Falkirk match preview
By: j | August 8th, 2008I have to admit this is a peculiar match preview given the circumstances leading up to the opening of the SPL campaign. Typically I would be going through the general opening grid and matching squads up as well as looking at recent form but that would clearly be the wrong road to go down with the events surrounding the Ger’s.
If I was to look through the general roster, while I think Falkirk manager John Hughes has put together a fine squad of some very good home-grown talent, they fall short man-for-man against the Rangers. Unfortunately the notion of “man-for-man” is of little importance in a sport where “team” still defines performance. And while you’re likely thinking, it took me only a few lines before my curmudgeonly old coaching identity was revealed, the Rangers have shown to be anything but a team. Truthfully John Hughes knows that the Rangers slide is ripe to continue if he can only twist the screw just a little.
As of this moment the possible fire-sale of players is a deep rumbling in the club and whether anything happens or not, the cagey Walter Smith knows he must use it to his advantage. Feel good sentiments and giving the old camp-fire pick-me-up talk will do nothing. This is professional sport where the slightest action creates a series of events. Obviously there is dead weight on the team and a wake-up call is in-order. Using the “fire-sale” as shot across the bow is a splendid warning for veteran players and will be remembered for years. I can tell you right now that on paper this is a very fine club but “on-paper” does little when you lose to clubs far below you on the pecking-order, not to mention you allow yourself to be humiliated at home as they were when Liverpool made the journey to Ibrox this past week.
The tactical and psychological play of this match has the potential to be sheer brilliance and let me say my friends, you’ll want to sit down and watch this one very closely. This is a classic moment in every coaches life, facing a superior opponent who fears its own shadow now. The crowd-pleasing interviews that have been given by Rangers staff and players day or two is just hollow male bravado because if had this much nerve, this entire situation would have never happened. If played right, Falkirk can slit the hopes of Rangers and send them for a further tumble. Falkirk has a superb passing game and in August, the pitch will be as smooth as silk. They will need to control play and frustrate the ‘Gers. Flanking maneuvers and making Rangers increase their work-rate early will have a major impact upon the match. John Hughes will be emphasizing tough tackling and a let me tell you, his veteran defenders know, there might be a morsel or two extra of physical play.
On the other-end of the table Walter Smith as a perplexing problem. He knows his squad and while he can’t do anything rash, he sure as heck better sound the war drums or they’ll dig themselves into a deep hole early in the campaign. The Rangers will be without a few key players but that needs to be presented to the media and the team with the idea that all systems are go and every spot in the lineup must be won. That is certainly a tough road to go down but as a leader, it is one you need to. Rangers will know and understand Falkirks tactical approach tomorrow and they’ve got to raise the hair on the back of their necks a bit and start the match with hard tackling and some Rangers Football. Let Falkirk know, Champions do one thing better than anyone; they get back off the canvass.
Therefore in summary, as I started to mention this is a peculiar preview because in-truth, what I’ve told you is in about twelve hours there’s a great match you don’t want to miss in Falkirk. If you’re in beautiful Scotland, get to Falkirk Stadium and support this great league of yours.
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Rangers (from): McGregor, Broadfoot, Bougherra, Papac, Whittaker, McCulloch, Dailly, Thomson, Adam, Hemdani, Alexander, Darcheville, Lafferty, Velicka, Boyd, Webster, Furman, McMillan, Fleck, Miller.
Falkirk (from): Olejnik, Barclay, McNamara, Scobbie, Barr, Bullen, Aafjes, McCaffrey, McBride, Cregg, Arfield, Latapy, O’Brien, McCann, Finnigan, Higdon, Barrett, J Stewart.
Category: Team News
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