I’m not criticising Smith or Rangers for playing to their strengths. I’m speaking as a neutral who would like to see an entertaining game. It’s a great achievement for Smith but its brutal and ugly to watch. Rangers fans obviously have a different perspective.
Like Crowie says Fiornetina were poor as well and should have killed the game off with the possession they have. For me they deserved to go through because they at least tried to play with some sort of attacking intent. Thats not the way its works however.
The point about Italians playing this way for years is a red herring. If Fiorentina had won playing this way I’d be making the exact same points. Italian teams have played ugly boring football for years so I can’t feel too sorry for them when the shoe is on the other foot. They were out Italianed in effect.
I’ve no axe whatsoever to grind with Rangers but I’m calling the game as I saw it last night – a gutsy limited team playing horribly negative football beating another limited team who at least tried to play with some intent. If this stuff was served up week in and week out in Europe we’d all be watching badminton. When Italian teams and eastern European teams did this they were (rightly) castigated so why should Rangers be exempt?
Regarding Greece 2004 I’d make the same comments about their horrible win. Hell I’ll make the same comments if Ireland play this way under Trappatoni although I’d be a hypocrite and say that if we get to SA playing crap like last night I would be very happy. That’s with my neutral hat off
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For the record I think they will get beaten in the final. The Russians look to have a cutting edge that was sorely missing from last night’s game and for all the spirit and passion they’ve shown so far Ranger’s have ridden their luck.