Rangers 1 vs. Motherwell 1 - Oct. 28/2006

NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED


After the highs of Livorno and the following win in Paisley our beloved football team has once more kicked us in the b****cks. Questions, once more, will be asked of the players, back room staff and also the management as a lacklustre performance saw two more points thrown down the pan.
People say that the league table never lies and after today we are nine points off the lead and there is a ONE-point gap between us, Kilmarnock and Inverness Caley. Speaks volumes, doesn’t it.
The first half saw us play some decent football. We had all the possession and deservedly went in 1-0 up. What happened in the dressing room is then a mystery. The team didn’t emerge, Motherwell sensed it and grabbed their opportunity with both hands. Too often we get a goal and sit back in a comfort zone to then have to panic and up the tempo again when our weak defence concedes.
Put it this way. It’s a good job that Romanov isn’t our chairman…….or is it?



Today’s team: -

Letizi: - Can’t complain about him at all. Had little to nothing to do and with a bad deflection, he could do nothing about their goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Hutton: - Spirited first half performance in the first half especially. Got down the line to good effect, needs to remember that firstly he is a defender though.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

JRod: - The definitive yoyo. So up and down that no one knows what’s coming next. Allowed McDonald to escape for the goal and must be severely worried about his place.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Papac: - One of the few good performances of the day. Made his tackles and won his headers. Even managed to contribute to the attack with some foraging runs.
Rmed Verdict: - 8 (MOTM through lack of choice unfortunately)

Smith: - Very much like Hutton in the fact that he pushes forward well but needs to remember to defend. Both players also need to work on their end product as well because too many crosses today were just woeful.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Hemdani: - Another with pass marks. Helped the defence out on more than one occasion, and used the ball well. Will never be outstanding in his performances because he does all the dirty work that goes unseen.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Bazza: - Most disappointing player on show because of the high standards which he has set so far this season. Too many passes went amiss and too many passes went long and high. We needed a leader today and he was nowhere to be seen
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Adam: - Decent first half but disappeared in the second. Another whose’ radar needs a little adjustment as too many passes and crosses went astray
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Buffel: - Lots of tricks and flicks to no avail. Not a performance that he’ll remember but did show a bit of urgency, which was more than some others.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Novo: - A lot of people were calling for his starting place and he didn’t let them down. Nearly everything that was good in the first half came down the right hand side and Novo in particular. Good performance on a bad day.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Boyd: - Did his bit with a first half goal but still needs to give more to the overall play. Too many times the ball bounces off him rather than sticking.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Prso (On for Adam): - Gave a bit more desire and urgency to the team but it wasn’t enough.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Sebo (On for Novo): - Doesn’t get long enough to show what he can do.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

PLG: - From the sublime to the ridiculous, Livorno to Motherwell. Similar team, similar formation, just where did it all go wrong? Over to you Mr PLG
Rmed Verdict: - 6


Another roller coaster season is well on the way and with another important game on Thursday will it be Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde that turns up. It’s anybody’s guess…



WATP

Baz.

St Mirren 2 vs. Rangers 3 - Oct. 22/2006

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’VE BEEN NACHO ED (MARK II)


I’ve just had a serious case of de j’ vu. From Livorno to Love St., a 3-2 score line, a dodgy penalty against us, a cracking strike by Adam and a winning goal by, man of the moment, Nacho Novo. Three points was a must today and it came, albeit with a late scare, with a more lethargic performance than Thursday night. We did deserve the victory and it should have been by a much bigger margin as chances slipped by but after last weekend the two game and two win ratio will be accepted by all fans.
PLG made two changes to the side with the predictable Papac for Svensson and the slightly surprising Prso for Novo and after only 5 minutes we were behind and wondering if we had left half our team back in Italy. They came back to the fore though to produce some decent football to win the game and keep us in touch with the top.



