BBC Home

Explore the BBC

New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in

17 comments

user rating: 4 star

Well done (Bandits!)

Scottish Premier Rangers
by Macaroons (U8387008) 28 August 2007
comment on the article

While part of me wants to emphasize the lack of quality evident in tonights match, and point out that it felt like watching something along the lines of Scotland play Moldova away from home, it would be churlish to deny that Rangers are now looking like a good side under Smith.

On a night when Red Star's slack attacking play was consistently stymied by the sheer weight of numbers and some dogged defending, Smith executed his well-tried plan with consummate ease. For all their huffing and puffing, the Red Star attack remained toothless for most of the match. With the hostile Belgrade crowd largely starved of any encouragement, the old adage shone through; sides who are wont to enage in slanging matches before the match are generally themselves running scared. Their zealous first-leg display, far from a sign of things to come, was perhaps an instinctive over-compensation in their anticipation of the rugged British style. Here, time and time again, they were eased off the ball as Rangers smothered the space in front of their defence and the referee gave short shrift to increasingly desperate histrionics. With Darcheville stalking the backline menacingly, McCulloch always eager to drive with the ball at his feet, and the timely introduction of Beasley's elusive chicanery, Rangers' sporadic attacking raids were measured in such away as to keep the home side in a disjointed muddle.

The decorum Hemdani brings to the Rangers midfield in European fixtures is all the more remarkable given his relatively unsung status in the SPL. Surely it should be a priority to enjoy more of these astute performances from him in the group stages?

When the recriminations settle, Rangers will be content in the knowledge that they have much more in their locker than they have shown over these first four European ties. So far so good. However, they will feel that, freed from the financial pressure of qualifying and in six one-off games, they will be able to express themselves more fully, feeding off the backing of an evermore believing Ibrox faithful.

While I will tune in tomorrow and hope for a win, it will take a very convincing performance from Celtic to sway me from the belief that it's going to be a hard old slog this year in the league. When was the last time both sides of the old firm were, deep down, equally optimistic about their chances. Both can't be right!

comment on this article | alert a moderator | send to a friend

Latest 10 comments

view all 17 comments

Read members' comments or add your own
comment by jjdoc40 (U1665897)

posted Aug 29, 2007

The Red Star performance was at odds with the swaggering exuberant crowd, and Rangers effectively squashed their meagre attempts at incisive play in front of the 2 banks of 4. They simply could not get the ball down and play. I was surprised at the astuteness of the Rangers set up and execution away from home actually and it suggests Rangers have some hope of results away from Ibrox, although much depends on the draw. I am not a Gers fan and would not have minded if they went out, but having seen what they did last night, I think allright, they deserve where they are and Scottish football looks much better on the strength of it. Now if Celtic go out tonight I shall be really upset, but are we not beginning to see the emergence of at least 2 forces from Scotland in Europe? If Hearts had not been broken by that Lithuanian mad man we might have had 3...well done

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by JamboGreg (U5853643)

posted Aug 29, 2007

Good article mate.

It's true Rangers look like an efficient force.

Shame their fans couldn't be the big men and just say "Cheers pal" doh

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by perfectHECTOR (U8541468)

posted Aug 29, 2007

TOO TECHNICAL FOR ME , I'M HAPPY WITH WELL DONE GLASGOW RANGERS!, NO OFFENCE.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by hinckleyexile (U7028567)

posted Aug 29, 2007

This may seem heresy to some Rangers fans but I want to see Celtic in the CL too. Why? Although RFC would get to keep all the money if Celtic flop, can you imagine the ecstasy felt if we were to meet and beat them in the CL!

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by hinckleyexile (U7028567)

posted Aug 29, 2007

Get the name of this club right, Hector it's Rangers FC - you're as bad as Davie Weir. Have you ever heard anyone say London Arsenal?

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by perfectHECTOR (U8541468)

posted Aug 29, 2007

HINCLEYEXILE, STICK TO THE DEBATE AND GET A LIFE AS A GLASWEGIAN FROM GOVAN TO ME PERSONALLY THEY ARE "GLASGOW" RANGERS, YOU CALL THEM WHATEVER YOU WANT.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Reputation (U5325396)

posted Aug 29, 2007

Well done to Rangers. They're unlikely to outclass many teams in the Champions League and they may not have as many talented players as their near neighbours but they've certainly become a more difficult side to beat since Walter Smith took the helm.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by RichieBohan (U9364873)

posted Aug 29, 2007

Rangers lookinga good side?
They were lucky to beat a second rate team in the champions league qualifiers, as for the spl?
how can any one get so excited supporting a side in a 2 team division????????

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Hyper-mike (U7064329)

posted Aug 29, 2007

I know, RichieBohan, it's much more boring than supporting a team from a 4-team division.

If Tottenham/Newcastle/Man City/Everton etc. win the premiership in the next 5 years i'll transfer all the money from my bank account to yours. Agreed?

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Hyper-mike (U7064329)

posted Aug 29, 2007

... i just need your bank account details and sort code and we will wire the monies straight into your account.

add comment | complain about this comment

view all 17 comments | back to the top

Comment on this article

Sorry, you can only contribute to 606 during opening hours. These are 0900-2300 UK time, seven days a week, but may vary to accommodate sporting events and UK public holidays.

RATE THIS ARTICLE

Rate Breakdown

  • 5 50.00%
    1 votes
  • 4
    0 votes
  • 3 50.00%
    1 votes
  • 2
    0 votes
  • 1
    0 votes

average rating:
4.00 from 2 votes

Sign in if you want to vote

RELATED BBC LINKS

BBC Scotland Sport
More on this team at BBC Scotland Sport