Smith discusses Europa League tactics

[the goal machine 7,989]

LIONEL MESSI dismissed it as anti-football. There were times when even Walter Smith himself wasn't very proud of the monster he had created.

But even though there were times when Rangers' long march on Manchester became something of a bore-athon for the rest of the watching world, it was at the same time a genuine masterclass in management.

In 2008, Smith took a mediocre group of players and moulded them into a fighting unit which was just about impenetrable and capable of punching way above its weight.

It was only when they arrived at their final destination that they were toppled, by an Andriy Arshaven-inspired Zenit St Peterburg.

Three years on, Smith and his gang will tonight attempt to set off on another incredible adventure into the final phases of the Europa League.

But this time around, the Ibrox manager intends to travel with just a little more style.

It's not that he's come all over all romantic in this his final few months at the helm. No, Smith remains a confirmed pragmatist.

His task tonight in the round of 32 clash with Sporting Lisbon is the same as it was when he knocked the Portuguese side out of the quarter finals last time out - to build himself a team with the parts he has available.

But, while the task remains the same, the parts have changed. Back then he had 24 senior pros from which to choose. But hardly any of them were forwards. As a result, the hit-or-miss Jean-Claude Darcheville became his go to man in a one-pronged attack.

Now his squad has been shorn to just 16 and more than a quarter of them - El Hadji Diouf, Steven Naismith, Vladimir Weiss, Kyle Lafferty and David Healy - are forward thinkers.

So it follows then that Smith must come up with something new.

He said: "You have to use the players you have in the best way you can. For us just now, we don't have a great deal of stability in our team.

"We have a situation where we've three players in on loan in January and we have to try to integrate them into the team. We have a whole different aspect of play because of the staff we have. So we might have to approach it in a different manner to what we did in the last campaign."

Back then the blueprint was simple enough. Draw 0-0 at home in the first leg then sneak through the second by snatching an away goal.

But Smith was talking yesterday of a change of emphasis.

He added: "We've lost a lot of players that gave us a capability of playing like that, plus giving us a little bit extra in the away matches where we were always able to soak up a bit of pressure and play on the counter attack.

"We have maybe lost a little bit of that aspect. We have different types of players. So we'll have to see if they can be used as successfully as the others.

"We will set out our stall to do what we think is the right thing on the evening and we'll see where we are. But, cer tainly, the di f ference in personnel is a factor in terms of the way we have to play."

Don't expect this change to be overly dramatic - this is still Smith's side after all so caution will still apply.

If anything, his 4-5-1 system will be tweaked rather than overhauled.

When asked if he was likely to adopt a more 'gung-ho' attitude to his tactics he smiled and said: "I don't know. I might change it to a 6-4-0 this time, as Craig Levein did with Scotland! We'll set out a team we think will best help us to progress in the game."

Tweaked

Central to the plan is likely to be Arsenal youngster Kyle Bartley, who made a hugely-impressive debut against Motherwell at the weekend.

In this 19-year-old, Smith may well have ident i f ied a solut ion to the problem which has been hanging over him ever since Lee McCulloch pulled up with ankle and knee injuries. At first view, Bartley appears to be a younger, bigger version of the man Smith places so much of his faith in.

But he l ac k s McCu l loch's experience. And that presents the manager with his biggest worry of all - even though he is coming up against a Sporting Lisbon side which has been malfunctioning badly.

Smith, though, believes Sporting's strongest suit is in the centre of midfield, where old boy Pedro Mendes is back pulling he strings.

And he said: "We've lost Lee from that area who arguably was our player of the year this year - he has been excellent all through the season.

"So both clubs are facing a difficult set of circumstances.

"Kyle can come in because I see enough in him to know we could play him. But one of the problems we have in midfield is losing Lee and maybe with the boys we have left there's not great experience there. That's a factor - in an area of the field where Sporting are strong we've a lack of experience.

"They have good players in that area, that's the crux of where they go and play. That's what we have to face, we have younger boys - Kyle is only 19 so is Jamie Ness.

