Poetry_In_Blue 1,043 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 From the Evening Times - loved the bit at the end about Hartson!! Ten reasons why Gers gained upper hand in the SPL title’s tug-of-war... by Matthew Lindsay 1 - Summer signings Madjid Bougherra: Many fans feared for Rangers when Player of the Year Carlos Cuellar went to Aston Villa in August. They need not have worried. Walter Smith unearthed a gem when he signed the unknown Algerian centre-half from Coca-Cola Championship club Charlton for just £2.5million. Bougherra has arguably been the club's outstanding player this term. Pedro Mendes: Smith finally admitted after his team's devastating Champions League exit to FBK Kaunas what Rangers fans had known for months - they seriously lacked a creative midfielder. Within days, he had secured Mendes from Portsmouth for £3m. Although his form fluctates, the former Champions League winner has often brought flair and imagination to his side's play. Steven Davis: The transfer of the Northern Ireland captain to Rangers from Fulham was hugely protracted. But it was worth the hassle. The midfielder has, at times, struggled out of position on the right flank. But he has been outstanding during the title run-in. Kenny Miller: The vast majority of Rangers fans didn't want the former Celtic striker to return to Ibrox last summer. Now those same fans love him. His form in front of goal may blow hot and cold, but he puts in a tireless shift every time he dons a Light Blue jersey and has struck up a potent partnership with Kris Boyd up front. 2 - Renaissance men Davie Weir: At 39, the former Falkirk, Hearts, Everton and Scotland man is not exactly one for the future. Many fans are decidedly cool on him because of his advancing years. His pace is at times lacking. But the centre-half has been immense for the club he supported as a boy. He started the most games as well - 36 to be exact. He has been a calming influence on the likes of Madjid Bougherra, Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Whittaker beside him. The logical choice to replace Barry Ferguson as captain, too. Nobody deserved to lift the trophy at Tannadice on Sunday more. Sasa Papac: When Smith returned as manager in 2007, Papac's days appeared numbered. Most of Paul Le Guen's signings - Jeremy Clement, Lionel Letizi and Filip Sebo - were quickly shipped out. However, the Bosnian centre-half slotted in at left-back for the injured Stevie Smith and has grown into the position. At times, he has been his team's best player. Always reliable defensively, he now offers plenty going forward too. 3 - Fringe benefits Neil Alexander: Would have been right to feel aggrieved when he dropped out of the team after an impressive three-match stint last year. However, he kept working in training and got his chance again when Allan McGregor was fined and suspended over Boozegate. Has kept five clean sheets in 10 games since returning to the first team to help the Gers reclaim the Scottish title. Maurice Edu: The young American spent most of the season kicking his heels in the stands while fans accused him of being a waste of money. The £2.5m signing, though, made the snipers eat their words when a spate of injuries and the suspension of Barry Ferguson gave him an extended run in the team. The 22-year-old is still raw, but his energy has made Rangers a far more competitive unit in recent weeks. Has retained his place since Ferguson returned to the fray. Christian Dailly: Another player who has copped a fair bit of flak from supporters -despite not kicking a ball. The veteran utility man has bided his time in the reserves all season, waiting for one of his team-mates to pick up an injury so he can get a game. Got the nod during the club's injury crisis last month. Despite a couple of understandably rusty displays, he has been a safe pair of hands at full-back and in midfield. Stevie Smith: Rumours abounded the young left-back, who made such an impression when he broke into the first team under former boss Alex McLeish would have to retire due to injury. Then he was all set to go to St Mirren on loan before red tape scuppered the move. But he grabbed his chance when it came and performed well at left midfield in six first team games, including the Old Firm win. Andrius Velicka: The Lithuanian hitman seemed set for a bright future with Rangers when he netted the winner in his side's opening league game against Falkirk. After that, though, he quickly dropped from view. Spent nearly six months on the sidelines. Came back in for the games against Falkirk and St. Mirren in April as a substitute. Then netted four in as many games. Similar to Kris Boyd, but appears to have a future. 4 - Old Firm dominance As the gap between the Old Firm clubs and their SPL rivals has narrowed in recent years so has the importance of the Glasgow derby. These days, picking up points on the road is of greater importance. However, Rangers have still received important lifts from their performances against their age-old city adversaries. In the four league games the Gers have played against the Hoops they have won two - the first one by a resounding 4-2 scoreline at Parkhead - drawn one and lost just one. Their final victory at Ibrox earlier this month proved absolutely crucial in the title race. 5 - Goal machine Despite having two gilt-edged chances to add to his Old Firm tally in games against Celtic at Ibrox this season, Kris Boyd is still waiting to score his second Old Firm goal. No matter. The striker's goals against every other club in the top flight have effectively sewn up the SPL title. Far and away the division's top scorer with 27 strikes to his name. Nearest challenger was Celtic's Scott McDonald with 16. Achieved this despite the controversy over his decision to quit Scotland. Unfazed by the club's bid to flog him to Birmingham in January. 