Bazza 21 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Celtc 3 vs. Rangers 2 27th Apr. 2008 FLUKES, FATALITIES AND FLAWED OFFICIATING You sensed after the first ten minutes that this game was going to have to be one the hard way. A blatant offside goal and a stonewall penalty turned down showed exactly what we were up against. All the more credit to Rangers for turning it around to lead two one. Unfortunately it wasn’t just the officiating that was against us as McDonald fluked one over Alexander just before half time to send us in level. The second half got no better though and we really looked up against it when Weir had to leave the field injured and was replaced by, of all people, Amdy Faye. Remember him? Yes he is still a Rangers player. With Weir off we didn’t look like ever getting a winner so it was a backs to the wall and defend it out. We didn’t look too bad at that though until, you got it, up steps the referee to give a penalty against a trip by Broadfoot, which was OUTSIDE the box. When the penalty was dispatched we never looked like getting back into the game that got more and more frustrating as shown by Whittaker in extra time when he lunged in on Nakamura and landed a red card. Probably the last thing we needed with losing Weir as well. The race really hots up now but it is still in our own hands it just adds a little more pressure to the run in. Today’s team: - Alexander: - Had no chance at all for the goals scored and wasn’t filled with confidence by the four in front of him either as Celtc all too easily got through them. Rmed Verdict: -7 Broadfoot: - Struggled with McGayday out wide and was slack in possession. Clumsy challenge on the ever-diving McDonald resulted in the “penalty†that sealed our fate. Rmed Verdict: - 4 Dailly: - Never looked comfortable from the word go and allowed Hellsink to get above him to head in McDonald for the “openerâ€. Not a centre back and it showed. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Weir: - The patched up defence looked a bit dodgy before hand but taking away his presence was a real body blow. Only consolation was his bravely taken goal. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Papac: - Strong tackling and looked the most composed of the back four. Pushed forward when he could and is looking good in the left back slot just now. Rmed Verdict: - 7 (MOTM Not a lot of choice but Papac got stuck in today.) Novo: - Lively and direct in the first half but tired in the second and became sloppy in possession. Was unlucky though with a rasping shot across the face of goal. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Bazza: - Captains first game back after a two game rest. Looked up for the game from the off with great pressing and support play. That disappeared in the second half and with it our threat on an attacking front. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Hemdani: - Hasn’t been the same player this end of the season. Like most though, started the game on a high but slowly faded away as time went on. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Davis: - Did a power of work in the engine room and passed the ball around well. Good delivery, for a change, from set pieces that led to the goals. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Whittaker: - Won headers and flick ons and was lively down the left flank. Needless second booking though only adds to our selection problems. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Cousin: - Used his big frame well and was a constant threat to the Celtc back line. Won headers and ran the channels to allow us an outlet. Took his goal well too. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Faye (On for Weir): - When you’ve got to midfielders in your back four, you know you’re in trouble. Rmed Verdict: - 4 Darcheville (On for Hemdani): - Not even sure if he got a touch on the ball as our fight dwindled without much of a stand Rmed Verdict: - 3 Smith: - Not easy when you lose your vital players. Tactics looked good early on as we really pressed high and went for it. His hands were tied late on though as the players faded. Rmed Verdict: - 6 A very frustrating afternoon saw us make life even harder for ourselves for the run in. Celtc now have the points on the board but we do still have the advantage and its an advantage that you know that Walter and the boys aren’t going to give up on very quickly at all. WATP Baz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Smith: - Not easy when you lose your vital players. Tactics looked good early on as we really pressed high and went for it. His hands were tied late on though as the players faded. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Walter has to get a 4 for me,we had the game at 2-1 but he had us sitting far to deep,as for his subs i don't know what he was thinking about with Faye, and with 10 minutes to go why not go for it and fling on Boyd! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_RFC87 762 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Walter's HT team tal kwas poor obviously, a 4 or 5 for me as well! Papac, played Mcdonald onside Btu done very well otherwise Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadaready 9,437 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I didn't like his decision making with Faye. IMO he could have move Hemdani back of Broadfoot in. Whittaker could have replaced Broadfoot and we could have switched in another MF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I didn't like his decision making with Faye. IMO he could have move Hemdani back of Broadfoot in. Whittaker could have replaced Broadfoot and we could have switched in another MF. Agreed! Broadfoot or Papac to CH and Whittaker to FB then Fleck at LM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadaready 9,437 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 I didn't like his decision making with Faye. IMO he could have move Hemdani back of Broadfoot in. Whittaker could have replaced Broadfoot and we could have switched in another MF. Agreed! Broadfoot or Papac to CH and Whittaker to FB