Proves Nowt! (GERS … 2 Molde … 0)

Rangers won. So what?!! Big deal??!! Who were we playing - eh? Who the hell has ever heard of FK Molde??!! We’re in the group stages of the UEFA bloomin Cup - WOWEE!!! - excuse me while I positively PISH myself with excitement … (huh) NOT!!! It’s hardly the Champions League - in fact, it’s nopthing more than the European consolation cup. We’re in the European competition for LOSERs and all tonight’s so-called “win” proves is that we’re very good at LOSING!!!

Paul le Guen’s still a dud, Barry Ferguson will never be anything other than a traiterous mercenary and David Murray remains the biggest fraudster in Scottish football history - what he’ll do to us by the end of his reign will make that guy who ran Third Lamark into the ground look like bl**dy Carnegie!

Okay - that’s the sarcasm out the way - now for the sad truth:

All those Murray, Le Guen and Barry-detractors won’t actually have seen anything tonight to convinced that my opening to this rant is an accurate reaction to our latest European progression.

Biggest news is that Allan McGregor may just have made the goalkeeping berth his own. Le Guen has said Letizi is still his number one choice but Paul also said there was no way Barry could walk straight back into the midfield after his injury lay-off - short of actually giving him a game while his stookie was still on, El Capitano’s been back in the Centrocampista berth as quick as Le Gaffer could possibly get him there. Bazza is our Frankie Lampard.

Gallic Geezers know politics. What PLG SAYS about Mcgregor and what he DOES about him will be two different matters which may or may not coincide. Al’s certainly established himself as the fans’ favourite this evening. Despite a poor clearance augmented by some Hemdani dithering in the first half, this could well go down as the night McGregor “arrived”. A lot of bears have rated him prior to tonight but this game has reassured doubters like myself as to McGregor’s reliability. Two point-blank blocks in the second half prevented FK Molde getting the one goal which would have had the whole edifice of competence crumbling round our feet like the crusty pastry from my half-time pie.

Bazza got himself a lovely and crucial goal and, also depsite one v dangerous misplaced pass, was getting back to his imperious best. The move for that goal, on the stroke of half-time and Buffel’s belter after 11 minutes, were sublime. We had a couple of other nice build-ups on the break as Molde’s gargantuan viking raiders tried to pillege the away goals they needed from these shores but we couldnae convert.

Generally this was a boring match and Rangers still look fragile and fumbling. It’s a crucial financial win and is always good for the confidence but, after a week of fire-fighting Rangers doubters and doomsayers on the pages of this site, I found myself bored and unconvinced tonight.

Contrary bastard, in’t ah??!!

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Published:: 09.28.06 / 10pm

Category:: News

Derek 09.28.06 / 11pm

Played some nice football in bits, but were up against a poor side who, worryingly, ended up getting some chances that a better side would make more of.

Good to see McGregor growing in confidence.

Best bit of the night? The corporate hospitality I was invited to. Very nice. Just a shame I was driving.

Toddy 09.29.06 / 12am

alls well that ends well and this could be just the little spark that is needed to ignite our fledgling stars into action. God knows we need to take something out of tonights match ups, and as we all know, we play better against stronger opposition, last years CL is a prime example…hang on a minute it sounds a wee bit like the national side.

Onwards and upwards

Ted 09.29.06 / 8am

Am I right in saying that we’ve now equalled our unbeaten European record of 12 games established between 1991 and 1993? I think we have.

It was a mixed bag tonight. McGregor did well but then you think he shouln’t have had to; Prso ran himself into the ground and why he’s not captain, I’ll never know. I thought there were positives in terms of our overall work rate (we actually seemed to want to close the opposition down which was strangely absent the last fortnight) and there was a bit more zip about our play in the final third. Defensively, still ropey, though. We still seem incapable of i) stopping crosses and ii) defending them if they do get in. So, yeah, you did come away feeling as confused as a blind lesbian in a fish market - was last night a turning point or another glitchy performance in a season of them? We’ll see, I suppose.

Daz 09.29.06 / 5pm

See the contract-chasing, badge kissing, wing half-wizard Peter Lovenkrands’ beloved new club Schalke crashed out of Europe last night!! No big Euro nights for the Pistol then.

