*****The Official Rangers v SL Benfica Thread*****

[RS4_wul 2,048]

BT still showing Benfica top.

 

3-3 away

 

2-2 at Ibrox 

[chris182 3,986]

10 minutes ago, qwerty said:

Will the rage and disappointment felt our players right now benefit and drive us on in the league campaign?

Hope so, biggest question mark for me on this team is mentality and game management. Not been an issue so far domestically.

[tm91 2,654]

It'd be ridiculous to be too angry about tonight - the only reason we're even at this point excelling in Europe and outplaying teams like Benfica is because of the job Gerrard has done. This is a Champions League level side who have spent over £100m. They're really good, even when off form.

That said, we've lost a 2 goal twice now, and the decision not to make subs was absolutely bizarre. Jorge Jesus changed the game when he made his and Benfica looked far more lively - and we tried to sit deep to compensate, even though we're at our best when pressing from the front.

Learning experience for all involved hopefully. Roofe's goal was sexy as fuck too.

[My Fathers Scarf 532]

5 minutes ago, James Rolle said:

Fucking gutted. Never thought we’d throw it away again. Deja vu. It hurt last time and again I cannot console myself. Away to bed. 

ffs. Dream about 3 year ago and you'll wake up in a better mood.

[shaka 734]

16 minutes ago, keithgersbear said:

Our record in Europe is superb. Delighted with the result against potentially a finalist. 

Yeah can't argue with that but it's just frustrating because we deserved so much more from both games against Benfica.  Hopefully the players learn from this that sometimes slowing things down isn't a bad thing and the management appreciate that a strategic sub is needed even if winning.

[Carnbroe Bear 57]

Question to ask ourselves.....If at the start of this group you were told you'd get 2 draws against Benfica, what would you have said...? I'm sure everyone of you would have grabbed that big time.

Irrespective, our performance against them wont go un-noticed by all the other big hitters in Europe who wont relish playing us.

Stay focussed, get right behind SG and the team and we'll get a home win against Liege and that's enough.

[They Gnu 8,078]

Just now, Laudrup1984 said:

Obviously not easy to admit and it's always easy to blame the defence but that's some pretty decent interplay from Benfica for their 2nd.

They’re a more than decent and the way they broke from defence was slick. 

[Hadron Collider 11,174]

2 minutes ago, Bears r us said:

They are a very good team mate, but left feeling like the first game, very frustrated. 

How a linesman could look straight across at that and not give a penalty is very poor.

Anyway I think a point from the next two games and we are through. 

Still feels like boot in the balls mate. Scunnered. I’ll get over it though. They are a very good team and so are we. 

[GaryMc 1,244]

Yeah move onto the next one. We're in a good place.

1 game at a time lads.

[Brian Fantana 23,089]

4 minutes ago, LegendofCoop said:

Can't disagree with any of that. Someone else made the point about Helander too. Him & Bassey in there and they wouldn't have had any space at the back. Kent was done.....so yeah, Barker would have been the obvious one to help stretch the game. Only SG will know why he didn't make changes! 

Barker?? for Kent? 

 

did your phone auto spell Barker in error?

 

[Rlm 214]

Yes disappointed at the end, but I would have took 5 goals against Benfica and unbeaten against poznan standard Galatasaray. Europe is nice bonus 

[Marco 542]

Seems we still have a few lingering issues from last season. It's just taken a quality side to expose them. 

[Howsitgoing 3,942]

Well said Stevie “it was a fair result” 

[wewillfollowrangers 8,980]

7 minutes ago, hawkfalcons said:

I love SG but that's twice we have dropped points against them and really think subs would have made a difference even if slowing game down and putting fresh legs on . but onwards and upwards we will qualify

What subs would have made a difference tonight? had Jack been fit then aye  i could see the point but who would you have taken off? and who would you have replaced them with?

 

[ZZed 3,415]

3 minutes ago, bluenoz said:

I don't just want to qualify, I want to win the group. Looks like we will need two wins to do that. 

Still, qualifying will also be a great feat.

Not many teams would want to play us in the last 32.

[stuart1994 762]

7 minutes ago, demise said:

Indeed. But still, a win out of 2 and we are through. We might be in a great form, but we cannot win every single game and not concede any goals at all. Looking at the bigger picture, Benfica are one hell of a team. 

I know mate I’m not total doom and gloom, realise how far we’ve came. 

[davis1986 959]

Disappointed to lose the two goals obviously but look at big picture we are top of the group. Gave as good as we got against on paper the best team in group. We are just getting greedy if your gutted with us dropping points twice. It’s still well in our hands to go through. One win and we have qualified. Outstanding start. Keep the heads held high 

[simplythebest 10,641]

3 minutes ago, The Godfather said:

Here we are arguing about not going through tonight when we have 2 more games to do it and the fenian bastards are already out and demanding a snakes head.

Perspective 

FTP

Always thought you and I were the negative bastards mate   
 

Astounding if people can’t have perspective on this 

[stuart1994 762]

Don’t get the Gerrard should have made a sub shout, don’t see who brings on tonight. 

[LegendofCoop 10,384]

1 minute ago, Brian Fantana said:

Barker?? for Kent? 

 

did your phone auto spell Barker in error?

 

 

I know it sounds daft, but we needed someone to stretch the game. Kent was done after 75 minutes. 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 44,823]

Loving Morelos tonight and though he didnt score he was in about chances more, not just doing the build up link play.

Needs a goal for that smile of his, but he did well.

[SIRB_72 1,672]

We bit shell shocked at that last 15 minutes. Not angry but I just can't believe they pulled back the same margain in the exact amount of time as the last game. After the first goal the manager really should have made a few changes to freshen us up.

On the positive for 75 minutes I thought we were excellent just controlled the game well and kept Benfica at arms length. 

As for the group we are in a superb position and I think we'll qualify next week. Standard winning against Lech is a good result on the face of it.

On to Falkirk!

[jamess 1,625]

I'm away to pour another big drink.  I'm happy.  The 'we should have won' mob needs to see we are 3/4 full rather than 1/4 empty and cheer up.

[Jimbeamjunior 15,838]

I dont even blame tav for the first goal (and this is coming from me lol) the benfica boy gets the running jump on tav who was well spent at that point, he loses the header, then a misshit shot falls to the other benfica boy who gets a break when it goes in off tav who follows the header in correctly incase it breaks his way

[RS4_wul 2,048]

Just now, stuart1994 said:

Don’t get the Gerrard should have made a sub shout, don’t see who brings on tonight. 

I was shouting it during the game, but fair comment. 

 

Twice we should have pumped them.

Maybe in the quarter/semi3finals