Today’s team: -

Letizi: - He looked more confident than Thursday. Catching rather than punching and happy enough to come out and act as a sweeper. Had no chance with the first and was unlucky not to save the penalty.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Hutton: - Gets forward really well with some powerful running but needs to shore himself up at the back a bit before he can seriously call the Right back spot his own.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

JRod: - For want of a better word, I’d have to call his performance clumsy at best. Booked for a rash challenge early on and always looked one step off the pace. Will have to watch for Svensson breathing down his neck.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Papac: - Lost Sutton for the first goal but after that had a very composed game. Looks to be our most assured defender and it’s a great loss that he is cup tied for Europe.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Smith: - Linked up extremely well down the left hand side and had several foray’s into the box and even got a strike on goal! It was more Amoruso than Boyd though!
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Hemdani: - He wasn’t as notable today as he was on Thursday. Did what was asked though as he protected the back four. Needs to keep up his performances of late.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Bazza: - Another positive display as he pushed forward at every opportunity. He was always available for a pass and his vision for a pass in quite amazing. Good to see him getting up to match speed, at last.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Adam: - His goal was an absolute screamer and nearly burst the net. Justifying PLG’s faith in him and is fast becoming an integral part of this team.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Buffel: - Trying to silence his “consistency” critics by putting in back-to-back performances. He Ran the St Mirren defence ragged and added great touch and awareness and rounded it all off with a well taken goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 9 (MOTM Great display, taking the bull by the horns and driving at the defence time and again.)

Prso: - Not his best performance by any manner of means as he never quite got going. Too often he was let down by his first touch today.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Boyd: - Like Prso I felt that he wasn’t quite with us today. Had a couple of half chances but nothing of note. At the same time it’s good to know that we have goals in the team when he has an off day.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Novo (On for Prso): - Can’t put a foot wrong at the minute. Was sent on to save our blushes and duly banged in the winner. Has got amazing passion for Rangers and football in general.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Sebo (On for Boyd): - Ran out the last few minutes with his typical strong running and closing down
Rmed Verdict: - 4

PLG: - Will be happy to see the points in the bag especially knowing that with each victory the confidence will be growing. With Martin, Bardsley, Novo, McGregor and soon Clement waiting in the wings he will have some headaches very soon too.
Rmed Verdict: - 7


All in all it has been a very good week to be a Gers fan. With Wins, performances and goals attached the future once again looks bright!!

WATP

Baz.

Livorno 2 vs. Rangers 3 - Oct. 19/2006

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’VE BEEN NACHO ED


I am sitting here writing this report with a bottle of Peronni in hand and a humungous grin on my face thinking of the hundreds of Gers fans doing exactly the same in, that World Cup winning nation of, Italy.
The grin is one of euphoria after watching our team outwit and out play Livorno in their own backyard and come out with a 3-2 victory. All the more amazing considering that firstly they have never been beaten at home all season, secondly because NO Scottish team has ever won on Italian soil and thirdly because we were all beginning to think that we were mince!!



Today’s team: -

Letizi: - Started off as a nervous wreck after all the talking in previous days. Came through in the end with a couple of decent saves. Had no chance with either goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Hutton: - Asked to fill in for Bardsley and staked his claim for the Right Back position with an excellent performance. Solid as a rock all night and showed great energy bursting forward to support Nacho
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Svensson: - Another who has been recalled and played well. Still to be totally convincing in the air but showed that he can read the game very well with some very important challenges.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

JRod: - His best game in royal blue so far this season. Made Lucarelli look ordinary, especially in the first half. We were in desperate need of a performance from him and he didn’t fail to deliver.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Smith: - Our only ever present this season and can be happy, again, with his showing. Likes a tackle and supported so well down the left flank to give us more width when Buffel tucked inside.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Hemdani: - A change in system saw a three man midfield rather than two and Hemdani looked absolutely brilliant as the deepest of the three. Didn’t waste a pass, which is so crucial at this level and provided excellent cover for the defence.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Bazza: - Captain’s performance when one was required. Drove the team forward but never once neglected his duties at the back. His vision and passing were outstanding and contributed greatly to making Livorno look less than ordinary
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Adam: - Looks to be the find of the season. His work rate and vision are tremendous and he has a left peg that is getting close to the legend that is “The Hammer”. Superb drive, on the volley, that was literally unstoppable.
Rmed Verdict: - 9