then Fleck at LM. That would have made sense to me...bar Fleck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Celtc 3 vs. Rangers 2 27th Apr. 2008 FLUKES, FATALITIES AND FLAWED OFFICIATING You sensed after the first ten minutes that this game was going to have to be one the hard way. A blatant offside goal and a stonewall penalty turned down showed exactly what we were up against. All the more credit to Rangers for turning it around to lead two one. Unfortunately it wasn’t just the officiating that was against us as McDonald fluked one over Alexander just before half time to send us in level. The second half got no better though and we really looked up against it when Weir had to leave the field injured and was replaced by, of all people, Amdy Faye. Remember him? Yes he is still a Rangers player. With Weir off we didn’t look like ever getting a winner so it was a backs to the wall and defend it out. We didn’t look too bad at that though until, you got it, up steps the referee to give a penalty against a trip by Broadfoot, which was OUTSIDE the box. When the penalty was dispatched we never looked like getting back into the game that got more and more frustrating as shown by Whittaker in extra time when he lunged in on Nakamura and landed a red card. Probably the last thing we needed with losing Weir as well. The race really hots up now but it is still in our own hands it just adds a little more pressure to the run in. Today’s team: - Alexander: - Had no chance at all for the goals scored and wasn’t filled with confidence by the four in front of him either as Celtc all too easily got through them. Rmed Verdict: -7 Broadfoot: - Struggled with McGayday out wide and was slack in possession. Clumsy challenge on the ever-diving McDonald resulted in the “penalty†that sealed our fate. Rmed Verdict: - 4 Dailly: - Never looked comfortable from the word go and allowed Hellsink to get above him to head in McDonald for the “openerâ€. Not a centre back and it showed. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Weir: - The patched up defence looked a bit dodgy before hand but taking away his presence was a real body blow. Only consolation was his bravely taken goal. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Papac: - Strong tackling and looked the most composed of the back four. Pushed forward when he could and is looking good in the left back slot just now. Rmed Verdict: - 7 (MOTM Not a lot of choice but Papac got stuck in today.) Novo: - Lively and direct in the first half but tired in the second and became sloppy in possession. Was unlucky though with a rasping shot across the face of goal. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Bazza: - Captains first game back after a two game rest. Looked up for the game from the off with great pressing and support play. That disappeared in the second half and with it our threat on an attacking front. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Hemdani: - Hasn’t been the same player this end of the season. Like most though, started the game on a high but slowly faded away as time went on. Rmed Verdict: - 5 Davis: - Did a power of work in the engine room and passed the ball around well. Good delivery, for a change, from set pieces that led to the goals. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Whittaker: - Won headers and flick ons and was lively down the left flank. Needless second booking though only adds to our selection problems. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Cousin: - Used his big frame well and was a constant threat to the Celtc back line. Won headers and ran the channels to allow us an outlet. Took his goal well too. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Faye (On for Weir): - When you’ve got to midfielders in your back four, you know you’re in trouble. Rmed Verdict: - 4 Darcheville (On for Hemdani): - Not even sure if he got a touch on the ball as our fight dwindled without much of a stand Rmed Verdict: - 3 Smith: - Not easy when you lose your vital players. Tactics looked good early on as we really pressed high and went for it. His hands were tied late on though as the players faded. Rmed Verdict: - 6 A very frustrating afternoon saw us make life even harder for ourselves for the run in. Celtc now have the points on the board but we do still have the advantage and its an advantage that you know that Walter and the boys aren’t going to give up on very quickly at all. WATP Baz. Good report but think S Davis was a 5 and Whittaker for getting sent off a 4. (Otherwise a 5.) None of them stepped up when needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman 1,265 Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Smith: - Not easy when you lose your vital players. Tactics looked good early on as we really pressed high and went for it. His hands were tied late on though as the players faded. Rmed Verdict: - 6 Walter has to get a 4 for me,we had the game at 2-1 but he had us sitting far to deep,as for his subs i don't know what he was thinking about with Faye, and with 10 minutes to go why not go for it and fling on Boyd! I would agree that Walter got a few things wrong; He sacrificed a striking threat in Novo by deploying him as a defensive midfielder to stop McGeady because he cannot trust Broadoot to cope. Surely it would have been better to admit to his mistake in the last game and just drop Broadfoot and put Whittaker at right back(not that he is much better but he is a right back). He took off Hemdani who was ,I think, the only player hoding a poor midfield together, to put on JCD. But without Hemdani our midfield was like a sieve and we ended up playing even deeper with JCD and Cousin getting no service. The idea that Barry can play as a second striker is something that Walter is still persisting with despite all the evidence of the past. Barry plays that role for 10 to 15 minutes then reverts to playing all over the place and the striker ends up isolated as usual. Wrong selection and use of personnel once again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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