Bazza 21 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Match Report: Stuttgart 1 vs. 1 Rangers Written by Bazza Saturday, 16 September 2009 Stuttgart 1:1 Rangers The music starts and every nerve end in the body stands to attention and you really know that the Champions League is back. Don't get me wrong, the build up and excitement has been flowing for several days but when that tune kicks in, it has an affect like no other as the blood flows a little faster, the Heart takes it's lead and starts pumping more furiously and the crescendo of noise and adrenalin just mounts to boiling point and you just know that emotions are going to be stretched to the limit in the next ninety minutes. Walters nerve ends would have been twitching more than anyone's as Rangers Captain and veteran of the cool head in tight spots was ruled out of what was going to be a very tough outing. Couple that with the inclusion of Thomson who had amassed only twenty nine minutes of competitive football in ten months and Walter was having to take chances straight from the off. So weir was to drop out leaving McCulloch to fill the defensive void, that left Thomson to come into defensive midfield and up top, Boyd was left on the bench to leave Miller as the lone front man with Naismith coming into the squad to offer creativity from midfield. The changes made showed from the very first minute as Rangers took a pummeling as big gaping holes appeared time after time in the center of the defense. Stuttgart capitalised on the Bears confusion and scored a simple goal as Papac stumbled on the halfway line. The rest of the first half was all about consolidation and looking for positives to bring into the rest of the game. Rangers got to half time just the one behind and after a few harsh words and a bit more positive play they took a grip of the match and started to create chances. As We came into the game, they looked more and more like a team trying to see the match out but Magic Bougherra had other ideas and with a typical rampaging run, he hauled the ball off the toes of comrade Rothen before drilling the Gers back into the match with a strike beyond the Stuttgart keeper. From then on in Rangers were on the back foot again as they came looking a late winner but it was Rangers who came closest to scoring as Davis flicked one off the outside of the post. A tremendous point gained at a very tricky venue and a big boost in confidence to the guys that they can compete on this stage. Bring on the Sevilla. RM’s verdict: McGregor – 7 Nervy early doors a the back of a very open defense but saved anything that came at him and grew in confidence with the rest of the team. Whittaker – 7 A constant source of support down the right flank to Rothen. A player we are fast becoming very reliant on. Bougherra – 8 Tried to cover too many positions in the early part of the game before letting others do what they did best and himself doing the same. And what a best he has!! Terrific run and superb strike to earn the Gers a point. McCulloch – 5 Really struggled to cope with the movement of the Stuttgart front men and didn't know where to go. Grew in confidence as the game went on. Papac – 5 Another who couldn't get to grips with the game quick enough and missed several tackles that allowed them in down the left. None more so than for the goal. Rothen – 9 Oozed class all night and showed the rest of our team how to keep and use a ball on nights like these. His set plays weren't perfect but the rest of his game was. Amazing energy levels too. Davis – 7 Tried desperately to support Miller and his engine never failed him. Could have won us the game with a shot off the post Thomson – 5 Through nothing more than lack of match fitness, he watched the early part of the game fly by him. He started to improve in the second half and by the end of the game he was looking more like the Thoson of old, digging into challenges and stomping out opposition moves. Mendes – 7 Captain for the night and tried desperately to motivate his players. Used the ball very efficiently and another who's experience proved vital. Naismith – 8 I really believe he's a star in the making. His determination together with his ability on the ball are enough to frighten many defenses. Unlucky not to make more of a self made chance as he tackled flicked the ball round as he got up and fired a shot off at goal. Miller – 7 Tried hard as always but looked like he was carrying a small injury. Endless running and effort from him. Subs – Novo – 3 A time wasting sub, no more, no less. Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, McCulloch, Bougherra, Papac, Naismith, Davis, Thomson, Mendes, Rothen, Miller (Novo 90) Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Beasley, Smith, Fleck, Little. Goals: Bougherra 77 Booked: Papac 70 Stuttgart: Lehmann, Trasch, Tasci, Delpierre, Boka, Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Khedira, Hleb (Gebhart 67), Cacau (Schieber 88), Pogrebniak. Subs: Ulreich, Boulahrouz, Marica, Celozzi, Kuzmanovic. Goals: Pogrebniak 18 Att: 51,000 Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the goal machine 7,824 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Agreed with the vast majority of your ratings. Good job though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I'm Glad Miller got the recognition in his thankless task he employed tonight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluepeter 5,627 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Good summary Bazza, a good point won Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
