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Rangers are spot-on

When Nacho Novo converted Rangers’ fifth penalty kick he did more than seal their place in the UEFA Cup final, he sealed this Rangers side’s place as legends. Win or lose in Manchester every Rangers fan will be rightly proud of the achievement of this group of underdogs for years to come.

It may not have been the prettiest game of football, but Walter Smith’s men again showed that what they may lack in technical ability they more than make up for with grit, determination and passion.

Fiorentina coach Ceare Prandelli does not seem to share my enthusiasm for the Rangers performance however. He is quoted on bbc.co.uk as saying:

“Rangers came here just to stop us playing our best football and got the result they wanted.

The game would have been more entertaining if we were facing a team ready to play a bit more.”

Hmm, perhaps I am wrong but was it not the Italians who invented defensive football? Rangers played to their strengths, who can criticise them for that? In yet another David versus Goliath encounter Walter Smith ensured his team did what was needed and I congratulate the whole team.

The only disappointment was Daniel Cousin’s stupidity. While I don’t think for a second he hurt Liverani with his ‘head-butt’, everyone with even a passing interest in football knows you are going to see red if you put your head into another player the way Cousin did. Rangers will now be without the big striker in the final which stacks the odds further in the favour of the excellent St. Petersburg side. But then that’s the way Rangers like it…

Glasgow Rangers prove they are streets ahead of Everton.

A clumsy equation admittedly, but Everton fell to Fiorentina in a tense penalty shoot-out in the UEFA Cup, and yesterday night Rangers went one better and beat the Italians 4-2 on penalties, a victory that has seen Rangers progress to the Final - and put Everton and Tottenham’s UEFA runs in the shade. Rangers will now face Zenit St Petersburg in the final, who ironically got stuffed by Everton in the group stages. Does this show that the Glaswegians are a stronger outfit than Spurs and Everton, or am I talking out of my backside?

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Liverpool Feel ‘Raf’ Of Drogba Thanks To Benitez

As Chelsea celebrate and prepare to face Manchester United as the other English half of this years Champions League final, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is left to ponder what might have been.

Yet, could he have helped Chelsea into the final at the expense of his own Liverpool side?

Benitez openly criticised Chelsea striker Didier Drogba earlier this week for his inability to stay on his feet and his ability to mimic a dying swan. It was an obvious attempt at mind-games, trying to unsettle Drogba and influence referee Robert Rosetti. As we witnessed last night, it backfired spectacularly. Drogba inspired Chelsea to victory over the Reds with a solid, powerful performance and two extremely important goals. Could it have been the Liverpool gaffer’s criticism that spurred him to such a crucial display?

As Phil McNultey of BBC Sport says:

When Drogba is lying low he is best left alone. Benitez chose to deliver a verbal version of a poke with a sharp stick and Liverpool paid the price.

Both Liverpool and Benitez looked broken at the final whistle as their season ended. Benitez was left to ponder over what could have been had he left Chelsea’s sometimes slumbering beast lie.

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Bore of Britain: Why The Champions League Final Is Not For Neutrals

One match points me to come to this conclusion: The 2007 FA Cup Final.

A horrendous match for the neutrals.

Both teams had played out a long, hard season and it was a chance to show who was the best team in England. For Chelsea it would be because they beat the newly-crowned Champions. Manchester United, because they had a chance to seal the double. But with that, the prestigious FA Cup and the honour of winning at the new Wembley at stake the two teams cancelled each other out. No real chances were created and fans were only saved by a slow trudge to penalites by a last-gasp Drogba goal.

This is what I fear will happen in Moscow. It could even be worse. No disrespect to the FA Cup but a much, much greater prize is at stake this time around.

Manchester United have played some great football this season and I firmly believe they deserve their chance in the Champions League final this year. Regardless of how much I dislike them and wanted United to face old rivals Liverpool in the final, Chelsea deserve their place as well. They get a lot of bad press, Avram Grant especially, yet they have managed to sustain a title challenge on two fronts despite apparently being in turmoil - and this from a season where they have not splashed their billions.

