the stability the Scot gives them. If Letizi returns without McGregor making mistakes, then Le Guen must take a look at himself and explain to the fans why he’s made such an unjustifiable decision.
That said, there were no complaints about the lineup last night; it was attack minded and the only arguable qualms were the absence of Bardsley and Buffel. However, this did not detract from a comfortable European performances; 11 matches now without a defeat excluding the defeat at the Meazza to Inter. Pretty impressive.
posted by RangersMedia @ 8:32 PM
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