Novo: - Recalled from the depths of Ibrox and with perfect timing, it would seem. Vintage display from the little Spaniard as he ran one of the best Italian defences completely ragged. They just couldn’t cope with his pace, trickery and “in your face” attitude. Welcome back Wee Man!!
Rmed Verdict: - 9 (MOTM has the heart of a…can’t think of anything with a heart this big!!)

Buffel: - Full of tricks and flicks and was a main contributor to our quality of passing and movement. Dragged their defenders all over the place leaving space for Boydy to work from.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Boyd: - Another start and another goal. What more can PLG ask? Ok, still has more to offer in the overall game but he set up two of the goals and scored the other and that’s more than good enough for me.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Sebo (On for Boyd): - Sent on to inject some legs and energy into our play. You couldn’t hand pick a better man.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Prso (On for Novo): - Gave us something to aim for as we punted the ball out of defence in the last, tense, minutes.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

Rae (On for Buffel): - A play out time substitution that, thankfully, worked.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

PLG: - Masterstroke, tactically tonight, as he set up a different system which took Livorno by complete surprise. Most brilliant of all though was his recall of Novo for which he was thanked by the biggest bear hug going when the wee man scored.
Rmed Verdict: - 9


Let this be the moment where The Mighty Glasgow Rangers finally turned the corner from an elongated dark period and into the better and smoother road that lies ahead. The euphoria of tonight will last for a long time though, well at least until Sunday anyway!!



WATP

Baz.

Rangers 0 vs. Inverness 1 - Oct. 16/2006

SUPERCALEYGO……..ARGHHH!!


Only lost 2 games in ten, won the game with a well-taken goal, this is the kind of stats that we should be reading about Rangers, not Inverness Caley!!
I know a lot of people are having a go at Letizi but from my point of view, one point or no points make absolutely no difference, we should be winning games like these, especially at home, by two or three goals and not having to worry about losing one. I do not mean to be disrespectful to any other SPL club but we are bigger and better than the level at which we are currently performing.
The big question is where PLG sees the team going now. Will there, must there now be changes for Thursdays game in Livorno. With a top-notch striker on the bench and one unhappy keeper and one unconfident one PLG must make some changes to the way he perceives our way of football. If there is not a drastic upturn in our fortunes very soon I can see a revolt starting against the man who was supposed to take us from rags to riches.



Today’s team: -

Letizi: - Was only asked one question in the game and unfortunately, more for him than us, he failed with the answer. Was booed after his error, which, for me, was wrong. The word “supporter” was given to us for a reason…
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Bardsley: - Offered more in an attacking role than on any other occasion in which I have seen him. To decent strikes at goal weren’t enough to help us though.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

J Rod: - Was hardly needed, or seen, for the majority of the game. In fact I can’t really say anything else about him.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Papac: - Again, defensively had little to nothing to do yet he was slightly more effective going forward. Had two or three decent long passes and tried to push up the pitch.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Smith: - His boundless energy saw him consistently push forward of the attacking line in a vain attempt to give us some width. Got into some good positions and played some good crosses. No poacher on the end of them to finish them off? I wonder what happened there…
Rmed Verdict: - 7 (MOTM Best out of a bad bunch springs to mind.)

