24 responses so far ↓

• Sean O'Donnel // Oct 24, 2007 at 23:01

  Rangers have a team compiled at a fraction of the price of Barcelonas therefore to get any result against them is a terrific achievement.

• CWC // Oct 24, 2007 at 23:06

  It is, quite clearly, a matter of perspective. Obviously “heroism” for you is about deploying foolishly aggressive tactics against vastly superior opposition. I’ll take a pragmatic draw over a naively aggressive trouncing any day of the week. Rangers put an obstacle in front of Barcelona. Barcelona were unable to get past it. Move on. Don’t cry when the press congratulate the underdogs on securing an unexpected point.

• J Blellock // Oct 24, 2007 at 23:09

  I am writing from Canada and although I did not witness the game Rangers V Barcelona and being a Rangers fan I was delighted with scoreline considering the difference in finances and buying power between the teams. This result means a great deal to Rangers financially if the can secure a passage to the next round of the Champions league. I would feel the same as Barcelona fans if it were the other way around. Good luck to both teams. J Blellock

• JohnST // Oct 25, 2007 at 1:35

  I think Rangers deserve some credit for restricting the advances from Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry.

  Barcelona is not as dominant as last season, but that is normal with the introduction of new players. The main thing for the manager is to fit everyone in and bring out the best in them, else it will be like having Ballack and Shev in the Chelsea team.

• Andrew // Oct 25, 2007 at 2:13

  I have to agree with the people who compared the buying power advantages Barcelona have, however, I feel that no matter what a draw is always a positive result, and as my coach would say ‘a goalless draw is always a goal for the defense’ and I feel that applies to both teams. And especially so seeing as both teams retained their unbeaten record.

• Gregg RFC // Oct 25, 2007 at 7:48

  Believe it or not it is the same for Rangers in the SPL. Teams defend with many players behind the ball and it is up to us to break them down.

  If I were an FCB fan I would be more concerned with my own teams deficiences in attack. Look at Gudjohnsen’s comments after the game - he was clearly upset by his team-mates lack of cutting edge or direction. Barring one or two real scares I thought Rangers were comfortable on the whole.

  Messi’s comments on “Anti-Football” were amusing given his record of simulation which was evident again with Papac’s boooking on Tuesday.

• Speeka // Oct 25, 2007 at 10:26

  I personally think that Ranger’s performance was worthy of the praise, in particular the home fans.They were the best thing about Ranger’s & influenced the game more than any single player. Barca were unlucky to have a few decisions go against them, but that’s what happens when the Ref is on smack.
  I’m looking forward to the return leg @ camp nou.

• Jim // Oct 25, 2007 at 16:40

  Personally, I feel your comments highlight the sharp contrast between traditional British football values as opposed to the more cavalier continental style played in mainland Europe.

  I could be wrong here, but I’m assuming you’re based on the continent.

  British football, and Rangers in particular value hard work, determination, real battling qualities, blood and guts, backs to the wall stuff.

  If you asked me to quantify Rangers in 1 word, it would be “character”.

  Messi came out with his “anti-football” quote the other day. I saw it as a young lad venting his frustrations in public.

  What I also saw was a young lad who’d been given a very valuable football lesson. He’s come from an environment in Argentina that plays with typical South American flair and straight into another league, with a team studded with quality, world class performers that play in a similar vein.

  The British game in contrast is all about work rate first and foremost, then using what quality you have to stamp your authority on whatever opposition you’re up against.

  I fully expect Barca to secure a handsome win against Rangers in the Nou Camp return. Perhaps the Barca players took Rangers too lightly…who knows.

  Eider Gudjohnson, a former Chelsea player summed it up perfectly for me when he said…”I expected Rangers to play that way and I have no problems with that. They are trying to do a job against, with all due respect, a stronger team and they have to look after themselves.

  “It was up to us to break them down and we just couldn’t manage to find that killer moment.

  “Rangers put a lot into the match. They are a strong side and they were given no chance in this group. So they have to fight for every point - and they are doing that.”

  He, along with Henry, both familiar with the British game, came out praising the result and performance of Rangers.

  If Messi looks back on this as a lesson, he’ll be a far better player for it.

  Just my opinion mind.

• Nic // Oct 25, 2007 at 17:42

  Thanks to all the Rangers fans for their feedback. I never meant to take anything away from Rangers, it was a gutsy performance and thoroughly deserving of the draw. The article is meant to be a comment on how the press works, both in Spain and in Britain. However, the opinion in Spain is one of disappointment in Rangers. Of course Rangers have no obligation to please Spanish fans. Take it as frustration on my part, but I mean it when I say I am happy with the point, I honestly believed Rangers would cause Barça more problems. In the end I think both teams showed too much respect for the other but it was normal given that a point was good for both teams.
  As for Messi, I agree with Jim that it was a sign of frustration, and he really shouldn’t make such comments.