polar bear 0 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Match Report: Stuttgart 1 vs. 1 Rangers Written by Bazza Saturday, 16 September 2009 Stuttgart 1:1 Rangers The music starts and every nerve end in the body stands to attention and you really know that the Champions League is back. Don't get me wrong, the build up and excitement has been flowing for several days but when that tune kicks in, it has an affect like no other as the blood flows a little faster, the Heart takes it's lead and starts pumping more furiously and the crescendo of noise and adrenalin just mounts to boiling point and you just know that emotions are going to be stretched to the limit in the next ninety minutes. Walters nerve ends would have been twitching more than anyone's as Rangers Captain and veteran of the cool head in tight spots was ruled out of what was going to be a very tough outing. Couple that with the inclusion of Thomson who had amassed only twenty nine minutes of competitive football in ten months and Walter was having to take chances straight from the off. So weir was to drop out leaving McCulloch to fill the defensive void, that left Thomson to come into defensive midfield and up top, Boyd was left on the bench to leave Miller as the lone front man with Naismith coming into the squad to offer creativity from midfield. The changes made showed from the very first minute as Rangers took a pummeling as big gaping holes appeared time after time in the center of the defense. Stuttgart capitalised on the Bears confusion and scored a simple goal as Papac stumbled on the halfway line. The rest of the first half was all about consolidation and looking for positives to bring into the rest of the game. Rangers got to half time just the one behind and after a few harsh words and a bit more positive play they took a grip of the match and started to create chances. As We came into the game, they looked more and more like a team trying to see the match out but Magic Bougherra had other ideas and with a typical rampaging run, he hauled the ball off the toes of comrade Rothen before drilling the Gers back into the match with a strike beyond the Stuttgart keeper. From then on in Rangers were on the back foot again as they came looking a late winner but it was Rangers who came closest to scoring as Davis flicked one off the outside of the post. A tremendous point gained at a very tricky venue and a big boost in confidence to the guys that they can compete on this stage. Bring on the Sevilla. RM’s verdict: McGregor – 7 Nervy early doors a the back of a very open defense but saved anything that came at him and grew in confidence with the rest of the team. Whittaker – 7 A constant source of support down the right flank to Rothen. A player we are fast becoming very reliant on. Bougherra – 8 Tried to cover too many positions in the early part of the game before letting others do what they did best and himself doing the same. And what a best he has!! Terrific run and superb strike to earn the Gers a point. McCulloch – 5 Really struggled to cope with the movement of the Stuttgart front men and didn't know where to go. Grew in confidence as the game went on. Papac – 5 Another who couldn't get to grips with the game quick enough and missed several tackles that allowed them in down the left. None more so than for the goal. Rothen – 9 Oozed class all night and showed the rest of our team how to keep and use a ball on nights like these. His set plays weren't perfect but the rest of his game was. Amazing energy levels too. Davis – 7 Tried desperately to support Miller and his engine never failed him. Could have won us the game with a shot off the post Thomson – 5 Through nothing more than lack of match fitness, he watched the early part of the game fly by him. He started to improve in the second half and by the end of the game he was looking more like the Thoson of old, digging into challenges and stomping out opposition moves. Mendes – 7 Captain for the night and tried desperately to motivate his players. Used the ball very efficiently and another who's experience proved vital. Naismith – 8 I really believe he's a star in the making. His determination together with his ability on the ball are enough to frighten many defenses. Unlucky not to make more of a self made chance as he tackled flicked the ball round as he got up and fired a shot off at goal. Miller – 7 Tried hard as always but looked like he was carrying a small injury. Endless running and effort from him. Subs – Novo – 3 A time wasting sub, no more, no less. Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, McCulloch, Bougherra, Papac, Naismith, Davis, Thomson, Mendes, Rothen, Miller (Novo 90) Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Beasley, Smith, Fleck, Little. Goals: Bougherra 77 Booked: Papac 70 Stuttgart: Lehmann, Trasch, Tasci, Delpierre, Boka, Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Khedira, Hleb (Gebhart 67), Cacau (Schieber 88), Pogrebniak. Subs: Ulreich, Boulahrouz, Marica, Celozzi, Kuzmanovic. Goals: Pogrebniak 18 Att: 51,000 Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland) Never had a doubt about Naismith Bazza But Mendes 7 you have got to be jocking.While people are slating Big Lee,Mendes is actually the guy,that they have to be asking questions about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza 21 Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 Never had a doubt about Naismith Bazza But Mendes 7 you have got to be jocking.While people are slating Big Lee,Mendes is actually the guy,that they have to be asking questions about. Wish I was m8. Don't think I'm on that promise tonight though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulRFC1 115 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Match Report: Stuttgart 1 vs. 1 Rangers Written by Bazza Saturday, 16 September 2009 Stuttgart 1:1 Rangers The music starts and every nerve end in the body stands to attention and you really know that the Champions League is back. Don't get me wrong, the build up and excitement has been flowing for several days but when that tune kicks in, it has an affect like no other as the blood flows a little faster, the Heart takes it's lead and starts pumping more furiously and the crescendo of noise and adrenalin just mounts to boiling point and you just know that emotions are going to be stretched to the limit in the next ninety minutes. Walters nerve ends would have been twitching more than anyone's as Rangers Captain and veteran of the cool head in tight spots was ruled out of what was going to be a very tough outing. Couple that with the inclusion of Thomson who had amassed only twenty nine minutes of competitive football in ten months and Walter was having to take chances straight from the off. So weir was to drop out leaving McCulloch to fill the defensive void, that left