Cascarino: Sevilla Too Hot for Goal Shy Rangers
Rangers have been a bit indifferent this season and they face a really tough challenge in the shape of Spanish outfit Sevilla tonight. I’m afraid I don’t see Walter Smith’s side getting out of the group stage despite a very creditable draw over in Stuttgart.
The problem for Rangers is they will struggle for goals in this group and they certainly won’t beat Sevilla although a draw is a possibility. Rangers have suffered alongside all of Scottish football with a lack of financial muscle to compete with the level of sides they have to face in this competition. This is a major handicap for the club and in terms of finance they have to be commended for punching above their weight.
In Europe Rangers are set up to be relatively defensive in their approach but against teams of the class of Sevilla, this will only take you so far. You look around the side and it’s hard to pick out anyone who will be a goal threat. There’s not one player that really stands out as a match winner.
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Kyle Lafferty has failed to shine since joining the club and Kris Boyd despite his excellent goal scoring record is not usually picked for these tough European games. Boyd is one of those players that will always scores goals, that’s fine against the likes of St Mirren or Partick Thistle but against teams like Sevilla, the lad doesn’t do enough outside of the box.
Against good European sides Rangers will spend a lot of time without the ball so work-rate is all-important. Unfortunately Kris doesn’t do enough to warrant a place in the side in Walter Smith’s eyes because if he doesn’t grab you a goal, he’s unlikely to give his team much of anything else. If you are under the cosh and one player doesn’t do his share of the work then he becomes a liability.
I can’t see Rangers beating a very good Sevilla side packed up with attacking talent like the Brazilian Luis Fabiano plus Fredi Kanoute and Alvaro Negredo. The Spaniards are 3rd in their league behind Barcelona and Real Madrid so are certainly no mugs.
Sevilla are rightly favourites but I’d cover my options on Super 6 with a draw and an away win as Ibrox is an intimidating place to go and the Spanish team won’t have it all their own way.
Tags: Champions League, Ibrox, Rangers, Sevilla, SPL, Super 6, Tony Cascarino
February 27th, 2010 at 19:32
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MAILE