New Season, But The Songs and Result Remain the Same...
The discussion on the way home on Saturday was not about going 7 clear or the performance of Tommy G, Aiden or Lenny but it was all about how many players did you recognise from the r*ngers starting line up? I mean I thought the wee fat over weight bloke in the number 25 shirt was Gavin Rae, only to find out it was Charlie Adam or was it Libor Sinoko or was it Jim Bett? Maybe I should start paying more attention to our friends across the river, then again maybe I shouldn’t bother.
Reading the reviews of the game, unless I was watching a completely different one, then I have a very different view than the consensus of the fourth estate. The slaughtering of the r*ngers performance and the description of it being inept and all over the place I think is a bit wide of the mark. Yes they were poor, but so were we and if they had scored when they had their spell just after half time a very different result could have been on the cards.
But they didn’t. They didn’t really look like scoring but the 2-0 score line flattered as our 2nd half performance was just short of woeful as we afforded them too much time and space and couldn’t hold our water when we had the ball. Tell you the truth if r*ngers had any sort of confidence in their own ability they could have quite easily got a result.
At the end of the day they didn’t and probably our domination of the 1st half, when our midfield dominated proceedings and r*ngers couldn’t handle Tommy G and Aidens bursts into the box supporting the tired looking JvoH.
The game was littered with mistakes and nerves. Lee Naylor looked like he didn’t know what hit him and r*ngers game plan of sticking Burke on him nullified his usual application going forward. His usual game was tempered by a public show of nerves, which was surprising as at OT he was calm and collected but a little lacking in confidence of his own ability.
The rest of our defence, done the simple things. Caldwell nullified Boydchenko and Big Mick is looking more and more accomplished as this season is developing. I had my doubts about the big man but he is proving me wrong and his no nonsense style of defending puts me in mind of another Mick of the McCarthy clan. A wee mention about the much abused Telfer who kept r*ngers best player Prso quietish and like the rest of the back line didn’t do much wrong.
Our midfield was brilliant in the 1st half. Second was a bit different as Tommy G’s lack of games is coming back to haunt us and also the fact that he has not adjusted to the pace of the Scottish game. 1st game against Aberdeen his adrenaline kept him going but his time spent polishing galactico’s boots is there for all to see.
Lenny, again, proved that he is worth his weight in gold in games like these. His reading of the game is fantastic and he hardly lost a ball all game. Still think there are some games when he is a passenger and his qualities are not needed but away from home, against our nearest challengers or in Europe he must play. I did write him off, like many others but until a natural successor is found then Lenny will be vital to us as the season goes on.
For me, no matter how good Lenny was he was once again over-shadowed by Aiden McGeady. The bhoy kept the fit again, Shaun Maloney out the team and his selection was justified. He didn’t panic, unlike some, when he broke up the park for Millers- we just knew he was going to score- goal. As all in-sundry screamed at him to play the ball up the line, Aiden hung on, hung on ran at a backing of defence and when the time was right stuck a great ball through to Miller.
I was just as pleased for Aiden as I was for Miller. He was robbed for the 1st goal when the “Gravedigger” decided to bundle the ball over the line-did anyone else notice the r*ngers goalie boating the ball of Tommy G as he lay in the net? John Br*wn must be teaching them well in the r*ngers kindergarten- after he had drifted unmarked into the box and got in a heider.
This performance along with his last few performances against r*ngers prove to me that he now has the measure of these games. His game has improved under GS and he developing into our most influential player. He has one step to make. That’s in Europe. His last outing at OT was poor and I’m sure he will want to make amends.
Even though it was nice to get a victory, the performance was, like all our games this season, was so so. We didn’t need to be at our best and I think that showed in the 2nd half when we were quite willing to let r*ngers come at us. That’s a dangerous game and as I have said better teams will punish us. Another level needs to be found to ensure 3 points are won against Copenhagen.
If we find a higher level of performance which, I think we are capable of, then the only thing I’ve got to worry about tomorrow evening is what time will I get into the game and will my ticket work in the smart card reader?
