Harbinger of a Tartan Soccer Apocalypse

It pains me to say it but Scottish football is dying a death. Referees have chosen to strike because they can’t take criticism and the sole representative of the nation in European competitions showed a minimal amount of attacking intent tonight. We could sit here for eternity and talk about injuries (and not just for Rangers), but playing five at the back when only a win was ever going to be enough to keep your side in the Champions League seemed a tactical move that lacked courage on the part of Walter Smith.

David Weir reportedly still ‘loves the game’, but what does it say for the SPL that a forty year old (and not a goalie) is a commanding defensive presence at a big club? The future isn’t bright, certainly not orange, it’s bleak! Eighteen-goal Kenny Miller didn’t really come close to scoring against Manchester United. He should’ve squared for the on-loan Vladimir Weiss who might have had a tap in late in the first half. If I had been one of the Ibrox faithful I would have wanted my money back.

Rangers just didn’t look like they were set up to do anything that soak up the visitors’ pressure. Miller’s movement was good but the ball seldom reached him and his teammates barely got out of their own half during the opening forty five. They were better after the break but on the counter they offered nothing but misplaced passes, squandering the momentum almost as soon as it had swung in their favour. So incessant were the waves of visiting attacks, most of the time the casual observer would not have known that the Red Devils were the away team.

Steven Naismith’s challenge on Fabio da Silva which resulted in the award of a United penalty converted by the much maligned Wayne Rooney should have been a sending off. If that sort of contact occurred anywhere else on the pitch and arguably even in the penalty area a red card has to be given, but the Swiss officials decided on yellow. Just what passes for violent conduct in Scotland?

At times with the lack of endeavour made you wonder if the home side had settled for the guarantee they already pretty much had of playing Europa League football in the New Year. Rangers never worked Edwin Van Der Sar and Smith seemed loathe to change formation or the personnel. James Beattie has had an injury-hit spell in Glasgow but why was he not brought off the bench sooner?

As alluded to earlier Manchester United were not at full strength, certainly not in defence. It really strikes you as an opportunity missed for Rangers to attack, but injuries and the tactics that Smith prefers detract from this philosophy. The personnel available did not make this possible. A word for John O’Shea who has continued to show a willingness to fit in where required for a number of years now, a trait in the modern game which is rarely celebrated.

The rest of the Red Devils’ back four is still learning. It was a good attacking display from Fabio and Johnny Evans was nearly found out in the second half by Naismith around the hour mark. It was the first time he and Chris Smalling had played together as a pair and though it did show at times they weren’t given that much of an examination by Rangers. One positive you can take if you’re from the blue half of Glasgow is that United could not break the Ibrox side down from open play.