That Was The Year That Was

Last updated : 04 May 2004 By Blue Dog Of Avoca

9/10 - GoalKeeper - Stefan Klos - light years ahead of anyone else at the club this year. Sure, we all wish he could kick a little better - but what a stopper!!!

6/10 - Defense - At the start of the year, a settled and confident back four in each game was the norm. The centre halves, especially Berg and Khizanishvilli, were outstanding. Michael Ball was having a whale of a time on the left, even getting forward and linking well with the likes of Lovenkrands and Arveladze. Ricksen was also having a decent run of it, and was demonstrating solid positional play in defense - a rare thing for the Dutchman. The latter half of the season certainly looked shakey, especially with Craig Moore looking less mobile than usual. A mistake to so easily break up Berg and Zurab??
The other problem area has most definitely been set pieces - but it would be foolish to suggest that it has all been down to a lack of physicality. In all honesty, if you watch the set pieces over, you will see defenders simply losing their man more often than "losing out" to a high ball. Also. the delivery out of the back has certainly looked a lot better for Frank De Boer's presence.


2/10 - Midfield - Here is where the real problems are. No one has made the central midfield roles shine in any way this year. The normal thinking with two central midfielders is for one to act as your "spine" - from this player comes the work rate, the hard tackling, the pressure on the ball, the man who adds the "steel" and the "spine" to the middle of the park. The other is your creator - he gets forward, looks for the runners, takes on defenses, has a few long shots, dictates the attack. This season was to be the season that Arteta was the man in the creator role, whilst Emerson was to be the man locking down the "spine". Neither has occurred. Instead, Emerson has been unable to hold down a spot in the side, due to a distinct lack of work rate and ability to maintain possession, and Arteta has been unable to get forward and take defenses on, or find the runs of his forwards. The other midfielders have been good in fits and starts, but the age-old issue of delivering quality ball to the forwards must be resolved.

Forwards - 5/10 - Chris Burke has been full of energy in getting to the byline or cutting inside. He adds spark to the side, and with some improvement in his crossing, he will be a fantastic asset in the future. In considering Peter Lovenkrands, I have to say that he has suffered immensely from Michael Ball's loss of form, as he has found himself isolated a lot more. When running from deeper positions at defenders, he is the most potent attacker in the Rangers squad. Again, let's be honest - his distribution from out wide is extremely poor, and it would add volumes to his play if he could improve it. But with the ball at his feet, he is still a player who worries apposition.
To keep the positive mood flowing, Arveladze started the season with a bang. His work rate and creative energy was excellent. Of late, the work rate has remained, but that creative spark has faded a little. He has dropped deeper and deeper in search of service…and hasn't found much. So it is hard to be critical.
Unfortunately, the time has come for the negatives.
Michael Mols classic signature ability to turn defenders is gone. Without it, he is simply not worth a place in any squad. Nuno Capucho has shown very very rare flashes of skill. But his amazing ability to slow down play at the exact moment the accelerator needs to be pushed, as well as an uncanny ability to take the wrong option at the wrong time has ensured he will never fit in. Ronald De Boer's return from injury has shown that he is some way off being the same player, Stevie Thompson has shown guts and grit but not much more yet, and as for Egil Ostenstad, I do not believe I have ever witnessed a less mobile player.

Movement is the key - our front players are far too static, and are making far too few opportunities. If Gers are to improve the frontline, this is a need that must be addressed.

Manager - 4/10 - Alex McLeish - I sweated on this rating, because I really like McLeish, and I feel he is a man of intelligence, humour and guts. But this year has seen some key managerial blunders.

Of course, there were things stacked against him - not only did he need to dismantle a winning squad (Amo, McCann, Numan, Caniggia) but he lost his key man at the last moment - Barry Ferguson. The treble of last season was won on the backs of three men - Stefan Klos, Barry Ferguson and Ronald De Boer. This year, in addition to the supporting cast of characters that left Ibrox, McLeish has had to do without two of those men.

With no transfer cash, McLeish dipped into the transfer market and came up with Capucho, Ostenstad, Emerson, Berg, Khizanishvilli and Vanoli. Two of those players can hold their heads high - but are currently not in the Manager's plans. (Berg and Khizanishvilli.) One is putting in a fair effort, but probably still has a way to go. (Vanoli.) The other three have been quite ordinary to say the least. In other words, out of 6 players, only two have fulfilled requirement - and they are not being used by the manager.

The other point that has raised a few eyebrows has been McLeish's tactics when presented with the team performances outlined above. His midfield has been consistently out muscled, and yet he has rarely played with a formation that has bolstered the numbers in this area, either by leaving a forward back or opting for a three man defense. Given that the quality of centre halves was certainly capable enough, a three man defense could surely have been tried against the likes of Partick Thistle to start with, then expanded to other sides??
I won't comment on the area of McLeish that is arguably his best-known asset - his man management. Sorely tested this year indeed, it became fairly obvious that some in the dressing room of many years standing and experience were not his most ardent fans. Tough times put a lot of pressure on a squad - next season will show us what McLeish is really made of.

So, that is the my take on a fairly horrid year. Tough times ahead, as the squad gets rebuilt with no money available. McLeish really needs that commanding midfield general and class finisher - I hope he finds them.