"So we have a lack of experience that we didn't have before with experienced campaigners like Hemdani, Barry Ferguson. That's a bit of a challenge for the boys we have got."

But the challenge for the manager rema ins the same.

Can he for a second time design a European unit which is greater than the sum of its parts?

http://www.<No links to this website>/football/spl/2011/02/17/rangers-set-to-ditch-defensive-style-of-2008-and-open-up-in-bid-for-europa-league-glory-86908-22929091/

[RM Monitor And Standards Officer 112,813]

This thread will turn out to be a barrel of laughs

[DietofWorms 2,077]

Ahhh! It's good to see, that 3 years on The Record still doesny give any credit where it's due.

'Mediocre group of players'!?... Like... Allan McGregor, Davie Weir, Carlos Cuellar, Barry Ferguson, Steven Davis,J C Darcheville, Daniel Cousin.Fuck off.

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Good interview apart from this comment.

And he said: "We've lost Lee from that area who arguably was our player of the year this year - he has been excellent all through the season.

I stick up for Lee on here but player of the year ?

McCulloch will be missed but IMO that comment is way off the mark.

Will be good to take a couple of goals to Lisbon

[the goal machine 7,989]

Will probably line up with Davis, Ness and Bartley in the centre, Diouf and Weiss on the wings and Lafferty up-front. That's a reasonably offensive 451/433. Sporting are in a really tough period at the moment, if we get our attacking players running at their defence, I think we'll score a couple.

[MikeBlue 136]

Will probably line up with Davis, Ness and Bartley in the centre, Diouf and Weiss on the wings and Lafferty up-front. That's a reasonably offensive 451/433. Sporting are in a really tough period at the moment, if we get our attacking players running at their defence, I think we'll score a couple.

I'd go with this too, but suspect we'll see Edu instead for either Ness or Bartley

[LondonderryLoyal 2]

Bartley must start! I think, going from the interview, that Walter is pretty much saying he will too.

[skyehigh 2]

If we play with 2 up front and an attacking formation then we will destroy a very poor Sporting side , but as our manager does not know how you play like that , get ready for another desperate 90 mins of durge

[Adoniram 1,919]

Nothing like talking up your own players Walter.

[gunslinger 270]

Nothing like talking up your own players Walter.

he only says they lack experience.

[LondonderryLoyal 2]

he only says they lack experience.

Which is true to be fair..

[Govan Front Antz 15]

Only way to get experience is to play them!

I would go with the Ness Davis and bartley midfield, with Diouf and Weiss on the wings.

Upfront i think naismith if not injured or lafferty. If its naismith I would rotate Diouf and naismith from time to time to make it hard for defenders.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

he only says they lack experience.

Question: And why don't they have the experience?

Answer: Because the guy saying they don't have the experience is the same guy who won't play them and thus give them the experience!!

Aye....very good Wattie.

[gunslinger 270]

Question: And why don't they have the experience?

Answer: Because the guy saying they don't have the experience is the same guy who won't play them and thus give them the experience!!

Aye....very good Wattie.

no your not reading it.

hes talking about experience compared to hamdani and ferguson. hes also mentioning bartley.

your hatred of smith is blinding you.

its a younger team is all he is saying.

[gunslinger 270]

Which is true to be fair..

indeed.

i also doubt the players have many problems with walter.

i dont think i have ever seen one say anything but great things about him. even oneshe rarely if ever played.

though no doubt his bashers have somethinf squirreled away along these lines.

[LondonderryLoyal 2]

indeed.

i also doubt the players have many problems with walter.

i dont think i have ever seen one say anything but great things about him. even oneshe rarely if ever played.

though no doubt his bashers have somethinf squirreled away along these lines.

Aye anno mate. The Walter bashing's getting beyond a joke. Next time you're ready to have a pop at him, pause for a moment and just recall how many trophies the man has brought to Ibrox.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

no your not reading it.

hes talking about experience compared to hamdani and ferguson. hes also mentioning bartley.

your hatred of smith is blinding you.

its a younger team is all he is saying.

No - you're not getting my meaning either.