Derek2 09.29.06 / 10pm

Fat Eck et al,

If Rangers can keep the gap to 7 points until January there may be a chance of recovery, but I doubt they can. One look at the respective bench warmers of the two clubs tells a story.

Balde, Maloney, Beattie, Jarosik, Pearson, Sno, Marshall.

Sebo,Hutton, Rae, Martin, N’Diaye, Svensson, Robinson.

When you add Riordan, Venegoor of Hesselink, Wilson and Kennedy (hopefully) to the list there is depth everywhere for Celtic. I am AMAZED, as I was one of those who felt Strachan wasn’t up to it, but he has delivered a title and a cup while transforming an ageing, weary squad with no depth to a young, energetic squad with presence and quality - and given us depth we haven’t had since 2001/2002 deason.

Le Guen will probably be working to a 3 year plan and I’m sure he’ll deliver a younger squad with potential and better quality. Murray may gamble in January and spend some money if the gap is only 7 points, but that may be a gamble not worth taking if the gap is bigger.

Whether Murray has allowed Strachan too much of a head start, only time will tell.

I think, like me, he under estimated Strachan and may have miscalculated the gap Le Guen would have to bridge.

Jamesie 09.30.06 / 12pm

As I said in work mate, Thursday night was made for Allan McGregor.

Not only did he play a blinder, but he earned the chants from the crowd, and Andy Goram was the half time prize draw guest.

We’ve had Charbonnier, Klos, Waterreus, and Letizi as first choice keepers since Goram was booted out by Advocaat.

In my opinion, on Thursday night, the torch was truely passed.

I refuse to believe that Le Guen won’t see the possible situation which could unfold this summer should he drop McGregor for Mr LetItInEasy (Letizi). We would undoubtedly lose McGregor in the summer, possibly even January, and Klos is retiring in the summer. That would leave us with a a keeper about to turn 34 as our only recognised keeper. So, when Davie Murray opens his jar of coppers to give Le Guen is summer pocket money, he’s going to need to spend some of it on a keeper, instead of on an area of the team which genuinely needs more attention.

Or, the sensible option, would be to keep McGregor in goal and have Letizi warming the bench. He’s used to it after all, he couldn’t get a game ahead of Alonso at PSG … and it shouldn’t matter if he got Letizi here by promising him First Team football. Goalkeeping is a cut throat position in football, and the man in form ALWAYS keeps the jersey. And anyone who moans about experience, need I remind anyone that a certain Iker Casillas won the Champions League aged just 18? He’s now, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world. And of course, closer to home we have Hearts own Craig Gordon who is up there with the best in Britain, so McGregor has done more than enough to prove he has what it takes to be Rangers undisputed Number 1 keeper for years to come.

The King is dead … Long live the King. :D

Derek2:

————————————————————————————————-

“One look at the respective bench warmers of the two clubs tells a story.

Sebo,Hutton, Rae, Martin, N�Diaye, Svensson, Robinson.”

With all due respect Derek, that’s a very unfair assumption mate. You’ve quoted our bench from Thursday night, which has been our weakest squad this season so far.

Let’s go back a couple of weeks to the Dundee Utd game at Ibrox. The bench read:

McGregor, Rae, Boyd, Burke, Sebo, Fanfan, Ponroy.

Now that is serious strength in depth for every position.

The following home game, against Hearts, saw the following take their place on the bench:

McGregor, Buffel, Rae, Sionko, Hutton, Adam, Sebo.

Now, come on mate … I’ve read a lot of your posts and they often contain a lot of common sense. I see the point you’re trying to make, but using our weakest bench of the season, instead of looking back at when we’re at full strength is a bit deceiving.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Celtic bench you offered as an example was from a full strength side and didn’t feature Riordan.

All I ask is for a fair comparison mate, no more … no less.

Cheers.

Derek2 10.01.06 / 1pm

Jamesie,

You’re right, I did only look at the European fixtures. The other bench lists you quote are stronger - but that’s because the diddies were all on the park:)

(Kidding, only kidding!)

Celtic were far from full strength, with Wilson injured, Venegoor of Heesilnk injured and still Riordan didn’t make the bench.

I’m happy with Celtic’s squad. Not too many bears at work are happy with Rangers’ squad. Some think it’s even weaker than last season’s McLeish squad.

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Proves Nowt! (GERS … 2 Molde … 0)

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