However, look at how United played over the two legs against Barcelona and we see that they close up and cannot play their cavalier style of football when they only have 40% of the ball. And we are all fully aware of the stale possession football that Chelsea can play.

So with Chelsea sitting on the ball not using it and Manchester United sitting back waiting for their 40%, is the Champions League Final 2008 going to be the explosive encounter we all wish for? Beaten Barca coach Frank Rijkaard thinks otherwise:

I think they [English teams] have a lot more to give on the pitch to the public. It is strange to see English teams defending for their lives in Europe and trying to win games on the counter-attack. They can do a lot more than that. They have their own spirit and can play football on the front foot.

In European games they all get behind the ball when they lose it, they are very organised and try to counter-attack. It is a pity. It is not the most beautiful way of football.

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Spurs plan £10m raid for wonder winger!

Tottenham’s season is beginning to stutter to a conclusion, one win in eight, and Juande Ramos already planning a big shake up in the summer apparently, and here is the latest target on his shopping list!

£10m valued Celtic winger Aiden McGeady is on the shopping list of Tottenham boss Juande Ramos.

McGeady is one of Ramos’ many summer transfer targets. (The Mirror)

The 22 year old Glaswegian is a top class player who appears to be angling for a move to the Premier League but the Bhoys will not be keen to sell their hottest prospect but will they be able to prevent the Scottish international from leaving? Do Celtic fans think they will keep the PFA player of the year and do Spurs fans like the idea of such a signing?

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Lahm Had His Phil Of Bayern

German wing-back Philipp Lahm has stated he will leave Bayern Munich as contract talks broke down between himself and the club.

With his contract coming into its last season Bayern were looking to tie down the 24-year-old international, but he was seemingly unimpressed by Bayern’s ambition.

Lahm told German magazine Stern:

I’ve played for two years with Stuttgart, I’m finishing my third year at Bayern, the top German club, so the logical progression is to go abroad.

There are in Europe a handful of clubs who have a financial power superior to that of Bayern. Their teams play with more rhythm and assurance than Bayern.

Seemingly doubting Bayern’s ability to once again challenge for the Champions League, which they won in 2001, Lahm has alerted Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea, three he has been linked with in the past.

Chances are there will now be a cut-price bidding war this summer between Europe’s top clubs for Lahm.

Positive signs for Manchester United as Barca player asks to be dropped

It’s fair to say that the Red Devils are playing Barcelona in the Champions League at exactly the right time. While their passage to the Moscow final against Liverpool or Chelsea is far from guaranteed, surely Manchester United won’t have a better opportunity to beat the Catalan club, who are struggling badly at the moment.

Barca have been heavily criticised by the fans and media in recent weeks and they now sit nine points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga. Although they beat Schalke over two legs, they have failed to win their last three league matches and The Guardian report that Eric Abidal has urged manager Frank Rijkaard to drop him, such is his lack of form at the moment. Unbelievable scenes!

“I try to be 100% but my results are not satisfactory,” the left-back said. “If I see that I’m not at the highest level, my responsibility obliges me to tell the coach not to play me.” Abidal added he has struggled to adapt to the Spanish culture and later kick-off times since arriving from the French club Lyon in the summer. “Before I handled it better but playing at 10 at night … is something that has affected me.”

Can Manchester United take full advantage of Barcelona’s plight, starting at Camp Nou on Tuesday? The English champions are now favourites for the competition and their morale could seemingly not be higher, especially set against their Spanish opponents who look set for a restructure in the summer.

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Wenger’s hate mongering and blame shifting needs to stop…

Another absolutely fantastic night on the Kop for any fan of the game. It has everything anyone could have dreamed of, and yet again has made anyone claiming it would be “boring” look very foolish indeed.

However…

It’s a shame that a bitter taste is left in the mouth. Why? The attitude of Wenger post-match.

