Rangers 1 vs. Osasuna 1 Mar. 08 2007
THE SPANISH INQUISITION
The amount of questions asked of us tonight, it may as well have been. The weather didn’t help the quality of the game, but the fundamentals of playing any kind of level of football were completely forgotten by one side tonight, and it wasn’t the away one.
My one big worry before kick off was of Klos and his kicking ability. The sad truth is that he looked the only one capable of passing especially when you consider that one of the main rules of playing in European games is to keep possession of the ball.
It is strange to imagine that it was only a short time ago that we played on the very same park and blew Hapoel Tel Aviv all the way back to Israel and the one man that they feared the most added to the frustrations of the night by succumbing to the yellow card that sees him out of the second leg.
It wasn’t all bad though and those that waited in the stadium for the final whistle saw the one sublime piece of football that Rangers could muster and saw them gain a small piece of hope. The other consolation is that there is no way on this earth that we can play as badly as that again, and I’m sure that Walter won’t allow it.
Today’s team: -
Klos: - Brought back from the cold and showed, with a couple of brilliant saves, that he still has it. His kicking wasn’t so bad either and he had no chance with the goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 7 (MOTM there were basically no other candidates)
Hutton: - Not the worst on show and defensively wasn’t too bad. His distribution however was woeful and really must improve.
Rmed Verdict: - 6
Ehiogu: - Not the easiest night to defend but stuck to his task ok. Good in the air and decent of the deck. Another couldn’t find a pass but he isn’t in the team for that part of his game.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Weir: - Will be very disappointed to have conceded the away goal but on the whole was again our best defender. Used his experience very well especially when he was up against a pacey attack.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Murray: - Had a nightmare on the left and will be more glad than anyone to see a resulting draw from the game. Really not his usually composed defending.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Hemdani: - Rescued the day with what was a terrifically taken goal. Like everyone else though his passing just wasn’t there.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Thomson: - Struggled in the middle with the tight closing down by the Spanish side. Couldn’t put any kind of stamp on events and eventually went off with an ankle knock.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Burke: - Started with the look of someone who wanted to make a mark on proceedings, quickly lost interest though as the night and the weather got worse.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Burke: - Marked out of the game from the first whistle. Dropped deeper and deeper to try and get involved but all that did was leave Boyd more and more isolated. Worst of all though is his now, ineligibility for the second leg.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Adam: - Typical of his performances this season. Comes off a great game and continues to have little to no affect on the game. In all fairness he really isn’t a winger but was rightly hooked at half time.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Boyd: - Was left far too isolated far too often. We know that his hold up play is far from great but we ask him to do it time and again. Needs a strike partner to compliment his game.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Novo (On for Adam): - Injected some pace into the attack but couldn’t quite make it count.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Prso (On for Thomson): - Looked a bit sharper than his last two outings and will be needed in Spain.
Rmed Verdict: - 4
Sebo (On for Boyd): - Given five minutes and ran full out for 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
Rmed Verdict: - 3
Smith: - There will be criticism of his tactics, I’m sure, but it was the same tactics that were praised so highly not so long ago. There will be severe words spoken behind the scenes after tonight.
Rmed Verdict: - 6
We now have one week and an Old Firm game to regroup and reset ourselves for the second leg. The one grace afforded us this evening through all the painful watching was that we still managed a draw. One goal over there and the situation will swing right back in our favour. Before that there is the small matter of the trip across the city. If we can win that one then I’m sure this result will be quickly forgotten.
WATP
Baz.
The amount of questions asked of us tonight, it may as well have been. The weather didn’t help the quality of the game, but the fundamentals of playing any kind of level of football were completely forgotten by one side tonight, and it wasn’t the away one.
My one big worry before kick off was of Klos and his kicking ability. The sad truth is that he looked the only one capable of passing especially when you consider that one of the main rules of playing in European games is to keep possession of the ball.
It is strange to imagine that it was only a short time ago that we played on the very same park and blew Hapoel Tel Aviv all the way back to Israel and the one man that they feared the most added to the frustrations of the night by succumbing to the yellow card that sees him out of the second leg.
It wasn’t all bad though and those that waited in the stadium for the final whistle saw the one sublime piece of football that Rangers could muster and saw them gain a small piece of hope. The other consolation is that there is no way on this earth that we can play as badly as that again, and I’m sure that Walter won’t allow it.
Today’s team: -
Klos: - Brought back from the cold and showed, with a couple of brilliant saves, that he still has it. His kicking wasn’t so bad either and he had no chance with the goal.
Rmed Verdict: - 7 (MOTM there were basically no other candidates)
Hutton: - Not the worst on show and defensively wasn’t too bad. His distribution however was woeful and really must improve.
Rmed Verdict: - 6
Ehiogu: - Not the easiest night to defend but stuck to his task ok. Good in the air and decent of the deck. Another couldn’t find a pass but he isn’t in the team for that part of his game.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Weir: - Will be very disappointed to have conceded the away goal but on the whole was again our best defender. Used his experience very well especially when he was up against a pacey attack.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Murray: - Had a nightmare on the left and will be more glad than anyone to see a resulting draw from the game. Really not his usually composed defending.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Hemdani: - Rescued the day with what was a terrifically taken goal. Like everyone else though his passing just wasn’t there.
Rmed Verdict: - 7
Thomson: - Struggled in the middle with the tight closing down by the Spanish side. Couldn’t put any kind of stamp on events and eventually went off with an ankle knock.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Burke: - Started with the look of someone who wanted to make a mark on proceedings, quickly lost interest though as the night and the weather got worse.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Burke: - Marked out of the game from the first whistle. Dropped deeper and deeper to try and get involved but all that did was leave Boyd more and more isolated. Worst of all though is his now, ineligibility for the second leg.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Adam: - Typical of his performances this season. Comes off a great game and continues to have little to no affect on the game. In all fairness he really isn’t a winger but was rightly hooked at half time.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Boyd: - Was left far too isolated far too often. We know that his hold up play is far from great but we ask him to do it time and again. Needs a strike partner to compliment his game.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Novo (On for Adam): - Injected some pace into the attack but couldn’t quite make it count.
Rmed Verdict: - 5
Prso (On for Thomson): - Looked a bit sharper than his last two outings and will be needed in Spain.
Rmed Verdict: - 4
Sebo (On for Boyd): - Given five minutes and ran full out for 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
Rmed Verdict: - 3
Smith: - There will be criticism of his tactics, I’m sure, but it was the same tactics that were praised so highly not so long ago. There will be severe words spoken behind the scenes after tonight.
Rmed Verdict: - 6
We now have one week and an Old Firm game to regroup and reset ourselves for the second leg. The one grace afforded us this evening through all the painful watching was that we still managed a draw. One goal over there and the situation will swing right back in our favour. Before that there is the small matter of the trip across the city. If we can win that one then I’m sure this result will be quickly forgotten.
WATP
Baz.
posted by RangersMedia @ 6:24 PM
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