Rangers v Hearts ââ?¬â?? Match Report And Players Ratings

[CammyF 6,779]

I guess I wasn’t the only fan who felt slightly inconvenienced by the later kick-off time today. Well, I day inconvenienced, all it really meant was an extra 30 minutes to partake in some liquid refreshments in the pub pre-match! It was strange kicking off at 3:30PM and the late kick-off appeared to have a negative effect on the players. In recent game, Rangers have flown out the traps and snared an early goal. Toady, they looked cumbersome, lethargic and disjointed.

 

Walter Smith decided on a defensive reshuffle to accommodate the gap left by the suspension to Boogie. Lee McCulloch replaced the classy Algerian with Christian Daily filling in at right-back and Stevie Whittikar moving to left back. Not ideal having 3 out of your back four playing out of position (a right back at left back, a midfield player at centre-half and a centre-half at right back – welcome to the confusing world of team selection – copyright Walter Smith). Pedro Mendes recovered from a serious looking knock to regain his position alongside the ever improving Maurice Edu. Stevie Davis was jettisoned to wide right and Stevie Smith continued wide left. Like the defence, that is two of the four midfield players playing out of position (a centre midfield player playing wide right and a left back playing wide left – that’s, if my arithmetic is correct, 5 players, or 50% of our outfield players playing out of position and no natural width on the bench). At least the front pairing is easy to explain, Boyd and Velicka rightly regaining their starting places.

 

Given the amount of players playing out of position, maybe we are expecting too much from the players to easily adapt to playing out of positions and to excel in strange positions. For the fist 30 minutes, we played like a team who had not only just been introduced to each other, but just introduced to a football. The only chance of note was a Kris Boyd lob that hit the crossbar. Maybe I am being to critical of the ‘goal-machine’, but I thought he was guilty of a glaring miss on this occasion. Just we had resigned ourselves to going into the break on level terms, and we had started to prepare to welcome the brave soldiers of 45 Commando onto the pitch at halftime, we gained an unexpected but welcome lead. A leftwing corner was delivered to the back post where Kris Boyd done brilliantly to direct the ball back into the danger-area. Velicka showed his goal-scorers instinct and lightening reactions to fire the ball into the net. So we took a 1-0 lead into the interval but the first half performance wasn’t anything to write home about.

 

The events and reception of half-time were wonderfully fitting for the brave soldiers of 45 Commando who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to ensure our continued liberty and safety, often fighting far away from home. These brave men and woman are the real heroes and watching the conditions there people work in puts a game of football into perspective. The great Bill Shankly was wrong, football isn’t more important than life or death. These people face death on a daily basis and for that, they have my (and hopefully all our) enternal thanks.

 

As the teams were welcomed back onto the pitch for the 2nd half, a vast improvement was expected, but in truth wasn’t delivered. Our midfield was fragmented, whilst Pedro Mendes once again showed flashes of sheer genius, overall he was disappointing. The wide men once again came to narrow and allowed our fullbacks to be exposed to the Hearts wide players. I sincerely hope I am incorrect in this statement and I’ll happily eat my words, but in my humble opinion, playing Smith and Davis out wide for the remainder of the season could cost us the title. They offer very little either defensively or offensively and continually leave their wings and come inside. This situation has to addressed urgently and solved before the remaining four SPL games. Hearts controlled most of the possession in the 2nd period without looking too dangerous. We improved slightly when Miller, then Lafferty were introduced (for Velicka and Smith respectively) as they offered some directness and pace. Just as our nerves were stretched to the limit, we finally put the game to bed with our first free-flowing move of the game. Mendes, Davis and Miller combined in midfield with Mendes freeing Davis in the inside left channel. Davis’ pass across the 18 yard line managed to squeeze its way through to Miller who advanced, steadied himself and drove the ball across the six yard line where Boyd had made up ground to divert the ball into the net. A collective sigh of relief was audible around Ibrox as the points were finally secured. Another crucial three points but the performance one of the worst since defeating Falkirk 1-0 at Falkirk Stadium some weeks ago.

 

We go into next weeks OF game with the destination of the SPL title still firmly in our own hands. However, we will require to improve significantly on today’s performance if we are to put the MOPES to the sword. Walter Smith and his management team have some tough choices ahead and some very tricky tactical and formation dilemmas to discuss and agree on. I don’t believe we can approach this game with caution and we can’t go with Boyd and Velicka upfront as both are far to immobile. It has to be one of those two in a 4-4-2 alongside Miller or Novo, or Velicka or Lafferty leading the line in a 4-5-1 with Novo and Beasley / Aaron playing wide. If Walter Smith is to play this to type, he’ll revert to 4-5-1 BUT play a defensive 4-5-1 which will mean Smith and SW supplying the width. In every ‘must win’ game this season, Smith has deployed a cautious team, this has to change on Saturday. This could and probably is ‘last chance saloon’ with the winners taking a gigantic step towards the SPL title. Walter will play for a draw and hope that Celtc trip up in one (or more) of their remaining games. For me, we have to go at them, they have weaknesses that we must and can exploit. Playing cautiously plays into their hands and strengths. It’s fair to say that Saturdays showdown is the most meaningful OF game of this century and it’s a game that we MUST win.