Let there be no debate, the referee was fantastic. He made all the correct decisions, which is praise that could not be lavished on the officials from the Emirates first leg. Make no mistake about it, there was contact, a lot of it, it knocked a player at full pace off-balance and caused him to fall.

In the Premiership, it would be 50/50. In Europe? Stonewall penalty. You can’t do that in Europe, and the referee set out VERY early and made a massive point to every player for the first 20-30 minutes that heavy contact would NOT be tolerated. Arsenal were punished by pace, and while Wenger was busy throwing his dummy well out of his pram, Toure - who was judged to have committed the foul - seemed to have a different opinion and seemed to distance himself from claims it was a disputable decision. Arsenal were simply a victim of bad luck. They had a poor ref when they needed a good one, and a good ref when they needed a poor one.

Wenger however, in using this single incident to blame his sides exit on the referee is showing terrible conduct. Managers need to be making an example of themselves, but Wenger is constantly becoming his own worst enemy and nearly every negative post-game incident involving him has come from his OWN frustration and his OWN mistakes.

Wenger is as guilty as Mascherano was for Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, and I will be shocked if this hate-mongering and blame shifting isn’t heavily punished by UEFA.

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Beard stroking Rafa B confidently predicts a Champions League win for Liverpool

Stand aside Chelsea, do one United, and bugger off Barca - Liverpool are going to be the Reds in the Red Square and romp all the way to the Champions League. That was the opinion of Rafa B, bolstered by great performances by Stevie G and Fernando T in Tuesday’s Champions League win over the Arse. Rafa B said of the Liverpudlians’ Champs League hopes:

“We have done it before and won and now we can do it again. Why not us in the final?

“We will always do our best and we know we can do it because we have done it in the past.”

Will the Reds be able to get past Chelsea and then a possible tie against Man Utd or Barca to win the Champions League?

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AC Milan Legend To Defy Nature For Another Season?

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, who has been in his mid-30’s for a good 15 years now, has hinted that this season may not be his last like he has previously stated.

The atmosphere makes me want to play one more year. I felt much worse three months ago; things are better now. I love this sport and Berlusconi and Galliani are pushing me to carry on.

I haven’t discussed it with the President personally, but I have read his comments in the papers. We’ll see.

Surely this just shows how weak Milan are becoming? They would happly let Maldini, who turns 40 in June, carry on playing because they have no real replacement lined-up. Milan have often been accused as being an ‘ageing side’ If Maldini plays on, coupled with the way the young guns of Arsenal dismissed them, Milan will only be playing up to that image.

It also makes one think that Maldini wanted to end on a Champions League final. Perhaps being knocked out by Arsenal makes him want to carry on for another shot next year?

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Crazy owner wants Mansfield Town to be Harchester United - quite literally

Sometimes you just couldn’t make it up. People would look at you strangely, men in white coats would form an orderly queue to take you away, you might even wonder whether your cup of tea had been spiked with a hallucinogenic substance. However, it well and truly appears as though the owner of Mansfield Town wants to do away with the club’s name, history, heritage, you name it and instead call the club Harchester United.

The fabulous Mansfield Chad report that power-hungry John Batchelor is intent on mixing things up at Field Mill in a big way. The team currently occupy 23rd place in League Two and seem destined to drop down to the Blue Square Premier next season. However, if the ‘massive Burnley fan’ is to have his way, the club will become virtually irrecognisable from the ones that the fans know and love right now.

He told Chad: “Do we want professional football in Mansfield or not?

“Speculation as to how we could do it is rife.

“I can’t confirm or deny anything, but this can only be a positive for the club.

“Harchester is a virtual club - Mansfield as a town and club would benefit from that name.

“Fans have to accept that to have a professional club, it has to be done on a commercial basis and be profitable - Harchester is easier to promote than Mansfield. It is as simple as that.

“This would help to make Mansfield more attractive to national concerns, rather than local business. This would help me.

“I don’t mind if the fans don’t like it or call me mad. I have been called worse and I am not in this to be popular to everyone - I tried that at York and it did not work.”

