Best Form of Attack is Defence
A fairly interesting week has elapsed on the Ibrox front recently, with quite a few tidbits to digest.
Starting with Sunday’s convincing win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, and there are distinct signs this Rangers side is finally starting to solidify. It might not be endowed with the class of 9IAR, but a coherent structure is genuinely emerging and it owes a lot to a number of elements; Smith and Ally, more suited SPL tactics, and a particular signing on the playing front; David Weir.
Weir has reinforced a fragile backline to frankly unrecognisable levels, and the rearguard actually looks like attacks have to be special in order to penetrate it. Weir’s experience in his 36 years has enabled him to keep his three colleagues disciplined and organised. Much credit must go to Smith for signing the Scottish veteran; and the former Everton stopper has proved his doubters wrong; doubters who assumed his age was a barrier. Maldini of Milan is abject proof of the fallacy of this argument.
As a result, building from the back has given the rest of the team a lot of structure, and purely as a principle of strong foundations, the rest of the team have the safe knowledge that their defence is not going to capitulate as it used to do.
It says a heck of a lot that in the four matches under Smith, Rangers have conceded only one goal, which was as a result of a poor piece of goalkeeping from McGregor.
Furthermore, since the appointment of Smith, a player previously maligned by the majority of the fans has started to look a different proposition. Alan Hutton is finally showing the potential he had before his leg break, and is it really tenuous to suggest neither of his previous managers were able to cultivate the ability? Smith appears to be the difference.
As for the actual Killie game itself, a dubious penalty decision set Rangers on their way to what was frankly a pretty easy victory. Boyd showed why he is the hottest striking property in Scotland these days (Though Celtic fans would dispute this citing Hesselink) with a superb hat-trick and the midfield looked particularly domineering with Ferguson abandoning his unconventional striking position to adopt a more familiar midfield crafting zone later on. 3-1 was the final score, with Rangers fairly comfortable throughout, but two significant downsides were the injuries to two January signings; Ehiogu and Thomson.
This brings us onto the injury troubles presently plaguing the club. It began when Webster suffered medial ligament damage during his first training session, and has gradually worsened with the Scotland defender joined on the sidelines by Klos (ankle), Buffel (surgery), Ehiogu (hamstring), Prso (hamstring) and Smith (not clear).
Some of these appear long-term, and it is a troubling time given the days of signing convenient replacements are long-gone.
In other news, there is an upcoming Uefa tie with Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv as part of the last 32. Trepidation dominates this tie, with it being a potential hostile home crowd, plus of course the vast security arrangements endemic to such a region. On paper Rangers arguably have a far greater team, injuries notwithstanding, but that can often count for nothing when such competitions take place. Supporters seem to be of the feeling that a draw would be a good result, while some have a little touch more confidence and are mooting a victory.
There is a feel-good feeling around Ibrox these days, and a good result in Israel would go some way to continuing it.
Starting with Sunday’s convincing win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, and there are distinct signs this Rangers side is finally starting to solidify. It might not be endowed with the class of 9IAR, but a coherent structure is genuinely emerging and it owes a lot to a number of elements; Smith and Ally, more suited SPL tactics, and a particular signing on the playing front; David Weir.
Weir has reinforced a fragile backline to frankly unrecognisable levels, and the rearguard actually looks like attacks have to be special in order to penetrate it. Weir’s experience in his 36 years has enabled him to keep his three colleagues disciplined and organised. Much credit must go to Smith for signing the Scottish veteran; and the former Everton stopper has proved his doubters wrong; doubters who assumed his age was a barrier. Maldini of Milan is abject proof of the fallacy of this argument.
As a result, building from the back has given the rest of the team a lot of structure, and purely as a principle of strong foundations, the rest of the team have the safe knowledge that their defence is not going to capitulate as it used to do.
It says a heck of a lot that in the four matches under Smith, Rangers have conceded only one goal, which was as a result of a poor piece of goalkeeping from McGregor.
Furthermore, since the appointment of Smith, a player previously maligned by the majority of the fans has started to look a different proposition. Alan Hutton is finally showing the potential he had before his leg break, and is it really tenuous to suggest neither of his previous managers were able to cultivate the ability? Smith appears to be the difference.
As for the actual Killie game itself, a dubious penalty decision set Rangers on their way to what was frankly a pretty easy victory. Boyd showed why he is the hottest striking property in Scotland these days (Though Celtic fans would dispute this citing Hesselink) with a superb hat-trick and the midfield looked particularly domineering with Ferguson abandoning his unconventional striking position to adopt a more familiar midfield crafting zone later on. 3-1 was the final score, with Rangers fairly comfortable throughout, but two significant downsides were the injuries to two January signings; Ehiogu and Thomson.
This brings us onto the injury troubles presently plaguing the club. It began when Webster suffered medial ligament damage during his first training session, and has gradually worsened with the Scotland defender joined on the sidelines by Klos (ankle), Buffel (surgery), Ehiogu (hamstring), Prso (hamstring) and Smith (not clear).
Some of these appear long-term, and it is a troubling time given the days of signing convenient replacements are long-gone.
In other news, there is an upcoming Uefa tie with Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv as part of the last 32. Trepidation dominates this tie, with it being a potential hostile home crowd, plus of course the vast security arrangements endemic to such a region. On paper Rangers arguably have a far greater team, injuries notwithstanding, but that can often count for nothing when such competitions take place. Supporters seem to be of the feeling that a draw would be a good result, while some have a little touch more confidence and are mooting a victory.
There is a feel-good feeling around Ibrox these days, and a good result in Israel would go some way to continuing it.
posted by RangersMedia @ 3:40 PM
