Unwanted 15-year record for Rangers
With all the negative press and
usual nonsense emanating from Ibrox, yesterday’s visit of high-flying Hibernian
could not have come at a worse time.
usual nonsense emanating from Ibrox, yesterday’s visit of high-flying Hibernian
could not have come at a worse time.
Suspensions, injuries, protests,
and ongoing board rubbish as always managed to easily dominate preparation,
with the only decent news being that McCulloch, Simonsen and Foster definitely
would not play for the visit of the Edinburgh
outfit.
and ongoing board rubbish as always managed to easily dominate preparation,
with the only decent news being that McCulloch, Simonsen and Foster definitely
would not play for the visit of the Edinburgh
outfit.
And, to give Rangers their due,
the team Kenny McDowall did put out actually showed more zest, drive, industry
and effort than any others representing Govan have for quite some time.
the team Kenny McDowall did put out actually showed more zest, drive, industry
and effort than any others representing Govan have for quite some time.
A completely new-look defence saw
Faure finally allotted the RB slot, while the mystery of Zaliukas’ whereabouts
were solved as he took up his position next to former Buddies’ man Darren
McGregor, while stalwart LB Lee Wallace wore the armband in McCulloch’s place.
Faure finally allotted the RB slot, while the mystery of Zaliukas’ whereabouts
were solved as he took up his position next to former Buddies’ man Darren
McGregor, while stalwart LB Lee Wallace wore the armband in McCulloch’s place.
Midfield saw youngster Murdoch
replace the hapless Ian Black, while Hutton continued alongside him, with a re-jigged
(pun not intended) front four of Law, Vuckic and Miller flanking Kris Boyd up
front.
replace the hapless Ian Black, while Hutton continued alongside him, with a re-jigged
(pun not intended) front four of Law, Vuckic and Miller flanking Kris Boyd up
front.
And let us be completely fair –
it was the best Rangers have played for months, certainly in terms of effort
and drive and even in terms of shots on goal – those stats far outweighed what
the Hibees offered.
it was the best Rangers have played for months, certainly in terms of effort
and drive and even in terms of shots on goal – those stats far outweighed what
the Hibees offered.
Unfortunately the total absence
of quality, save for the enterprising Haris Vuckic, summed up Rangers’ lot.
of quality, save for the enterprising Haris Vuckic, summed up Rangers’ lot.
Boyd not only missed several easy
chances by his own former standards, but managed to block a shot or two from
his own team mates. It is safe to say his return to Ibrox has been a fraction
above a hideous disaster.
chances by his own former standards, but managed to block a shot or two from
his own team mates. It is safe to say his return to Ibrox has been a fraction
above a hideous disaster.
Defensively Rangers have been far
worse, but Zaliukas ‘cold storage’ status of recent months (this was his first
match in 19) showed a little and the Lithuanian was slightly shaky at times.
That said he was not responsible for either goal, with mere fortune giving Hibs
their first, and a calamitous lack of communication between McGregor and
Wallace gifting the second, albeit the finish was cute.
worse, but Zaliukas ‘cold storage’ status of recent months (this was his first
match in 19) showed a little and the Lithuanian was slightly shaky at times.
That said he was not responsible for either goal, with mere fortune giving Hibs
their first, and a calamitous lack of communication between McGregor and
Wallace gifting the second, albeit the finish was cute.
Nevertheless, it has been Rangers’
Achilles heel for some considerable time. That ‘rabbit in headlights’ lack of
composure in the final third against better teams. It was understandable in
2007 versus Barcelona in the Camp Nou,
infinitely less so now even though this Rangers team is a thousand times
inferior to that one. But then, Hibernian are more than a thousand times
inferior to that Barcelona
side, and yet Rangers just could not truly dent their rearguard.
Achilles heel for some considerable time. That ‘rabbit in headlights’ lack of
composure in the final third against better teams. It was understandable in
2007 versus Barcelona in the Camp Nou,
infinitely less so now even though this Rangers team is a thousand times
inferior to that one. But then, Hibernian are more than a thousand times
inferior to that Barcelona
side, and yet Rangers just could not truly dent their rearguard.
If the match had been measured on
effort, the home side were the comfortable winners, contrarily to my last entry
about them apparently giving up on caring. Unfortunately, results are not
points-based, they are goal-based and a 9-1 aggregate loss to Hibs for this
season is beyond ghastly. It is the first time since 2000 Rangers have lost three matches in a row.
effort, the home side were the comfortable winners, contrarily to my last entry
about them apparently giving up on caring. Unfortunately, results are not
points-based, they are goal-based and a 9-1 aggregate loss to Hibs for this
season is beyond ghastly. It is the first time since 2000 Rangers have lost three matches in a row.
Problem is, no improvement is
anywhere in sight.
anywhere in sight.