second leg of Champions League qualifier
By: j | August 4th, 2008
Walter Smith leads the Rangers into the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Lithuania’s FBK Kaunas.
The first match was a dreadful affair for the Gers in which they were outplayed, in their own style of game at Ibrox. With little positive to take from that match, the course must be righted and fast. Since that match they additionally faced Liverpool is a ego wrenching 4-0 thrashing in front of the home fans and to say this squad is struggling to find its identity, is an understatement. Throw into the mix a tired team playing in a small venue with loyal home supporter, this makes for a very trying match.
Unfortunately hope in the form of Carlos Cuellar recovering from his calf injury has been dashed as Walter Smith explained, “He has no chance of playing.” He joins the busy in infirmary of Barry Ferguson, DaMarcus Beasley, Chris Burke and Steven Naismith who are also out of the match. Injury concerns for Kaunas are at ease as their lead-man, Ledesma is at full strength and his one-hundred per-cent fit.
Technically the marking on Linas Pilibaitis and Ledesma must be tighter and it would be nice if prior to the SPL campaign commencing, Ranger strikers prove they have some finishing abilities. It is quite clear that this squad isn’t playing at the same tempo of the early season success of last campaign. And amongst the problems of the lack of creative midfield play and deplorable finishing, the real concern was they are constantly being out-matched in the race for the ball. Poor technical issues is one matter, tactics another but when the “want and desire” of a player evaporates, teams collapse. This must change and the easiest way for this to be achieved is a little old-fashioned wrath of a coach and jobs being lost. Walter Smith is the man to do it and while things have been rough of late, he will right this ship starting tomorrow.
I will be updating today leading up until the match.
Category: Team News
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