Outstanding! (GERS … 4 Hapoel Tel-Aviv … 0 - We win 5-2 on Aggregate)

NOW I’m a bit more excited.

For the first time in 14 years we’ll be playing European Football in the month of March. We may have reached the semis of the old Fairs Cup back in 1969 but since it was revamped to become the UEFA Cup in 1971/72 (a significant Euro season for ourselves), this is the best run we’ve ever managed in Europe’s second competition.

Tonight equals our best ever home victory in the UEFA Cup and, more than all that, Rangers were absolutely outstanding.

For evey lack I bemoaned after last Wednesday’s first leg in Israel, there were ten plus points this evening. Our first goal was early, set a decisive tone and it was uterly sublime to watch - a marvellous, merciless move in a truly contiental vein. That, and keeping a clean sheet at home is what I dream about every night (and seeing it happen is the kind of fantasy-realisation which tends to make my own home clean sheets a bit messier … if ye know what I mean!) We looked the part tonight - we really looked the biz -and that, for Yours Bluely, is what it’s all about - Rangers looking competent in Europe.

Hat’s off to Walter and Ally and time for me to begin to cheer up in the elongated, drowning wake of PLG’s departure.

Of course, the real reason we did the business tonight was nothing to do with managerial tactics, dressing room spirit or player ability - it was because I wisnae there!

The Rangers jinx was stuck at home with the flu/cold/diabetes/worms or whatever the hell is ailing my normally svelte, athletic clean-living body these days.

Every time I step out the door I’m shaking by the time I get tae the end of the street. And this time it isnae coz I need that first straghtener doon my local or because I’ve gone more than two days without kebab meat. Nah - just generally fucked. Just couldn’t go to the game. So, of course, Rangers were magnificent.

Watching a home game on the telly was a singularly weird experience for a long-term season-ticket holder - especially one who is totally obsessed with European football and hasn’t missed a home Euro tie since - oh, I dunno when but let’s just put it this way, I saw Osasuna in Europe long before many of the Pamplona punters who’ll be watching our opponents in the last 16.

I’m gubbed - as gubbed as Hapoel Tel-Aviv and, hopefully, as gubbed as the bloke who got Alan McGregor sent-off. Hope ye made it worth yer while, Al - they all needed a right good smack.

I was at the first ever European tie Osasuna played. It was at Ibrox. Craig Paterson scored the winner that night but we lost the tie overall. 22 years later I’d like to run with some stray bulls in Navarre’s best Fiesta town just before we put ourselves into the last 8 of a European competition.

Fate-tempting? Yeah but now that I’ve missed a home game in this run I’ll have something to moan about for the rest of my years - “I would have been at all the home games that season if it wisnae fur that bloody cold I caught in February….”). As long as I have something to moan about you’ll know Rangers are allowed to do well. This and the fact the final is only at Hampden, makes it seem all the more believable that we could really do something in this tournament. By our own UEFA Cup standards, we already have.

Osasuna at Ibrox on the Thursday, Celtic at parkhead on the Sunday. Win the two of them and I swear, I’ll never mention Paul Le Geun again ….

Unless we get PSG in the final that is …see they won easily tonight too … SORRY! … come on, I AM getting happier! - I am getting back on board … it’ll just take a bit of time … and more truly wonderful results like tonight’s.

Sorry, folks I’m fucked. Have to get to my kip. Will give this game the rant-up it deserves when I’m feeling less pathetic - hopefully this weekend, seeing as we’re not busy on Saturday or Sunday (!!). But the flag display looked sensational. Very proud, very well orchestrated, very succesful - just like the team’s performance.

Shalom! Shalom!

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Published:
02.22.07 / 11pm
Category:
News