Brilliance of Bruno – how Pedro pulled off a masterstroke

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Brilliance of Bruno – how Pedro pulled off a masterstroke

 Article by: Ibrox Noise
Rangers fans have fond memories of Carlos Cuellar’s time at
Ibrox. Frankly the Spaniard was a colossal defender for Rangers, forming an
immense partnership with David Weir and operating at a level above what fans
were used to – his positional sense, strength, aerial ability and composure on
the ball were major contributors to Rangers’ incredible run to Manchester in 08
and the lad broke our hearts when he departed for Birmingham that summer.
It is safe to say Rangers have not really been embarrassed
by a plunder of riches in that part of the pitch since. Sure, there has been
Madjid Bougherra, Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian – all internationalists and
all doing the Famous a decent turn. But none of them were exceptional at Ibrox,
not like at the level of Cuellar. 

In Bruno Alves,  Pedro
Caixinha has signed a defender who is every inch the best stopper Rangers have
had since the Spaniard left for Villa, and it still beggars belief that we have
managed to secure a genuinely top class Portuguese centre back who has played
at every level, won the second biggest tournament there is, and who has easily
handled world class strikers throughout his career like Carlos Bacca, Paolo
Dybala, Alexis Sanchez and Gareth Bale.

Some have gone as far as to call him world class, and while
it would be generous to go that far, he certainly has operated at a level which
suggests it would not be the biggest stretch.
His display last night against the attacking might of Chile,
with their top class creative sparks from the likes of aforementioned Sanchez,
Vidal and Vargas just gave some idea of what Rangers fans can expect when he
takes to the Ibrox turf. He was huge in the air – dominating everything Chile
threw in, while strong on the ground and being in the right place at the right
time nearly every time.
This was a significant stage, and Alves handled it easily.
Cuellar left Rangers to get a place for Spain – he never even received a call
up and he was magnificent for Walter Smith. Meanwhile Rangers now have an
international veteran with plenty of experience of the Champions League, the
Portuguese Premier League, the Russian and Turkish not to mention world cups
and European Championships.
In short, Alves has the kind of CV the SPL simply is not
worthy of, and Rangers did a tremendous job prising him away from the sun of
Sardinia and glamorous Serie A locations like San Siro, Juventus Stadium and
Rome.
Instead he has Dingwall, Easter Road and Rugby Park to get ‘excited’
about.
But here he is, a Rangers player, and the first sign at long
last that Rangers have a defender of the highest quality.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Can't get too excited after his display. Competent on the ball but in the frenetic Scottish game could be found wanting off the ball. Hope I'm wrong, but he looked as if he was carrying a bag of coal on his back at times. Age? Depends where the gaffer plays him.

  2. Tavernier and Waghorn. What a joke. maybe just as well we can't log in from the US. Poor,poor and poor no matter the result. Pissed off for sure.

  3. Same old. Miller as the lone middle man. AND HE'S NEVER IN THE FUCKING MIDDLE!
    What's the point of wingers crossing if the number 9 is on the halfway line? Jesus H.
    Bates has to carry Kiernan's Burden by having Tav in front of him.
    Dalcio looked like a blonde Dodoo.

    Early days, though- Candeias looked good. Jack strolled it. Kranjcar was streets ahead of everyone.

    Please please please can we start the next game with a proper striker in the middle?

  4. As i have said a great player who knows how to play but with a lot of Headless Chickens around you players coming right at you and most times he will have to deal with it on his own but he is that type of player that will give others around him a kick up the ass if they are caught sleeping going a great season i am sure of that now that i have seen him play.

  5. Come on, it's one game in and everyone is hitting the panic button, at least we aren't st Johnstone 😂😂

  6. 🙂 Not panicking, just annoyed to see the same issues up front. See any common theme in McKay, O'Halloran, Dodoo, Waghorn, Garner and Windass all looking poor upfront?
    I do- headless chicken Miller wandering all over the park.

    • The fact that only 3 out of 8 signings started. And neither of the strikers did. Ped said the old players would have to lose there positions for the new ones to come in, and I recon some have lost their place now

    • True enough. I was probably harsh on Miller last night, but so frustrated. Kranjcar shouldn't be in the box heading wide, Miller should.
      He should be an impact sub, not leading the line. His best work for me was always when he was spearheading on his own. His work rate is phenomenal, he is just NOT an out and out striker.

  7. On paper Alves is similar to, but not as good as, Toure. Both at the end of their careers, arriving in Scotland with a good CV, but alves has never made it at club level. Yet toure arrived and wasn't good enough for Celtic. He was found out within a handful of games in Scotland.

    There's a good chance alves will flop massively. He's a hot head, will get sent off against Celtic. Just like fellow aging defender with good CV; Senderos.

  8. Last night, last season, Kenny a great player and servant, but the manager is asking him to play in the positions we seen last season and last night, my fear, our manager disnae have a clue!! As for Alves, he sounds great, has to be better than the debacle we have seen last year, a lot depends on tactics as well, Ped will hopefully show us what we have not yet seen from him, a football brain!

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