• FCB - Canada // Oct 25, 2007 at 18:50

  Ranger’s peformance may not please Spanish fans but I don’t see how it can please Rangers fans. If this is the type of football they decided to play from the start what does that say about the team? Man, I can’t wait for the return leg. I see a rout coming.

• Davie // Oct 26, 2007 at 0:26

  FCB-Canada

  I also see a rout coming

  But I saw a rout coming in Lyon and I saw a rout coming at Ibrox the other night, neither arrived.

  Rangers have a team of honest, hard working players for whom its an honour to be on the same park as Barcelona who on the other hand appear to have some big headed, spoilt, pampered individuals who would do well to show some dignity.

  I agree 100% with all Jim said.

  The money available to teams competing in the SPL is a pittance to that available to the Barcelonas of this world.

  A man with no dignity or humility is not a man at all.

• blaugranafan // Oct 26, 2007 at 0:59

  I’ll first mention that I couldn’t watch the game, but I want to add a different perspective to the discussion. While Barca certainly do have an expensive array of attacking power, I have to disagree with Nic when he says that most games should be won 5-0 by the Blaugrana. I would say that in a game played with an open-style of attacking football where both teams play to win, this will likely be the case. But in my humble opinion, if one is playing for a draw, playing an increasing number of men at the back pays far higher dividends than increasing the number of attackers does for your opponent–regardless of who the opponent is.

  The result was a good one for Rangers, and I’m happy for the point Barca got as well. I can’t say that I’m particularly pleased when teams do play for a draw, but this is more of a criticism with soccer and the competitive system in which teams operate. One of the merits of American football is that ties are worth almost nothing in the grand scheme of things, so teams always play to win (whether they try to win with a strong offense or a strong defense is another debate entirely). As much as I love soccer, I don’t enjoy watching teams playing for a tie with unattractive, physical tactics–particularly teams without much talent on paper at risk of relegation, for whom the added point from a tie may be of immense significance financially. In this case, no one’s at risk of relegation, but moving through to the knock-out rounds is of tremendous importance, both in terms of prestige and financial benefits.

  It’s unfortunate if the football was unattractive, but again, it’s ultimately a problem with the incentive structure. Congrats, Rangers, on a successful match.

• Jim // Oct 26, 2007 at 16:04

  Nic,
  I don’t see how anyone could say you did take anything away from Rangers. All you did was apporach the topic from a different perspective.

  Had it not been for the Rangers-Barca game, I’d never have found this site, which allows fans of different clubs to air their views and opinions.

  That’s what European football is all about, varying values, traditions and styles.

  It’s safe to say Barca’s qualification was assured before a ball was kicked. Rangers still have a lot of work to do despite the current league standings.

  That final group game against Lyon at Ibrox looks huge right now…especially if the French beat Stuttgart at home.

• gerry // Oct 26, 2007 at 21:42

  Rangers play this way to perfection. Their play encourages crosses which never get beyond their backline. Lyon tried it all night and won 1 header. Barca got caught up doing the same as well as close passing on the edge of the box…it doesn’t work. They have nacho novo chasing high balls and have very physical players in most positions. Even if barca scored early on rangers would employ the same tactic until the last 10 minutes. I felt barca had not watched the lyon rangers game. The way in is get to the goal line and cut the ball back .
  keep wide and goals will come. Unfortunately rangers and celtic are faced with this tactic most weeks and realise how effective it can be for a lesser team.
  May football be the winner in barcelona !

• Impulse // Oct 27, 2007 at 14:17

  First off i must say though i’m a barca fan, i’m glad rangers got a draw cause loosing 0-1 (17 shots) would have sent shock waves through SPL. Upset i was to see rangers throw 5-4-1 formation after ridiculing barca, i was expecting rangers to make a lyon of barca.
  But playing def futbol can work against them. What if messi ran riot and was fouled in the box (pen). If barca was opportunistic the could have gone 3- 0 on pen goals cause rangers were aggressive in def.
  Rangers might not be so lucky against another

• Liam // Oct 27, 2007 at 20:57

  Thing is, what if at the end Rangers dont go through? will their fans recall this game and think what would have happened if they had gone for the win?

  Any team that goes out to the pitch thinking a tie is a good result is a disgrace to the sport, any professional footballer should desire/want to win above anything and put all those guts, heart, hard work ur talking about into getting a win.