In October 1970 (yes, I was there) a young 16-year-old Rangers player was thrown in at the deep end in the League Cup Final against 'THEM' - a fairy tale - he scored the only goal of the game.

He was seldom out of the team from then on.

Two-years later this same 'centre forward' was thrown in at the deep end again as centre-half in the CWC Final in Barcelona - he was 18-years old by then. (Edited - Oops!)

He went on to become a Rangers legend and in recent years became a local radio station's 'tame Prod' (but that's another story).

My point is valid - these 'youngsters' (all of whom are older than the guy described above) will NEVER get the required experience because this manager doesn't give them that.

[Broxi 12,202]

Aye anno mate. The Walter bashing's getting beyond a joke. Next time you're ready to have a pop at him, pause for a moment and just recall how many trophies the man has brought to Ibrox.

With no money and a squad the size of samaras' dick

[LondonderryLoyal 2]

But we'll most likely see Bartley tonight, Ness too perhaps. Jamie started the last Old Firm game as well. Smith's making the point that they lack experience in Europe - they do!!!

[gunslinger 270]

No - you're not getting my meaning either.

In October 1971 (yes, I was there) a young 16-year-old Rangers player was thrown in at the deep end in the League Cup Final against 'THEM' - a fairy tale - he scored the only goal of the game.

He was seldom out of the team from then on.

One-year later this same 'centre forward' was thrown in at the deep end again as centre-half in the CWC Final in Barcelona - he was 17-years old by then. (Edited)

He went on to become a Rangers legend and in recent years became a local radio station's 'tame Prod' (but that's another story).

My point is valid - these 'youngsters' (all of whom are older than the guy described above) will NEVER get the required experience because this manager doesn't give them that.

but thats just nonsense.

wilson

bartley

weiss

ness

hutton

fleck

cole

those and many others just disprove it.

tonight we will see at least 2 yongsters playing and the same on sunday.

i had to laugh earlier in the season we were playing a game and the compntator was praising the opposition for having two 20 year olds and a 21 year old in the team. at the same time rangers had two 19 year olds and a 21 year old playing.

[LondonderryLoyal 2]

With no money and a squad the size of samaras' dick

'zach lee

Certainly second time around anyroad. He had money first time, and boy did he make use of it. 7 league titles in a row, out of a total of nine, for starters. But sure he cannae manage for shit

[caseyjones 3,009]

Experience is much overrated. Ability should be the first criteria for inclusion.

[caseyjones 3,009]

With no money and a squad the size of samaras' dick

This small squad shite is getting tedious now.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

but thats just nonsense.

wilson

bartley

weiss

ness

hutton

fleck

cole

those and many others just disprove it.

tonight we will see at least 2 yongsters playing and the same on sunday.

i had to laugh earlier in the season we were playing a game and the compntator was praising the opposition for having two 20 year olds and a 21 year old in the team. at the same time rangers had two 19 year olds and a 21 year old playing.

wilson (used sparingly - now gone)

bartley (c'mon - one game and you're counting him?)

weiss (used sparingly - end of season - he's gone)

ness (a possible star turn if Smith plays him often enough - and that's a BIG if)

hutton (used sparingly - time will tell)

fleck (has had more chances than the others - but not in his best position)

cole (aye, right - you're grasping at straws now)

The youngsters listed are appearing now because of financial straits - not because Smith has this urge to introduce youth. This isn't about this season or last - this is an ongoing trend with Smith.

He fears losing more than he desires winning and thus, always plays the safe option.

With him that's the Davie Weir's of this world. (No offence to big Davie intended)

[Adoniram 1,919]

I just compare his comments to someone like Fergie who would play down the experience angle and talk about the boys abilities and the talents he will bring to the team.

Something along the lines of "yes he's not played much at this level but he's at Manchester United for a reason.No fears over his ability to handle the occasion etc etc.

This constant reliance on McCulloch as if he is Zidane is what annoys me.

We didn't miss him against Motherwell and we sure as hell won't miss him against Sporting.

After all Walter is that not why you said you would be moving Davis in to a more central role as he had the experience.

That being the case he will be beside Bartley talking him through the game and passing on any instructions from the coaching staff.