pete 2,499 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 If the scoreline at Ibrox on Saturday suggested that the best of Rangers was to be found in the performances of the forwards, then Kris Boyd offered an opposing view. The result was, he asserted, based on less celebrated qualities, the ones that often go unseen in the commotion of a game but that explain Rangersââ?¬â?¢ recent rise in form. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re getting to people and closing them down better,ââ?¬Â said the striker. ââ?¬Å?Nacho [Novo] and DaMarcus [beasley] are getting the headlines, but it [should be] the people who are doing the dirty work, closing players down so that we donââ?¬â?¢t let teams settled.ââ?¬Â Rangers certainly performed with some urgency, Kenny Miller opening the scoring in just five minutes. It was the fifth consecutive home league game in which the Ibrox side have scored during the opening 10 minutes. Miller went on to upstage his fellow striker by scoring a second in a gravely one-sided 6-1 victory, while Boydââ?¬â?¢s solitary goal took him to 154 in the SPL, five short of Henrik Larssonââ?¬â?¢s tally. Boyd and Miller are forging an impressive partnership up front, and Rangers have now scored 15 goals in four leagues games, while conceding only two. ââ?¬Å?I enjoy playing with Kenny,ââ?¬Â said Boyd. ââ?¬Å?He creates chances. He gets on to things. People say he doesnââ?¬â?¢t score, but thatââ?¬â?¢s him into double figures.ââ?¬Â With games coming up against Hibernian at Easter Road, Dundee United at Ibrox, and Celtic at Parkhead, Walter Smith believes that the next two weeks will be significant in the title race. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢ve been doing okay for the last five or six weeks domestically,ââ?¬Â said Smith. ââ?¬Å?Your confidence can get badly affected by the Champions League if you donââ?¬â?¢t do well, but weââ?¬â?¢ve picked up in that respect. ââ?¬Å?The next three games will go a long way to seeing how the season pans out, theyââ?¬â?¢ll be a big test for the team. ââ?¬Å?Hibs are showing a terrific level of consistency, Dundee United as well, and even although we won at Tannadice during the week, you canââ?¬â?¢t take away the fact that theyââ?¬â?¢re showing consistency against all the other teams, which makes the games against Rangers and Celtic bigger than normal.ââ?¬Â The only downside for Rangers was the injury to Kevin Thomson, who sat on the turf in the 19th minute and rubbed his left leg disconsolately before being replaced by Lee McCulloch. The midfielderââ?¬â?¢s season has been disrupted by injury and he is unlikely to figure in the three forthcoming games that will be so significant. ââ?¬Å?Kevin has a calf injury,ââ?¬Â Smith added. ââ?¬Å?I would think he will be [out for the next two weeks at least]. Depending on the severity of the strain, you would think it would be a struggle for him.ââ?¬Â Boyd must be complimented himself for the work he has been doing recently, and that is coming from one of his biggest critics. He certainly has improved his all round game. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Agreed pete. Most improved player at brox IMO, and that is saying something considering he was a goalscoring phenom anyway. A few months ago a lot of people were saying that if Boyd did more than just score goals he would be playing with a top-half EPL team - I just hope that those teams havent been sniffing around because his performances of late have been of a very high standard - he has STILL been banging in the goals but his all-round play has been markedly improved. Vastly improved player 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 846 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Have to say us 3 (Pete, Craig and me) have probably been the most critical of Boyd (Cammy has also)....but if all 3 of us can see the improvements then its fair play to Boyd. I think he is maturing which is the main factor to improving his game. He is far from a world class player but he is certainly a better all round player. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 It was the fifth consecutive home league game in which the Ibrox side have scored during the opening 10 minutes Was it a period at the start of last season when we only scored once in the first half hour or something. An early goal can settle the nerves and set the tempo, demoralising the opposition. Another one Sunday would be ideal. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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