  Barcelona played bad, if Rangers had 10 players on their half they should have tried long/mid range shots, but its seems like without Deco or Toure the rest forget about that option.

  Saying Messi dived at Papacs challenge is hilarius, the guy clearly went for Lio.

  Argentinian football migt have tons of flair, granted, but saying they lack guts or heart is kinda silly, for what I know, argentinians along with germans and italians are the most competitive footballers in the world.

  Now, whats football esence? if im not wrong its scoring goals and I doubt Rangers can score any if they play the way they did on Tuesday, I just cant understand how a team refuses to control the ball and try to get it in the net. Heroic … all I say its easier to destroy than to create, so… I really dont c any achievement in gers performance, no matter how small is their budget compared to Barcas one, if that were to be a key factor, how come Getafe kicked catalns ar** last year with a budget smaller than the protestants one?

  cheers!

• Bruce // Nov 5, 2007 at 19:27

  Nic,
  As a Rangers fan i was delighted to take a point from the game, Barca on song are probably the best club side on the planet, for Rangers to try and match them at their own game would have seen us destroyed, it was the ONLY way to play, even Barca had settled for a share of the points with 5 minutes to go.
  When the draw was made i thought all our points would have come from the other two sides so even if its just 1 out of 6 v Barca its 1 more than i expected, good debating site.
  Q- When Ronaldiniho sp? played for PSG vRangers a few years ago he was called Goucho, whys that.

• Nic // Nov 5, 2007 at 21:04

  Bruce-good question. Ronaldinho’s real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, but like a lot of Brazilian players he takes a different name for football. He is known in the football world as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaucho. I believe Gaucho is a name for a type of cowboy in South America but I have no idea how or why Ronaldinho got the name. Does anyone out there know?

• Bluenosebazza // Nov 7, 2007 at 2:40

  I dont think we (Rangers) really set out for a draw,the game just didnt transpire as we hoped. We set out similar to Scotland when they played France in Paris and the way we played in Lyon. Keep it tight in defence,try and counter attack quickly and take any chance that comes your way.

  The last 30 minutes when Rangers started getting down the wings and getting balls into the Barcelona box is,in my opinion, the way we were supposed to be playing all game. Yes it was a defensive set up but we had to play like that as we dont have the technically gifted players to do it and if we tried it i wouldve fully expected Barca to use the extra space,get in behind our defence and score more than once.

  The reason the tight defence and quick counter attack didnt work is that Rangers underestimated Barcelona.

  We all know how they pass the ball about beautifully,we all know they have players capable of individual skill to win the game on their own,we all know Barcelona can keep possession of the ball like they have homing beacons and we all know they move like Stealth bombers off the ball and are impossible to mark.

  But what Rangers didnt count on was how hard working Barcelona were. Whenever we managed to get the ball (which wasnt often) and tried to pass it or break away the Barca players were on top of our players,refusing to give them time on the ball,make an easy pass or get it to Hutton (the White Cafu) to break away.

  They didnt play like a typical Mediterranean side,allowing the other team time and space to pass it then counter attack them. No,they were in their faces,working hard to deny them space. They played like a British side.

  And that,if you ask me, is why Rangers ended up with so few attacking possibilities.

• k // Nov 7, 2007 at 2:47

  Gaucho is the nickname given to those from the south of Brazil, particularly the State of Rio Grande do Sul, who traditionally had these cowboy types. Ronaldinho of course looks nothing like them, it’s just to distinguish them from others with the same name via their home state, eg Alex Mineiro (Minas Gerias), Junior Carioca (Rio) etc.

  Imagine you had 3 Scots players all called “Jimmy” - remember the Brazilian players prefer to use only one name - then you would have Jimmy Bawbag (Glasgow), Jimmy Junkie (Edinburgh), Jimmy Sheepshagger (Aberdeen)…

  Here endeth the lesson, come on the Gers, and may the best team win. I hope the provocation that is going about from our friends in the weast end via the Catalan media comes to nothing and a festival of football and friendship is had by all, whatever the result.

• Nic // Nov 7, 2007 at 3:04

  
  Cheers k, wouldn’t it be brilliant if they introduced that name system into Scottish football.

• k // Nov 7, 2007 at 3:32

  well Nic, to some extent we already have, but on a family site like this I wouldn’t want to mention the monikers applied to a certain Polish keeper…

• Markusz // Nov 7, 2007 at 11:42

  k,

  What has Polish goalkeepers done to you?

• k // Nov 7, 2007 at 12:39

  Markusz

  To me personally, nothing. However there is one in the Scottish league who likes to provoke opposition fans with gestures, signs, flag-waving etc.

  He seems to be slightly deranged. But then they do say you have to be mad to be a keeper.

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