The Lion roars Opinion on the current state of affairs at Ranges FC
One would be easily forgiven if they mistook the current Rangers side for their third division namesake, Berwick Rangers. As that is what the current Rangers side resembles. Never have I seen a Rangers side so tactically inept, never have I seen a Rangers side so short on quality.
Against Aberdeen on Saturday, Rangers were 2nd best in just about every department on the pitch. Aberdeen look a side inspired and completely dominated proceedings until a Lee Miller goal handed them the lead round about the 20 minute mark. From them onwards it seemed to be that Rangers had gained the upper hand in possession stakes at least but don’t be fooled, this is how Aberdeen have consistently operated against the Old Firm in the last few seasons, score an early goal, sit on it and hit on the break and credit must go to Aberdeen for implementing this strategy perfectly. Rangers started to dominate proceedings because Aberdeen let them, not for any other reason. Aberdeen were confident enough in their own ability that they would get the job done and get the job done they did.
Have you ever seen a Rangers team that lacked as much heart as the current crop of players? Over the last few days we have seen the likes of Lee McCulloch and Steven Davis that they feared a January fire sale, I wish they would concentrate on now, rather than a month or so away. The players are playing like they are heartbroken; they are playing like Rangers was their wife and left them. During the course of this season Rangers have constantly been second best to every ball and seemed to play with no passion, no emphasis and no rhythm. Have you ever seen a Rangers team so unable to pass a ball? Look at the likes of Hibernian and Dundee United, their squads were not assembled on very much money, yet they seem more tactically astute than the current Rangers squad.
We have players such as Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty and Steven Whittaker whom we spent roughly about £8 million between the 3; do you think that represents £8 million worth of talent? Whittaker has never been the best defensively and has been constantly exposed on several times this season. Kyle Lafferty has still to show any of the promise which he shows for Northern Ireland on regular occasions and questions remains why we signed so many strikers in the first place. Finally Steven Davis is far too inconsistent to be the star of a Rangers midfield but I guess this is what we are reduced to now, Fulham reserves.
Don’t get me started on Walter Smith and is weird and wonderful formations. He constantly plays players out of position, hence restricting their ability. Rangers have signed 1 player since last August, why does Walter Smith still not know his best 11? Why does he still not know his best 11? His team selection yesterday emphasised this fact. Rangers started the game against Aberdeen with Steven Naismith (Forward) in the centre of midfield and John Fleck (2nd forward) playing on the left of midfield with Lee McCulloch in a central role and Steven Davis on the right of midfield. One could argue that the entire Rangers midfield was playing out of position as McCulloch started his career as a centre forward and Steven Davis as a central midfielder so no wonder Rangers were diabolical.
Another thing that baffled me against Aberdeen was Walter Smith’s substitutions; he seems incapable of turning a game. I will agree that he got the decision right to bring on Miller for Lafferty but then again one could easily argue that Boyd and Miller must start every Rangers game, as they are the best strike partnership at the club. As for the other 2 substitutions they were astonishing to say the least, when Walter Smith decided to take McCulloch off and put Novo on, that meant Rangers had 1 proper midfielder on the park in Steven Davis whom was having a stinker. Kevin Thomson must still be in shock that he still did not make it on to the pitch when the rest of Rangers midfield was making Ali Dia look like a proper footballer. The substitution that was even more baffling was when Whittaker was taken off for Bougherra late on. Rangers did not revert to 3 at the back; Bougherra was simply drafted in at right back to replace Whittaker, a bit pointless to say the least when you are chasing a goal. As Rangers were constantly bypassing the midfield anyway, I felt that the right player to bring on this occasion would have been the young Andy Little in his proper position. However Walter Smith must of learnt this substitution from his time at Manchester United as I have seen Sir Alex Ferguson regularly bring on John O’Shea when Manchester United are chasing a goal.
What have Rangers become? On recent evidence Rangers have become a joke. They seem a side incapable of playing football, a side which was quite rightfully made a laughing stock of in Europe. There is very little quality in the side and if a January fire sale does come, I would not worry because the so called stars of the team perform to best of their potential about twice a season if we are lucky, Allan McGregor not included.
Where do Rangers go from here? If Walter Smith no longer has the heart to manage Rangers then he should step aside because the negativity is transmitting to the players. A term that seems to be being used regularly at Rangers these days is stagnation. Rangers can combat the stagnation if they bleed the youngsters like Fleck, Wilson, Wylde and Ness into the team in a more regular basis. Until then Rangers have no excuse, with the price tag that players currently at the club were bought for, Rangers should have no excuse for not beating anyone. Get to training!
