FatEck.co.uk

News and comment on Rangers FC.

1. Stuart 10.23.03 / 6am

   Well done Eck, for telling it like it is. Yes, some will say that Rangers did well to keep in contention for 90 minutes against a side of genuine European class. But if you look at the Man U performance (instead of being overawed by their reputation), then this tells another story. Very few of their players played anywhere near their potential. Sir Alex must be delighted to be leaving Ibrox will all 3 points after a poor display (by their standards) from his side. Yet Rangers still couldn’t break them down, since they can’t even get some of the most basic skills in football right, such as crossing, shooting & marking.

   Let’s take crossing as an example - compare Rangers crossing to Man U’s. When our players have the ball wide, they need to be 2-3 yards past their marker before they are able to cross into the box - even then, it is normally a “hit & hope” effort, instead of being aimed at a team-mate. Last noght, in the 2nd half, Giggs got 3 inches past his marker and was able to whip a superb cross into the Gers 6 yard box. That’s what our lot should be aiming to do - surely that’s partly what Murray Park was created to help them to do, yet there’s little evidence of this so far. Instead, they resort to crossing from ever deeper areas of the park, making it easier for any competent team to defend against. This tactic may work with players such as Sutton, Hartson, etc - it does not work with Mols & Arveladze.

   Then there was the goal itelf. Moore’s header was poor, but with plenty of men back, this shouldn’t have caused a problem (especially when you consider that the man with the ball was Phil Neville, not Giggs, van Nistelroy or Scholes). Neville moves forward, with Arteta tracking back, when suddenly Arteta gives up! Why? Because he has seen Ricksen steaming in from his left, intent on dealing with the situation in his own inimitable fashion……..which he succeeds in doing, by throwing himself into an heroic looking sliding tackle and completely missing the ball. Neville then gets his scuffed shot in on target and scores (Lovenkrands & Vanoli please take note). Yet again, Ricksen’s inability to keep calm has cost Rangers dearly.

   This should also raise questions about Big Eck’s transfer dealings. He has now tacitly admitted that he realises that neither Emerson or Capucho are good enough (hence their absence from the side). Two of his other 2 signings (Vanoli & Arteta) didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either, and there was no sign of Ostenstad.

   This isn’t about having unrealistic expectations of the current side - it’s about being frustrated at their total inability to take advantage of favourable situations. Recently, we’ve watched them fail to beat Panathanaikos with an extra man for 30 mins, lose (at home) to a Celtic side with a makeshift defence and no interest in attacking, fail to beat a young, inexperienced Motherwell side despite going in front early in the match, and now fail to even draw with a Man U side playing at about 50% of their potential.

   The last decent result gained by this side was against Stuttgart, and even that was down to a shocking defensive error and a fortuitous deflection. It’s time for Big Eck to show that he has what it takes to be a big time manager - shake the team up, drop no-hopers like Mols, Lovenkrands & Arteta (yes, Arteta - his form this season has been poor, and his delivery from free kicks & corners is appalling), & keep Emerson & Capucho safely in the reserves. Let the rest of them know that failure will not be tolerated, and that if they don’t like it, there are plenty of players at Ibrox who would jump at the chance of a run in the 1st team. Let’s face it, facing elimination from the CL & having handed the initiative in the league to our biggest rivals, what has he got to lose?
2. satan4xnx 07.24.06 / 4am

   Descriptions of poker pubs their atmospheresxnx

Powered by Hemingway flavored Wordpress.

Entries RSS Comments RSSRegister