With victory today, Rangers only
needed Falkirk to continue their fine run
against Hibernian, and second place was assured for the Ibrox men.
needed Falkirk to continue their fine run
against Hibernian, and second place was assured for the Ibrox men.
As it transpired, the result at
Tynecastle (2-2) was immaterial due to the visitors’ thrashing of the Bairns to
secure runners’ up spot.
Tynecastle (2-2) was immaterial due to the visitors’ thrashing of the Bairns to
secure runners’ up spot.
Unfortunately today’s match
highlighted, once again, that Lee McCulloch’s mere presence in the team is
enough to ‘infect’ it and once that virus spreads, the defence turns to mush.
highlighted, once again, that Lee McCulloch’s mere presence in the team is
enough to ‘infect’ it and once that virus spreads, the defence turns to mush.
0-2 up and cruising, and manager
Stuart McCall in his wisdom decided to bring Jig on, who had been benched for
the first team in three years. Whether the clause is now gone is up for debate
as the decision itself was beyond ludicrous – upset a strolling defence with 10
minutes to go and lo and behold Hearts snatch a draw thanks to the defence
crumbling.
Stuart McCall in his wisdom decided to bring Jig on, who had been benched for
the first team in three years. Whether the clause is now gone is up for debate
as the decision itself was beyond ludicrous – upset a strolling defence with 10
minutes to go and lo and behold Hearts snatch a draw thanks to the defence
crumbling.
There was zero logic in this
move, and it forces the notion that the clause has been watered down to ‘appearance’
rather than ‘start’.
move, and it forces the notion that the clause has been watered down to ‘appearance’
rather than ‘start’.
But that aside, the capitulation
of the defence literally the second McCulloch appeared proved that if he
features in the playoffs in any capacity, promotion is a busted flush.
of the defence literally the second McCulloch appeared proved that if he
features in the playoffs in any capacity, promotion is a busted flush.
He ruined this match – Rangers were
cruising, with Bell
only forced into a few stops all match.
cruising, with Bell
only forced into a few stops all match.
The second he was on, that was
it. Many will argue it was McCall who ruined the match by bringing him on, and
if there is no clause, that is true. But what sane man would bring on the world’s
worst defender with 10 minutes to go when the existing defence does not need
altered?
it. Many will argue it was McCall who ruined the match by bringing him on, and
if there is no clause, that is true. But what sane man would bring on the world’s
worst defender with 10 minutes to go when the existing defence does not need
altered?
Either McCall’s judgement is
diabolical, or the clause is still there in some form.
diabolical, or the clause is still there in some form.
Rangers are capable of promotion,
with a bit of luck, and a few breaks against Fowler’s Queen of the South.
with a bit of luck, and a few breaks against Fowler’s Queen of the South.
But if McCulloch is part of the
equation, you can forget it.
equation, you can forget it.
Can't the clause be eh broken once in a while? Am sure Jig would understand.
I like McCall but have to blame him. None of the sub's were really necessary and none improved the team. Regards Jig, if the clause existed then I'd have thrown him up front for last 10 and told him just to hold the ball up and keep possession (remember that is how he started his career after all)
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