Firstly, may I offer apologies to those who take the time to browse my blog for the lack of activity over the past few weeks, but my internet connection has been down and I’ve had a hell of a rime trying to get it back up and running. Don’t get me started on Virgin Media. Although, amidst my offline purgatory, imagine my delight when I see the architect of all my troubles, Richard ‘Bee Gee’ Branson, crashing into a wall and ripping the arse clean out his trousers while attempting to bungee off a hotel for some publicity stunt. That’s Karma for you, Richard.
Anyway, back to the football. It’s been an astonishing few weeks for the Scottish game but I feel nothing I say regarding the national side will enlighten anybody so let’s just say it’s going to be a cracker at Hampden against the Italians and it seems the whole nation can’t wait.
On the domestic front, the league is shaping up nicely and Rangers’ 3-0 steamrolling of an impotent Celtic side last weekend must have left Hoops fans disgusted. Their lack of invention allied to an unforgivable lack of fight poses a number of questions, and I don’t think Rangers will have as easy an Old Firm win for a long time.
Strachan’s big names are not performing when it matters. Nakamura, Donatti, Hesselink and Brown have, for me, been largely disappointing. I know it seems odd to be writing this when Celtic sit top of the league, but I suspect there’s a lack of confidence at Parkhead at the moment. Whereas, over in Govan, Rangers seem to be growing as a team and look capable of going on a decent run.
I think the run-up to Christmas will prove decisive in the outcome of the league this year. Celtic, as they have shown in recent years, may respond to the Old Firm and Euro defeat in the best way possible and go five games unbeaten. Rangers, conversely, have been known to follow up great Euro nights with lacklustre domestic form. Only time will tell. However, on current form and confidence, I stick to my original prediction that Rangers will win the league.
Random Irritations:
The absence of Derek Riordan in the Scottish game, particularly when it’s patently obvious he is good enough to be involved at Parkhead.
The refusal of the Scottish press to pursue Strachan on this matter.
Mark Hateley’s inane and embarrassingly partisan column in the Daily Record.
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4 comments:
I think Naka is now suffering the effects of summer football in 2006 at the World Cup and 2007 in the Asian Cup. Donati, I'm prepared to give a bit more time to but I am worried about JVoH as his injuries seem to be getting more frequent.
As for Scott Brown, as long as he plays in the middle he does well. I think the problem at Ibrox was that he was played almost up front. With Naka, Donati, Jarosik and Sno in the midfield behind him God only knows who Gordon planned on winning the ball in there.
It is always tough to preview a weekend's action but what happened against Dundee Utd? Could it be Rangers will win all Old Firm games but miss out on the league title?
Martino - that's a fair point about Nakamura. I also agee with you about Brown through the middle. I find some of Strachan's tactics baffling, particularly his refusal to play Riordan. Some of Walter's are beginning to irritate me also (see below).
Ginkers - I think Dundee Utd were simply more up for it on Sunday and in fairness they looked a decent team. Rangers do not play 4-5-1 effectively in the SPL as the middle of the park is far too crowded. It worked well against Celtic because it was a 4-3-3 when it needed to be, with Novo and McCulloch giving width. On Sunday we had Ferguson, Faye and Thompson all competing in the middle which doesn't give options elsewhere.
I think we'll see a return to 4-4-2 soon.
And Amdy Faye looks awful. He's up there with Evander Sno!
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