OnlyOneAmoruso 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/solid-foundation-rangers-have-third-best-defensive-record-in-europe-1.1006765 By Richard Wilson Rangers are relying on frugality to encourage their ambition. The team’s defensive record is so domineering that no club in Britain can surpass it. Walter Smith’s side are adept at a form of containment that causes opponents to become disconsolate and the result is a sense of security, or infallibility even, that is resounding. They have conceded only 15 goals in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season, the lowest amount in any of the top-flight divisions in Scotland and England. In their 25 fixtures so far, they have collected 10 clean sheets, and have never lost more than one goal in each of the other 15 games. Rangers’ goals against average is 0.60, a figure bettered by only Portugal’s Sporting Braga, with 0.42, and Barcelona, with 0.59, across Europe’s major competitions. Smith occasionally flinches at being described as a defensive coach, but only because the connotation can be considered derogatory. His strategy is to construct sides that are sturdy and resilient, so that they are able to endure the inevitable fluctuations in form among the goalscorers. This parsimony is admirable in itself, but the true relevance to Rangers is that it has enabled them to reach this stage of the campaign with only one league defeat to their name. The performances can be grinding at times, but there is reassurance in the belief among the players that they will never be overwhelmed. Even at Parkhead, where Celtic were so ascendent during the last Old Firm encounter, Rangers survived to claim a 1-1 draw. Tony Mowbray’s team had been predominant, but it was their Old Firm rivals who were most heartened by the outcome. It is not that Rangers are puritanical, as no side that accumulates 58 goals in 25 games – and boasts two of the league’s three top scorers in Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller – can be mean-spirited. The prevailing mindset is one of diligence and responsibility, so that no attack should compromise the integrity of the defence. The full-backs are encouraged to go forward, notably in the case of Steven Whittaker, who has scored 10 goals this season, but only in support of attacks, so that they seldom career beyond the midfielders in front of them. When Madjid Bougherra springs from the centre of defence on one of his impulsive forays up the field, Lee McCulloch steps back from midfield to provide cover. Even disruption in defence can be accommodated, so that Kirk Broadfoot, Danny Wilson and Steven Smith have all been drafted in to the starting line-up this season without jeopardy. The superiority of Rangers’ Champions League opponents exposed the true limitations of Smith’s resources, but then nobody would consider the current Ibrox team to be illustrious. Its soundness is so pronounced that domestic opponents tend to eventually be prevailed over. Only a Scottish Cup tie against Hamilton that ended 3-3 has prominently unnerved the defence. Two days ago, Hibernian were competing with Rangers until they conceded the opening goal, but then succumbed to a 3-0 defeat. The conservatism of the Ibrox side is never designed to be overbearing. At its heart stands the shrewd command of David Weir. The centre-back was Smith’s first signing when he returned to the club as manager in January 2007 and although it was considered a short-term move, Weir has proved an abiding presence. His list of partners is like a roll-call, including Karl Svensson, Ugo Ehiogu, Christian Dailly, Carlos Cuellar, Bougherra, McCulloch and Wilson, but Weir’s presence of mind and steady dependability has set the tone. “His experience helps the team and everybody around him,” Smith said during Weir’s first season at the club. “He has a calmness and an ability to know when to play and when to kick it into the terracing. Rangers didn’t look very solid before I brought him in, but as soon as he came they started to settle, regardless of who was playing alongside him. I don’t think that’s something we can claim to have done. It’s something he’s brought to the team.” The Rangers manager bridled a little when the defensive record was emphasised after the Hibs game, as though the inference was that the team is bland. He pointed to the run of six consecutive league wins during December, when the side scored 26 goals, but this spell was atypical and what characterises Rangers most clearly is the stringency of the back-line. It is a commendable quality, because it is born of pragmatism. At a time when Rangers have been unable to sign any new players for 18 months, Smith has resorted to organisation and self-discipline to maximise the qualities of his squad. There was dourness to the 4-5-1 formation that Rangers employed during their run to the 2008 Uefa Cup final, but even that was hard-headed, as Smith understood that the only way his side could compete was to be obstinate. By being solid and unyielding in defence, Rangers have built an opportunity to be successful this season. Interesting and pleasing statistic! Edited February 16, 2010 by OnlyOneAmoruso 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,182 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Thanks for posting that as I was meaning to bring the fella Wilson's name up... Seems to be quite a new guy at the Herald and, so far at least, has written quite well and objectively on the SPL. PS: Have probably missed something somewhere... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,182 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 PPS: Seems he used to write for the Sunday Times and is now freelance... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyOneAmoruso 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Yes, I've noticed his name a couple of times. This and the Matthew Lindsay match report yesterday indicate there are still a few fighting the good fight 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,447 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Yes, I've noticed his name a couple of times. This and the Matthew Lindsay match report yesterday indicate there are still a few fighting the good fight You do know they are part of '' THE ESTABLISHMENT '' 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Preston Burke 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Let's be honest; it means pretty much nothing considering how abysmal our defence was in Europe. However, the SPL is our bread and butter and we sure as hell know how to defend at that level 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyOneAmoruso 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Let's be honest; it means pretty much nothing considering how abysmal our defence was in Europe. However, the SPL is our bread and butter and we sure as hell know how to defend at that level I wouldn't say it means nothing although it is comparative to the standard of player we are playing against. It's nice to be the best at something, however skewed the statistics could be perceived. Still, the best defence in Britain has a nice ring to it 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangers Football Club 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 ALLY thrilled with Gers' current rearguard performances More... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 A decent article but I hate the way they also have to put a negative slant on it. He rightly points out we're the most accomplished attacking team too. So why focus on the "negative" of also being good defensively. It could be framed in a much better light. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyOneAmoruso 0 Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 One thing that struck me during that is that in December we played 6 games and we scored 26 of our 58 goals. That means that in the other 19 games we scored 32 goals. Crazy statistic! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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