Hail Hail
Reading the reviews of the game, unless I was watching a completely different one, then I have a very different view than the consensus of the fourth estate. The slaughtering of the r*ngers performance and the description of it being inept and all over the place I think is a bit wide of the mark. Yes they were poor, but so were we and if they had scored when they had their spell just after half time a very different result could have been on the cards.
But they didn’t. They didn’t really look like scoring but the 2-0 score line flattered as our 2nd half performance was just short of woeful as we afforded them too much time and space and couldn’t hold our water when we had the ball. Tell you the truth if r*ngers had any sort of confidence in their own ability they could have quite easily got a result.
At the end of the day they didn’t and probably our domination of the 1st half, when our midfield dominated proceedings and r*ngers couldn’t handle Tommy G and Aidens bursts into the box supporting the tired looking JvoH.
The game was littered with mistakes and nerves. Lee Naylor looked like he didn’t know what hit him and r*ngers game plan of sticking Burke on him nullified his usual application going forward. His usual game was tempered by a public show of nerves, which was surprising as at OT he was calm and collected but a little lacking in confidence of his own ability.
The rest of our defence, done the simple things. Caldwell nullified Boydchenko and Big Mick is looking more and more accomplished as this season is developing. I had my doubts about the big man but he is proving me wrong and his no nonsense style of defending puts me in mind of another Mick of the McCarthy clan. A wee mention about the much abused Telfer who kept r*ngers best player Prso quietish and like the rest of the back line didn’t do much wrong.
Our midfield was brilliant in the 1st half. Second was a bit different as Tommy G’s lack of games is coming back to haunt us and also the fact that he has not adjusted to the pace of the Scottish game. 1st game against Aberdeen his adrenaline kept him going but his time spent polishing galactico’s boots is there for all to see.
Lenny, again, proved that he is worth his weight in gold in games like these. His reading of the game is fantastic and he hardly lost a ball all game. Still think there are some games when he is a passenger and his qualities are not needed but away from home, against our nearest challengers or in Europe he must play. I did write him off, like many others but until a natural successor is found then Lenny will be vital to us as the season goes on.
For me, no matter how good Lenny was he was once again over-shadowed by Aiden McGeady. The bhoy kept the fit again, Shaun Maloney out the team and his selection was justified. He didn’t panic, unlike some, when he broke up the park for Millers- we just knew he was going to score- goal. As all in-sundry screamed at him to play the ball up the line, Aiden hung on, hung on ran at a backing of defence and when the time was right stuck a great ball through to Miller.
I was just as pleased for Aiden as I was for Miller. He was robbed for the 1st goal when the “Gravedigger” decided to bundle the ball over the line-did anyone else notice the r*ngers goalie boating the ball of Tommy G as he lay in the net? John Br*wn must be teaching them well in the r*ngers kindergarten- after he had drifted unmarked into the box and got in a heider.
This performance along with his last few performances against r*ngers prove to me that he now has the measure of these games. His game has improved under GS and he developing into our most influential player. He has one step to make. That’s in Europe. His last outing at OT was poor and I’m sure he will want to make amends.
Even though it was nice to get a victory, the performance was, like all our games this season, was so so. We didn’t need to be at our best and I think that showed in the 2nd half when we were quite willing to let r*ngers come at us. That’s a dangerous game and as I have said better teams will punish us. Another level needs to be found to ensure 3 points are won against Copenhagen.
If we find a higher level of performance which, I think we are capable of, then the only thing I’ve got to worry about tomorrow evening is what time will I get into the game and will my ticket work in the smart card reader?
Hail Hail
posted by Keving at Monday, September 25, 2006
1 Comments:
We had the better of the first half on Saturday but this sitting back that we saw in the second half is counter productive. When we had the ball in good position we quickly lost it due to lack of support.
Thank goodness that Aiden doesn`t need team mates when he goes on a run.
Lennon was fine but he didn`t try to change the game when Rangers were dominating possession.
I was reading the new edition of World Soccer and Copenhagen will present a major test. At the moment I think we are playing for 3rd place and this is an important match. We must at least manage a draw!
Come on the Celts!
Oh yes, did you see how many people Man U get into the opposition box when they are attacking? A lot more than Celtic!
Post a Comment
<< Home