minstral 5,375 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Rangers have to step up a gear I CAN'T see Rangers winning the title if they continue to perform the way they did on Tuesday night in the 3-3 draw with Dundee United at Ibrox. I know it, you know it and so does manager Walter Smith. After the game, I asked him if he could afford too many more points dropped and the wise one' suggested there was a long way to go and no one could be certain of the twists and turns ahead. He's right, but if the statistics of the last few years are anything to go by, Celtic won't be losing too many games and Rangers can't afford to either. Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it. The big problem, for me, is the weak backline, which can be got at. The keeper, Allan McGregor is living off last season's performances, because this campaign he's looked decidedly dodgy. The draw with a poor Aberdeen team, a defeat to St Mirren and two points dropped to United on Tuesday, has prompted midfielder Kevin Thomson to acknowledge the starting XI's inability to defend. There's a big test ahead this month with Kilmarnock, Motherwell, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Hearts on the horizon. Fifteen points on offer and their great rivals also have an extra fixture, away to Aalborg in the Champions League. Will that be an advantage to Rangers? The Ibrox outfit were three points clear of Celtic with four games played and an Old Firm win already in the bag at the end of August. Now, at the beginning of November, they find themselves trailing Celtic by two points after 11 games gone. Championship form? I don't think so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffbear 4,174 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 He's right We need a right back and a centre half to partner Bougherra Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie 205 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 t****** scumball. Unfortunately he's right though. Any points dropped at home even to Celtic in my opinion is a poor result Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandSuckMaster 1,775 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 The performance on Tuesday would have won a game 9 times out of 10. I read a Dundee United player in the paper today saying they played really well and that they should have won it. Utter pish, we were the best team by far, but did not get the breaks the performance merited. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvager 498 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 The performance on Tuesday would have won a game 9 times out of 10. I read a Dundee United player in the paper today saying they played really well and that they should have won it. Utter pish, we were the best team by far, but did not get the breaks the performance merited. WE did well in putting three past them, but our defending was atrocious. Gk, and the back four. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TannochsideBear 355 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 The draw with the poor Aberdeen team that was blatant cheating by a corrupt linesman. But Maguire uses his column to have another go at us, instead of asking these more important questions, or analysing why his beloved attack-minded hoops played a 7-3-0 formation last night at home. I do recall him slating our 4-5-1 last season and telling us his beloved hoops would never stoop to such tactics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,745 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 The draw with the poor Aberdeen team that was blatant cheating by a corrupt linesman. But Maguire uses his column to have another go at us, instead of asking these more important questions, or analysing why his beloved attack-minded hoops played a 7-3-0 formation last night at home. I do recall him slating our 4-5-1 last season and telling us his beloved hoops would never stoop to such tactics. most of the other journos and radio pundits dont have much time for him cause hes an arselicker of the highest order Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUDGIE52 9 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 He,s correct in what he,s saying ave been asking the same question have we got what it take????????? The dropped points could and may be should have been won, but the manks have been getting a lot of breaks off the refs,and thats not being paroniod they must surely dry up,they say things even themselves out so the law of averages must turn against them sometime. Watched the Dundee Utd. on RTV and to be honest a still cant believe we didnt win that one,we can win the league but time will tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarvelmarvel 795 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 He,s correct in what he,s saying ave been asking the same question have we got what it take????????? The dropped points could and may be should have been won, but the manks have been getting a lot of breaks off the refs,and thats not being paroniod they must surely dry up,they say things even themselves out so the law of averages must turn against them sometime. Watched the Dundee Utd. on RTV and to be honest a still cant believe we didnt win that one,we can win the league but time will tell. lets face it no league trophy back to sq.1 new manager and more rebuilding,we def need that flag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu 990 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 His opinion that the mhanks wont be losing many games there is one game they are going to lose is at Ibrox next month and i would put my lot on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Well done Peter Martin - you have just said what everyone knows already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carsons Dog 9,878 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 "Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it." So what about Saturdays evidence? 5-0 up at half time? Was that not killing someone off and keeping the back door bolted? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman 1,303 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Unfortunately, he could well be correct. Even beating them 4 times may not make up for the points we always drop against the poorer teams, which was the difference last season. The basic attitude to kill teams off and score as many goals as possible is rarely seen in our make up while they take pleasure in hammering the poorer teams. Sadly, I do not see them dropping more points to other teams than we tend to do, so it is up to the team to get the correct attitude every game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely 63 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Rangers have to step up a gear I CAN'T see Rangers winning the title if they continue to perform the way they did on Tuesday night in the 3-3 draw with Dundee United at Ibrox. I know it, you know it and so does manager Walter Smith. After the game, I asked him if he could afford too many more points dropped and the wise one' suggested there was a long way to go and no one could be certain of the twists and turns ahead. He's right, but if the statistics of the last few years are anything to go by, Celtic won't be losing too many games and Rangers can't afford to either. Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it. The big problem, for me, is the weak backline, which can be got at. The keeper, Allan McGregor is living off last season's performances, because this campaign he's looked decidedly dodgy. The draw with a poor Aberdeen team, a defeat to St Mirren and two points dropped to United on Tuesday, has prompted midfielder Kevin Thomson to acknowledge the starting XI's inability to defend. There's a big test ahead this month with Kilmarnock, Motherwell, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Hearts on the horizon. Fifteen points on offer and their great rivals also have an extra fixture, away to Aalborg in the Champions League. Will that be an advantage to Rangers? The Ibrox outfit were three points clear of Celtic with four games played and an Old Firm win already in the bag at the end of August. Now, at the beginning of November, they find themselves trailing Celtic by two points after 11 games gone. Championship form? I don't think so. He has a point. We can't afford to drop points anymore. I think first priority in January has to be a CB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluepeter 5,627 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Sad to say he's spot on with this article. Having said that, it's not rocket science, and any one of us could have written it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
radlord 24 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 You're always going to struggle with a keeper off form. Nervousness creeps into your defenders. First things first, get Alexander back in. He's done nothing wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 "Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it." So what about Saturdays evidence? 5-0 up at half time? Was that not killing someone off and keeping the back door bolted? What about the other matches where we have failed to - games that have seen us draw and even lose. Even when we don't kill teams off it puts us under a lot of pressure, especially when teams go ahead of draw level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carsons Dog 9,878 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Saturday proved we can do it - Martin is a shit stirrer and there's an underlying hatred of Rangers in everything he says and does. Walter doesn't need to take notice of anything he says. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StayWestFree 107 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 This was the same Peter Martin who said Rangers would get a doing off Celtic last time aye. The cunt knows nothing and after his Old Firm prediction i've not had the time of day for the prick. We don't need this clown telling us what we need and what we don't. Go back and read what he said about the first OF match of the season and how it'd turn out. Thats how much this cunt knows. Fuck all. Get Alexander back in goals. Steady the ship. Rack up the points. Simple. We actually played really well against Dundee Utd and its being blown out of proportion. Dundee Utd always give us a game. Give them some credit. We made the chances and our defense had a shoogly night. We didn't lose the title against Dundee Utd ay home on Tuesday. If the league comes down to being lost by 2 points, i'll be more upset at losing to St Mirren or the Aberdeen game where we got done out of 2 points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUEDIGNITY 34,078 Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 peter maguire is the same as his best pal stephen purcell an arse bandit, a couple of boaby suckers of the highest order. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dummiesoot 16,265 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 peter maguire is the same as his best pal stephen purcell an arse bandit, a couple of boaby suckers of the highest order. I didnae think you did subtlety BD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlippinEck 3,844 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 "Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it." So what about Saturdays evidence? 5-0 up at half time? Was that not killing someone off and keeping the back door bolted? What about the other matches where we have failed to - games that have seen us draw and even lose. Even when we don't kill teams off it puts us under a lot of pressure, especially when teams go ahead of draw level. Exactly, we let motherwell back in with a late goal at ibrox earlier in the season, we let killie go ahead, we never looked like scoring against st mirren until they were trying to hold on to their lead, and then we concede 3 goals to dundee utd, not to mention letting a poor aberdeen side back in the game... the warning signs have been there, yet we have come up with the goods against hibs, celtic, hearts... And to top it all off, if ever there was a team to play, more desperate to beat us at rugby park for the first time in god knows how long, we have them on sunday... celtic play motherwell at home, which we should assume will be maximum points, so we need to keep up the pressure and just keep winning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wronglypenalised 14 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Journalism shocker! say title challenger is struggling after a draw at home - the same team that has just went nigh on a calendar year with win after win! Said journo couldn't be a supporter of said teams rival could it??? I'll reserve my own opinion to be based on opinion of those who for one don't take every directive from Rome (which he obviously does due to his name change because he felt he would be discriminated against - where do they get this idea?) and second his opinions are aired on a radio station frequented by yahoos, wahoos and damn right sca-hoos! Hardly in the realms of objective scrutiny is he? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 "Walter's team need to learn to kill the opposition off, while still keeping the back door bolted. On the evidence of Tuesday's game they couldn't do it." So what about Saturdays evidence? 5-0 up at half time? Was that not killing someone off and keeping the back door bolted? And therein lies the problem. One minute we can do it, next we can't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andypendek Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Sometimes, a man must learn to lose before he learns how to win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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