Hemdani: - Ironically it was one of his better performances. Tried to push forward and create but to no avail. Was moved back to Centre Back near the end.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Bazza: - Only glimpses of the real Baz shone through as too many passes went AWOL and too many shots did the same.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Buffel: - Has so much skill on the ball and was at the centre of everything good that we did manage today, which wasn’t much, but where oh where, did he learn NOT to shoot!
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Prso: - We got the usual work rate and effort but, like last year, still has to be settled on an actual position. Has been played just about everywhere on the park now!
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Adam: - Still has to prove that he can cut it at this level. He shows bits and pieces of very good ability but then seems to fade out of games.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Sebo: - I really don’t think we can play this boy as a lone striker. He needed more support today, someone to make runs off or play in, again a name springs to mind….
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Boyd (On for Prso): - Given a run for half an hour but needs to be on from the start.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

Novo (On for JRod): - He has a lot of down sides, but the boy will give his last breath for the cause. Unlucky with TWO penalty shouts.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

PLG: - I have been, and still am, a huge admirer of what PLG has achieved in the managerial game. Needs to adapt to a different game over here though and needs to do it very quickly
Rmed Verdict: - 4


Thursday will show us a lot about the character of our Gaffer. Will Boyd start and will McGregor start? (Both should be a yes IMO) and can he be flexible enough to change his stringent system? All will be revealed very soon…



WATP

Baz.

Rangers 1 vs. Aberdeen 0 - Oct. 01/2006

SEBO’S SAVING GRACE


Or was it just saving face??
There are two ways of looking at today’s game, the first being of a decent three points as, four penalty appeals were waved away, any of which would have given us the impetus to drive on and finish the game off, a clean sheet and another goal for a striker who looks hungry for a place.
The second is of a lucky escape as it took until the 88th minute for us to break down an average Aberdeen side that could have snatched the game late on themselves. A nervous tension bit in to the players and the crowd as we failed to take our chances and looked once more like dropping points.
After all is said and done though, three points have been gained and we head towards an international break with back-to-back wins and guaranteed European football to come.



Today’s team: -

McGregor: Had little to amuse himself with until the last few minutes where he was happy to see the ball ricochet off the post and away. Can be pleased with his last months work.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Bardsley: - Solid enough display without being spectacular. Could improve on his forward play.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

J Rod: - Think he prefers the right side of the back two and went untroubled for much of the game. Had a very rash, untimely challenge near the death, which he dived into and missed.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Papac: - Brought back in as the only change from Thursdays team. More assured and physical than Hemdani could ever be back there. Clean sheet should be a bit of a lift as well.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Smith: - Burst forward to good effect although he seemed lost a couple of times when clean through on goal. Defended as well as ever to show why he has been our only constant this season.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Sionko: - Didn’t look in the mood today although we did see one or two bursts. Guilty of missing one of the sitters of the year.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Hemdani: - Back in his more natural role and did very little wrong or right. Would love to see him grit his teeth and nail a tackle just to show the passion was there.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Bazza: - Picking up the tempo of the games now and looked threatening. Controlled good spells in the middle of the park and made some good runs into the box. Will be very interesting to see where he fits into Walter’s Scotland plans for the next International.
Rmed Verdict: - 8

Adam: - Another who only played in flashes. Loves to get a crack on goal but wasn’t accurate enough with crosses, shots or free kicks. You feel he relishes the more central role.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Buffel: - Kept his place after his midweek performance and settled quickly into the same position. Made some telling runs and passes early on but faded as the game wore on.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Prso: - Linked well with Buffel. The only problem being the fact that they both like to drift wide which leaves the penalty box empty. Looked better in the second half when joined by Boyd.
Rmed Verdict: - 7

Boyd (On for Sionko): - Gave us more strength up top and had a couple of half chances.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Martin (On for Prso): - Strangest decision of the day as Boyd and Dado had looked good.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Sebo (On for Adam): - Best decision of the day. Gave fight and passion up front and scored the goal that spared our sorrows.
Rmed Verdict: - 8 (MOTM for scoring the goal which will make the papers an easier read tomorrow)

PLG: - Must surely have a different view of Scottish football now than six months ago. Showed the fans that his passion is not a problem with his celebration of the goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 6


We now have a contemplation period where hopefully some our wrongs can be put right. I know that as a team we are not the best yet but now, more than ever, the points are THE most important thing. Lets keep as close to the top as possible until we bed in right.



WATP

Baz.