***Pre-Game Analysis*** Rangers versus Sporting Lisbon

[nvager 498]

Rangers versus sporting Lisbon on Thursday, February 17, 2011. Kick-off 8:05 PM.

Are we on our way to Dublin? This could be and just like Manchester with Sporting Lisbon again in our way.

Can we win? Of course we can, but we will have to do it without Jelavic our best striker who is ineligible.

What does Walter do both formation wise and personnel wise? He may stick to his 5 at the back formation with Bartley staying back and with one striker up front. This is most likely. Bartley can flit into defence when we are defending and into midfield when we attack.

The remainder of the team is then just filling in the midfield and the lone striker.

Midfield: Most likely to feature Davis, Diouf, Edu, Ness/Weiss.

Striker probably between Naismith and Lafferty.

The team then may well be McGregor, Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Bartley, Papac, Diouf, Davis, Edu, Ness/Weiss and Naismith/Lafferty.

I expect to see all these players on the pitch at some point as well as Healy.

Sporting came away with a draw at Ibrox last time and this too will be a close game. I would prefer that we play with 2 up front at home, but I just cannot see Walter Smith doing this.

I just hope we are not too cautious and that we back off in midfield and let them dictate play. We must press them. Far better to attack than defend. It would be nice to take a good lead to Portugal, but who is going to step up and score goals? My bet is Lafferty. He needs to come good soon and Thursday is as good a day to start as any. Walter however may start with Naismith up front.

This game will be decided in midfield and we must dictate there. We must play an up tempo game. If not we will see Pedro Mendes conducting a lesson in midfield play all night and we will be chasing shadows. It is a good thing we have brought Diouf aboard as he will help us to retain possession. He also has a very good influence on others especially Weiss.

Sporting Lisbon have been a good omen in Europe as we have always done well in any tournament when we have played them. I think and hope that this trend will continue. I look forward to Thursday night with the hope that we play an attacking brand of football even with 5 defenders in front of thegoalkeeper.

I am optimistic and predict Rangers 2-0 Sporting Lisbon, in a good tune up for Sunday.

[MartinGers93 388]

Well according to the Rangers website Bartley is set to play in midfield again I believe so I will go for

:mcgregor:

:whittaker: :bougherra: :weir: :papac:

:diouf: :davis: :bartley: :ness: :weiss:

We are more than capable of beating this team home and away.

[DrFunke 401]

Lisbon have been rather poor this season ive heard.. gutted niko cant play, but i still insist that our best 11 players are good enough to give anyone a game.. we have a better first team than the one that got to manchester. lets hope the depth doesnt hinder us

come on rangers. this ones for the fans

[TexasGers 96]

An optimistic score line there, I think it'll be one goal either way to decide it. Not having Jelavic really hurts but as long as the midfield can dictate tempo I think we should be okay

[TOBL 1]

Well according to the Rangers website Bartley is set to play in midfield again I believe so I will go for

:mcgregor:

:whittaker: :bougherra: :weir: :papac:

:diouf: :davis: :bartley: :ness: :weiss:

We are more than capable of beating this team home and away.

swap ness for edu and that will probably be walters team

[MartinGers93 388]

swap ness for edu and that will probably be walters team

Probably but I would rather have Ness. Much better on the ball

[Irwin Sparkes 97]

I will be fucking gutted if we play 5 at the back in the Europa League

Hoping for a team of:

McGregor

Whittaker Bougherra Weir Papac

Weiss Davis Bartley Edu Diouf

Naismith

[BILL.I.AM 18]

Walter Smith in Europe? 0-0

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I just cant see Walter playing both Diof and Weiss in the same team in Europe (or against them away) as he likes to keep it tight.

So I think starting 11 will be:

McGregor

Whittaker Bougherra Weir Papac

Naismith Davis Bartley Edu (perhaps Ness)

Diouf

Lafferty

Doiuf still to have a slightly free role (but mainly on left) and When Lafferty tires we have Healey to come on and Weiss for Naismith.

[Ozblue 4,332]

I will be fucking gutted if we play 5 at the back in the Europa League

Hoping for a team of:

McGregor

Whittaker Bougherra Weir Papac

Weiss Davis Bartley Edu Diouf

Naismith

I hate to say this,Irwin, but prepare to be gutted

[MasterD 7,457]

If we can play like we did against Valencia then we can beat them no bother, most important thing is probably to keep a clean sheet as an away goal for them could be valuable

[Escobar 13,676]

I'm predicting a draw.

[WaltersGotStyle 178]

If we can play like we did against Valencia then we can beat them no bother, most important thing is probably to keep a clean sheet as an away goal for them could be valuable

I'v not seen us match that performance all season...