Thomson to come into defensive midfield and up top, Boyd was left on the bench to leave Miller as the lone front man with Naismith coming into the squad to offer creativity from midfield. The changes made showed from the very first minute as Rangers took a pummeling as big gaping holes appeared time after time in the center of the defense. Stuttgart capitalised on the Bears confusion and scored a simple goal as Papac stumbled on the halfway line. The rest of the first half was all about consolidation and looking for positives to bring into the rest of the game. Rangers got to half time just the one behind and after a few harsh words and a bit more positive play they took a grip of the match and started to create chances. As We came into the game, they looked more and more like a team trying to see the match out but Magic Bougherra had other ideas and with a typical rampaging run, he hauled the ball off the toes of comrade Rothen before drilling the Gers back into the match with a strike beyond the Stuttgart keeper. From then on in Rangers were on the back foot again as they came looking a late winner but it was Rangers who came closest to scoring as Davis flicked one off the outside of the post. A tremendous point gained at a very tricky venue and a big boost in confidence to the guys that they can compete on this stage. Bring on the Sevilla. RM’s verdict: McGregor – 7 Nervy early doors a the back of a very open defense but saved anything that came at him and grew in confidence with the rest of the team. Whittaker – 7 A constant source of support down the right flank to Rothen. A player we are fast becoming very reliant on. Bougherra – 8 Tried to cover too many positions in the early part of the game before letting others do what they did best and himself doing the same. And what a best he has!! Terrific run and superb strike to earn the Gers a point. McCulloch – 5 Really struggled to cope with the movement of the Stuttgart front men and didn't know where to go. Grew in confidence as the game went on. Papac – 5 Another who couldn't get to grips with the game quick enough and missed several tackles that allowed them in down the left. None more so than for the goal. Rothen – 9 Oozed class all night and showed the rest of our team how to keep and use a ball on nights like these. His set plays weren't perfect but the rest of his game was. Amazing energy levels too. Davis – 7 Tried desperately to support Miller and his engine never failed him. Could have won us the game with a shot off the post Thomson – 5 Through nothing more than lack of match fitness, he watched the early part of the game fly by him. He started to improve in the second half and by the end of the game he was looking more like the Thoson of old, digging into challenges and stomping out opposition moves. Mendes – 7 Captain for the night and tried desperately to motivate his players. Used the ball very efficiently and another who's experience proved vital. Naismith – 8 I really believe he's a star in the making. His determination together with his ability on the ball are enough to frighten many defenses. Unlucky not to make more of a self made chance as he tackled flicked the ball round as he got up and fired a shot off at goal. Miller – 7 Tried hard as always but looked like he was carrying a small injury. Endless running and effort from him. Subs – Novo – 3 A time wasting sub, no more, no less. Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, McCulloch, Bougherra, Papac, Naismith, Davis, Thomson, Mendes, Rothen, Miller (Novo 90) Subs: Alexander, Boyd, Beasley, Smith, Fleck, Little. Goals: Bougherra 77 Booked: Papac 70 Stuttgart: Lehmann, Trasch, Tasci, Delpierre, Boka, Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Khedira, Hleb (Gebhart 67), Cacau (Schieber 88), Pogrebniak. Subs: Ulreich, Boulahrouz, Marica, Celozzi, Kuzmanovic. Goals: Pogrebniak 18 Att: 51,000 Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland) Agree with the player ratings ! almost the same as what i thought spot on Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis 277 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I'm Glad Miller got the recognition in his thankless task he employed tonight Agreed. Miller took on the hardest job in football and did what he was asked Well played Kenny son There are very few players who sacrifice so much for the team ethic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfc_no1fan 13 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Good report. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyboy86 0 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 might be petty, but where did you get the 51,000 attendance ? 1 stand is down, making it around 31,000 32,000 aprox Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancedeangers1 287 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Mendes should never be a 7, nor Davis. Mendes gave the ball away far too often and thats not acceptable for a midfielder. He just kept putting his team mates under pressure by wasting possession. Agree with most of the rest though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Great report, but Davis and Mendes both a 6 from me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasGers 96 Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Good stuff, I agree with most of the ratings, especially Whittaker who I thought had a very underrated performance Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
demise 3,581 Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I'm Glad Miller got the recognition in his thankless task he employed tonight Agreed. Miller took on the hardest job in football and did what he was asked Well played Kenny son There are very few players who sacrifice so much for the team ethic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOAT 30,449 Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Don't agree with your ratings at all. Mendes was awful, davis wasn't anything special, miller done heehaw, mcculloch was actually ok, Rothen was good but he certainly wasn't a 9, the best player on the park was Naismith. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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