No Love at Love Street
Sunday, the 8th of April, the location being Love Street, home of the Buddies’ St Mirren. The visitors, Rangers, a side looking to secure a second spot and consequent Champions League spot.
The away team knew their nearest rivals for the place in Europe’s Promised Land had slipped up badly to a Dundee United side fighting for SPL survival. Aberdeen’s challenge for that runner’s up berth was weakening at a crucial time, and the Ibrox men knew the match was an essential three points for them, particularly given they were playing yet another side fighting for Premier survival.
In an odd piece of news, regular left back Ian Murray had been ‘rested’ with Papac given his place on that flank. This was a curious decision; Murray had been out for over a year with serious injury and health issues, and had finally returned for a smooth run in the team. Surely the last thing he needed was a rest after having only played 3 or 4 months? Furthermore, his deputy was to be Papac, a player who had been castigated for truly dismal displays in the wing back position. Known as a central defender, Papac’s competence as an auxiliary left back was non-existent, and his performances there had been truly woeful.
So, it was with a great deal of surprise to see him picked to play there. Furthermore, it opened the vacant defensive slot due to Papac’s move. This opening was occupied by Ehiogu, an Englishman whose time at Ibrox has been the very pinnacle of mediocrity, particularly his dreadful display in Pamplona.
As an aside, this seemed to confirm Svensson as entirely out of the picture.
The only other switch was Burke starting, and Novo moving up front to take Prso’s striker spot, given the Croat’s place on the bench.
The game started off quietly, then a scrappy goal for Novo on 14 minutes saw the visitors play out time, resulting in quite possibly the worst SPL match this season, and definitely the most miserable Rangers have played.
St Mirren offered absolutely nothing up front, which left Rangers as dominant but apparently uninterested. With no spark, no flair, and a distinct desire to go home, the players bored the supporters with an abject performance which took ‘scrappy’ to a new level. Indeed, both sets of players looked like they would rather be doing anything else, and it was with a sense of sheer relief the 90 minutes eventually ended.
Three points was what it was all about, and no one can complain about that, but the performance was classic ‘end of season’ stuff, and subsequently dire.
The away team knew their nearest rivals for the place in Europe’s Promised Land had slipped up badly to a Dundee United side fighting for SPL survival. Aberdeen’s challenge for that runner’s up berth was weakening at a crucial time, and the Ibrox men knew the match was an essential three points for them, particularly given they were playing yet another side fighting for Premier survival.
In an odd piece of news, regular left back Ian Murray had been ‘rested’ with Papac given his place on that flank. This was a curious decision; Murray had been out for over a year with serious injury and health issues, and had finally returned for a smooth run in the team. Surely the last thing he needed was a rest after having only played 3 or 4 months? Furthermore, his deputy was to be Papac, a player who had been castigated for truly dismal displays in the wing back position. Known as a central defender, Papac’s competence as an auxiliary left back was non-existent, and his performances there had been truly woeful.
So, it was with a great deal of surprise to see him picked to play there. Furthermore, it opened the vacant defensive slot due to Papac’s move. This opening was occupied by Ehiogu, an Englishman whose time at Ibrox has been the very pinnacle of mediocrity, particularly his dreadful display in Pamplona.
As an aside, this seemed to confirm Svensson as entirely out of the picture.
The only other switch was Burke starting, and Novo moving up front to take Prso’s striker spot, given the Croat’s place on the bench.
The game started off quietly, then a scrappy goal for Novo on 14 minutes saw the visitors play out time, resulting in quite possibly the worst SPL match this season, and definitely the most miserable Rangers have played.
St Mirren offered absolutely nothing up front, which left Rangers as dominant but apparently uninterested. With no spark, no flair, and a distinct desire to go home, the players bored the supporters with an abject performance which took ‘scrappy’ to a new level. Indeed, both sets of players looked like they would rather be doing anything else, and it was with a sense of sheer relief the 90 minutes eventually ended.
Three points was what it was all about, and no one can complain about that, but the performance was classic ‘end of season’ stuff, and subsequently dire.
posted by RangersMedia @ 12:13 AM
