Inverness 2 vs. Rangers 1 Dec. 27 2006

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS


Ten of them, to be exact, were on show in Inverness tonight as, once more, Caley proved to be our bogey team. It truly was a Christmas hangover as we were out passed, out tackled and generally out played by a side who wanted the win more.
The loss of Prso was a big one for us as we failed, time and time again, to link the play from the back to the front. The midfield pushed up to try and support leaving far too much space behind for Caley to play in. This only goes to show how vunerable this squad is when it loses its better players.
In the bigger picture we have now lost our run of games in which good results and performances had instilled more confidence in the players and we must now look to start that all over again on Saturday when St Mirren come calling.



Today’s team: -

McGregor: - The only man in the team that deserves any kind of credit. God only knows what the score could have been without him between the sticks. It tells a sad story when he was the busier of the two keepers.
Rmed Verdict: - 8 (MOTM some superb saves to keep us in it.)

Hutton: - Found himself in some great attacking positions only to mess up with his final ball. Had a couple of decent strikes and did ok defensively.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Svensson: - Bad positioning led to their first goal as he played four of their men onside. Generally had a decent game though and won his share of tackles and headers.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Hemdani: - Not his best game by a long shot. Too many times he let Caley’s attackers get turned and get a run on him. Was also too susseptable to the high balls that kept raining in on him.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Papac: - Basically a liability. Caley got a lot of joy running down that flank and fireing in crosses. He didn’t close down quick enough and added nothing to the game.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

Sionko: - Dumpling is, I suppose, ideal terminology at this time of year and sums up Sionko tonight quite aptly. No drive or dribbling skills that scared the Aberdeen defence and was rightly hooked early in the second half.
Rmed Verdict: - 4

Bazza: - Tried hard to get his lethargic team going but to no avail. It wasn’t his best night either as his normal pinpoint accuracy desserted him.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Clement: - Was caught on the wrong side of his man time and time again, allowing them to get a run at our defence. Huffed and puffed but never got going.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Adam: - Like most of his team mates, he just didn’t get out of first gear. He did show glimpses of his left foot magic just no where near often enough.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Novo: - Ran and chased all night and had one sublime piece of skill as he bamboozled there defence but the fact that their keeper hardly had a save to make says a lot.
Rmed Verdict: - 6

Sebo: - Was not an easy night for him or Nacho as we tried to feed them long balls half the time but patience is starting to wear a bit thinner as we keep expecting and he keeps failing to deliver.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Burke (On for Sionko): - Great to see the wee man back and he certainly made a difference when he came on. A lot more direct and never scared to have a run at people.
Rmed Verdict: - 5

Lennon (On for Novo): - Not the best night to make a debut and hardly got a touch.
Rmed Verdict: - 3

PLG: - He had dispair written all over his face by the end of proceedings. He must be scratching his head in disbelief about the Jeckyl and Hide nature of his team.
Rmed Verdict: - 5


The Christmas spirit can disappear so quickly but lets hope that the seasons cheer comes back with a bang on Saturday and that the run into 2007 is a good one.



WATP

Baz.