6 - Top six results Rangers performed far better against the top six clubs in the SPL than Celtic did. In games against Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs, they only lost twice - to Hearts at Tynecastle back in November and to Celtic at Ibrox in December. Gordon Strachan's side, meanwhile, lost to the Gers twice as well as to Hibs and Aberdeen. In addition, Celtic slumped to costly draws with Dundee United twice, Hibs twice, Hearts twice and Rangers once. 7 - Surge after split Walter Smith's side produced the goods when it mattered most - during the closing stretch after the top six split. They doled out defeats to Hearts, Celtic, Aberdeen and then Dundee United. Their only blip was a controversial 1-1 draw with Hibs at Easter Road when they could have won by a barrowload if Nacho Novo - who netted the equaliser - had taken his chances. Celtic, on the other hand, lost to their Old Firm rivals and slumped to costly goalless draws with Hibs and then Hearts in their final two ties. 8 - Walter factor This has not been a straightforward season for Rangers on or off the park. It was ever thus. Walter has taken all the problems which have beset the club in the last nine months in his considerable stride. He dropped Allan McGregor early in the campaign after the keeper's form dipped. There was soon an improvement. He sent Kris Boyd home from training when he was unhappy with his top scorer's attitude ahead of the Co-op Insurance Cup Final. Boyd was soon back to his best. He acted decisively during the Boozegate scandal and fined and suspended McGregor and Barry Ferguson. The pair learned their lesson. He wasted no time in condemning Kyle Lafferty for his play-acting against Aberdeen 10 days ago. Nobody steps out of line and gets away with it. 9 - Financial fears Worrying rumours of Rangers' financial troubles - even the prospect of the Ibrox club going into administration - have abounded in the last nine months. Securing Champions League qualification, and the £10m windfall that comes with it, has undoubtedly been a motivating factor for the players at an institution with debts approaching £30m. 10 - Bottlers Rangers have not lacked critics this season. Every member of the squad was written off by former Celtic striker-turned-pundit John Hartson halfway through the season. The Welshman was squirming in his seat in the Setanta studio at Tannadice on Sunday as every visiting supporter taunted him. Hoops defender Gary Caldwell, too, questioned whether Rangers could handle the pressure of being top after his side lost the Old Firm game to be knocked off the top of the table. They answered him eloquently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie 205 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Excellent article Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the goal machine 7,813 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Spot on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmunro 0 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 The only non-biased paper. Great article Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross1873 1 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 good article. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BouncingBear 23 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Quality bit about Hartson, get it right up that fat baldy prick Champions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1993 101 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Spot On Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escobar 13,676 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great read Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Well put. Hartson Hartson whats the score Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaltersGotStyle 160 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great Article Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernLights 2,526 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 11. We are the people Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 21 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Quality wee read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluepeter9 5,167 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Excellent! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManchestGer 347 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great read! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueboy94 54 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_RFC87 761 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great read Agree with pretty much all of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allzo 91 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great article. Get it up you, Hartson! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamFyfe 1,438 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Very good post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy WATP 86 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Great Article Fuck you Hartson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulsterbear91 18 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Very nice read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwellrfc 6 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 great article, i like the wee bit about hartson at the end Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmRangers1 0 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Brilliant Read! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC999 0 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 GIRUY HARTSON! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadaready 9,437 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 How come they didn't mention Protestant Jesus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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