 

Players Ratings :

 

Alexander – had a few saves to make and made these comfortably – 6/10

Dailly – terrible game, but offered little support or protection from Davis 4-10

Weir – Solid, commanding but distribution and lack of pace still a concern – 6/10

McCulloch – a very decent game at centre-half – won his fare-share aerially and never shirked a tackle all game – 7/10

SW – not at his best today, but still showed flashes and can be a very decent footballer with decent ability – 6/10

Davis – flirted in and out of the game and is being wasted out wide. Had a hand in the decisive goal but offered little else – 5/10

Edu – Slowly but surely becoming a hugely influential part of this Rangers team – another sterling performance and once again MOTM – 8/10

Mendes – See SW – infuriating watching him as you know that lurking just beneath the surface is one great footballer – has to be more consistent – 6.5/10

Smith – once again struggled in open play wide left. Offered little protection to his fullback and offered little offensively – 5/10

 

Velicka – seemed to struggle against his old team-mates but showed amazing reactions to score on the stroke of half-time – 5.5/10

Boyd – whilst not his most effective game, he did try very hard to become involved – set up one and scored one – 6.5/10

 

Miller – his directness and running a fresh approach considering the staticness of Boyd and Velicka – 5/10

Lafferty – like Miller his introduction gave us something different and a welcome return at a crucial time for the big Ulsterman – 5/10

 

Cammy F

Edited May 3, 2009 by CammyF

[Super_Ally 0]

Don't disagree too much with your ratings.

 

Had Boyd up there with Edu as the top performers though. Boyd didn't just play the ball back into the danger zone, he picked out Velicak for his goal.

 

Dailly comfortably the worst player on show. For the second week in a row. Hope Papac is back next week.

[Gazza_8 233]

Didn't see any of the game so it was good to read your review Cameron F. That said, I take your ratings with a pinch of salt as you tend to be pretty generous to some of the players.

[CammyF 6,779]

Don't disagree too much with your ratings.

 

Had Boyd up there with Edu as the top performers though. Boyd didn't just play the ball back into the danger zone, he picked out Velicak for his goal.

 

Dailly comfortably the worst player on show. For the second week in a row. Hope Papac is back next week.

 

Just thought that Boyd allowed himself to be 'bullied' by the Hearts defenders on too many occaisions. In saying that, wasn't his worst game in a Rangers jersey and his all-round performances and attitude have improved recently.

 

Again, Dailly isn't being given any protection from Davis and with Davis going very narrow, Dailly doens't have an 'out ball' down the line. In counted 4 times in the 2nd half where Davis passed the ball to Dailly instead of delivering into the area. Dailly was covered and shouldn't have received the ball.

 

Didn't see any of the game so it was good to read your review Cameron F. That said, I take your ratings with a pinch of salt as you tend to be pretty generous to some of the players.

 

You could be correct young man - however, I have a ready made excuse, an extra 30 minutes of drinking time MAY have impaired my judgement. On asked why I visit the pub pre-match by a friend, I simply answered 'have you tried watching Rangers sober'.....

 

Cammy F

[ian1964 10,409]

I must have been watching a different game !!, I thought we were pish today and that Hearts were the better team, Mendes, Davis were shocking, Edu tried very hard but IMO no way was he our best player today, SW gets that vote followed closely by Weir, if we have any hope of winning the next OF game and subsequently the SPL title then we have to up our game at least 50%

[Gribz 743]

I only watched the first half but thought the exact same as Cammy when I saw the line up - half the outfield team was out of position.

 

Dailly (centre half by trade playing at RB)

McCulloch (Striker by trade playing centre half)

Whittaker (RB playing at LB)

Davis (Centre midfielder playing RM)

S Smith (LB playing LM).

 

Davis is being restricted on the right, he should be playing in the middle probably with Edu at the moment. I like Mendes but he isnt playing his best at the moment.

 

Velicka is becoming another Boyd - doesnt do much off the ball but can score at any time. I think 1 of these 2 have to make way for the more mobile Lafferty or Miller against Celtic though.

[Norris Cole 0]

I guess it goes without saying what a massive bloody three points that was. From what I could gather the scum had this game marked out as the game we'd drop something.

 

You're right, Dailly did have a terrible game. And he is shite. But playing him at full-back yesterday wasn't really fair, he was totally exposed all game. I hate having a go at any Rangers player, but thank christ he wasn't up against Driver on the other side of the pitch or we may not have walked away with three points. Come to think of it I wonder if young Driver would fancy playing in blue next season...

 

I actually thought McCulloch was pish, while Smith and Velicka did alright, but opinions and all that. Velicka undroppable now surely. Surely?

 

Edu is the man.

 

Pretty impressed with Hearts yesterday to be honest, what Laszlo has done with what was a ding outfit when he took over has been remarkable. Anyone who agrees with yesterday's dubious choice of manager of the year obviously doesn't know much about football. A ridiculous decision but oh so typical of the mhodern ghame.

 

As for next week, we badly need a fit Sasa and a starting PAIR of Velicka and Boyd. Let the Boyd-bashing Rangers haters talk themselves to death - we appear to have found a partnership. Better late than never. And this isn't a dig, but I also think Miller has found his role - as an impact sub. He's been more effective coming off the bench the past few weeks than in three months of starting. I still prefer Novo as first choice sub but I'm long resigned to the Ways of Walter...

[Gribz 743]

 

Come to think of it I wonder if young Driver would fancy playing in blue next season...

 

...

 

That is the first time ive seen Driver and he looks a player!! He has some pace on him aswell!

 

Im not a fan of taking much players from other SPL clubs unless they have that extra something, but this guy looks like he could be a great purchase on the right hand side.

[johnnyk 158]

I thought we were very poor also, Edu was OK but went missing too much, mendes and davis were shocking. Lee done OK for me as did Weir. Dailly murder. We needed some width again and surely at home we must be more attacking surely!

 

Driver didn't impress me at all although I think he's a decent player........

[Bluedell 5,329]

Driver didn't impress me at all although I think he's a decent player........

I thougt he was a real danger all afternoon and Whittaker really struggled against him.