ian1964 10,720 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Football too easily lends itself to hysterical judgment. It hasn't taken long for Rangers' 1-0 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox on Wednesday night to be decreed a ââ?¬Å?calamityââ?¬Â and a ââ?¬Å?disasterââ?¬Â, with every claim ranging from calls for Walter Smith's head to the permanent dumping of Kris Boyd being made. Rangers, a club with every chance of winning the 2009 title, are said to be at a low ebb. Caley Thistle's victory was certainly a setback for Smith's side but too much is already being read into the result. The chase for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, at both Celtic Park and Ibrox, is going to endure quite a few more such moments as Wednesday night, so it seems silly to sound off emphatically about the harm that Terry Butcher's men have done to Rangers. Come early April, let's just see how many more random glitches have been added to the plot. Rangers were poor on Wednesday but they weren't ââ?¬Å?disgracefulââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?shockingââ?¬Â as some hot-headed supporters around the pressbox were claiming. Caley Thistle, in truth, were extremely lucky to win and, as stonewall a penalty as David Weir's late challenge on David Proctor was, Butcher's team had hardly been within 30 yards of Allan McGregor's goal. The fact that Rangers revealed some obvious flaws cannot conceal the fact that they were blatantly robbed at the death. Those who rant and rave at Smith's renowned caution may also pause to consider some of the aspects of Rangers' failings on the night. John Fleck, whom you could almost be forgiven for thinking was a new, young Diego Maradona in our midst, given some of his press coverage, played poorly, losing possession easily or running up blind alleys with the ball. A few Ibrox diehards were yelling for Fleck to be taken off long before he was on Wednesday, and it should serve again to warn those who already have this young footballer's mesmerising career mapped out ahead of him. Related Links * Fans turn on sorry Rangers * Someone is letting Rangers down These games happen every so often. Before Wednesday night Rangers had been running into some decent form - unlike Celtic - and their defence had begun to look stingy in the extreme. Right now, one match cannot be said to have undone all of that, and talk of the wheels coming off Rangers' title challenge is simply absurd. What you do need if you are a Rangers supporter today, given some of the players at the club, is a well of compassion and patience which are normally alien to football supporters. In their different ways Boyd, Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu all have the ability to infuriate. Davis, in particular, is neat and tidy, but for a Ã?£4million player should probably have more severe weapons in his arsenal. In Edu's case, it is still too early to judge, though some remain faintly amazed that Rangers paid an alleged Ã?£2.6million for the player. In terms of such a price, is Edu a Filip Sebo - all Ã?£1.8million of him - all over again? The most infuriating Rangers player of all remains Boyd: what a goalscorer and what a plodder. When Boyd, in the opening moments against Caley Thistle, was given time and space in the old inside-left channel in the penalty area, but then over-ran the ball, Ibrox let out a knowing groan. The striker will forever have his limitations, and when he is enduring one of his leaner scoring spells, such as now, they will always be held against him. Some of Britain's greatest goalscorers have also been average footballers, but their goals were all that mattered. That truth is something that Boyd is going to have to live with. In the weeks and months ahead Rangers have still to go to Celtic Park, Tannadice, Tynecastle, Easter Road and many another testing ground. As the noose tightens in the SPL race, Celtic face an equal gamut of hazardous trips. If last season's dramatic closing weeks taught us anything, it surely is that early March is no time to be making weighty pronouncements about the title race. It seems inconceivable that both halves of the Old Firm do not have stumbles and failures remaining within them. Smith looked a mite world-weary as he faced the media after Wednesday's humbling defeat. Ibrox had just been on his back, and for a brief moment he resembled the same Smith who bore the pressure somewhat less well in his first innings with Rangers back in the 1990s. But the 60-year-old Ibrox manager has seen it all, and will not be joining those who have started writing the club's 2008-09 obituary. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5854044.ece 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I would just like to know from Walter if he thinks his signings have done well and worth what he paid for them or why he paid big bucks for so called ââ?¬Ë?potentialââ?¬â?¢ when we all knew (especially SDM and Walter surely?) we needed experienced ones and didn't have much money to spend esspecially on potential? Why he hasn't even given some of his signings a fair chance when he persists with others who are not playing well. Why he keeps playing players out of position every game. Why he keeps bringing players in from the cold quite frequently and we can see they are not match fit and drop others right out of the picture. Why he keeps playing the same boring formation even at home against lesser teams. Why he sits in the stand most of the game and remains so relaxed when we are playing so bad. We should be beating the likes of ICT at home and OK these things do happen but the fact that we were not really surprised when it did happen says it all for me. I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t say someone earning a fortune such as he is, is under pressure, I wish I had that kind of pressure!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CammyF 7,982 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 In the weeks and months ahead Rangers have still to go to Celtic Park, Tannadice, Tynecastle, Easter Road and many another testing ground. Does the discredited journalist know something that we don't :devil: Cammy F 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Does the discredited journalist know something that we don't :devil: Cammy F well he's not the best at his job is he 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Does the discredited journalist know something that we don't :devil: Cammy F Now you're just being picky. Leave the poor man alone ffs, he's doing the best he can. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gers4Life 0 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 We waited 4 months to get back on top and we all but lasted 10 days, of course we should be shouting from the rooftops after all what rangers served up on wednesday night was shocking and completely clueless brand of football, and im still raging!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 We waited 4 months to get back on top and we all but lasted 10 days, of course we should be shouting from the rooftops after all what rangers served up on wednesday night was shocking and completely clueless brand of football, and im still raging!!! Apparently you can rage all you like as long as you don't criticise the club, the team, the management, the directors or the owner. As far as I can remember, the groundstaff have no such immunity so you might have a go at them if that helps...... but no booing, that seems to be unacceptable at all levels. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gers4Life 0 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 As soon as the penalty kick hit the back of the net i was up and away, by the time i reached the copland road i heard the booing but did not participate in such... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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