It gets better. Batchelor apparently has contacts with Red Star Belgrade after working in Serbia and has mooted the idea of an Anglo-European Cup, featuring footballing giants such as Partizan Belgrade and, wait for it, Chesterfield. Should be a crowd-puller and no mistake.

He told Chad: “”It would be great to have an Anglo-European Cup in pre-season and Chesterfield would be my first choice as the other English team involved.

“There could be two semi-finals and then a final played at Mansfield.

“Why can’t we bring Europe to Field Mill. It would fill the ground.”

At least the current stadium name is safe then! Are the above ideas that of a madman or does something drastic need to be done if smaller clubs such as Mansfield are to avoid going out of business? What would you choose to re-name your team or is the mere thought of this enough to make real football fans sick?

Wenger ready for Liverpool extravaganza

Arsenal, having just beat Bolton 3-2 in a last minute dash, now must come to terms with facing Liverpool three times in the space of ten days. Arsenal face Liverpool next week in the Champions League Quarter Finals, then the League, then the 2nd leg of the Champions League. Arsene Wenger is ready though, and defeat will not be an option for his young men.

Wenger said:

“Of course we would like to win the home game on Wednesday, but 0-0 is never a disappointing result in the first leg,” explained Wenger.

“We have seen many times that it puts the other team under huge pressure in the second game because they are in two minds. They don’t really know whether to go for it or to sit back and wait - it gives you every chance.

“But it is true that Liverpool have 12 men at Anfield. Their crowd have played a big part in their European success, they have turned so many games because the rules are different in Europe.

“In this sort of game between two English teams, I feel mental strength will be the deciding factor. This will be a test of character, who wants it more.”

Arsenal FC are the better side. Arsenal have the better manager. But will Rafa fluke out another Champions League run? We will have to see.

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Rangers Make Sporting Gesture With Free UEFA Tickets

Glasgow Rangers have decided to buck the Premiership trend and recognise their loyal supporters at a cost.

Rather than charge them £40 a ticket, Rangers are rewarding fans travelling to Lisbon to support their fight against Sporting. They have bought up all their allocation and will offer out 2,500 free tickets for the 10th of April match.

This comes as Rangers chairman Sir David Murray also announces a freeze on season tickets and a drop on juvenile season tickets.

In a move that could be seen as drumming up an away atmosphere in an intimidating Estádio José de Alvalade, Chief executive Martin Bain dismissed this, claiming:

This gesture is a big thank you to our supporters who have shown extraordinary commitment this season.

The cost of being a football fan, particularly those following clubs competing for honours, is high and - where we can - we want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the commitment by our fans.

Perhaps a message that the Premiership needs to hear?

Arsenal to the fore!

Arsenal, last night, defeated Champions League holders AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro - a feat which no English team in history has achieved. Plagued with injuries and inconsistencies, Arsenal were the definite ‘underdogs’ against the Italian giants. Following two half performances from the Gunners in previous weeks in the Premier League, Arsenal were out to prove against their complacency with regard to winning trophies.

Arsenal didn’t seal the game until the closing minutes, however, their absolute defending was impeccable. Defending from the word ‘go’, Arsenal, in the first half, held a strong Milan attack for the entirety of the first half ,whilst also creating chances themselves. A few chances here and there for both sides became the catalyst for an ecstatic and exciting second half to come. The first half saw both Hleb and Adebayor miss possible goals, and Fabregas’ goal line clearance of Maldini’s header also showed that both sides were ready to take the win then and there.

It wasn’t until the second half that the game began to evolve into a fierce battle of elitism. Fabregas, made space out of nothing, throwing the San Siro into an uncommon silence, drilling the ball past opposing defenders into the back of the net - one of those goals that just erupts. From pure silence to intense screaming and chanting. It was only a few minutes later that Adebayor struck in a Walcott pass - a game sealed not only this year, but in the history books.

Arsene Wenger said after the game:

“He (Fabregas) was outstanding, but tonight it is very difficult to single one out,”

“I believe the whole team defended well and attacked well, it was a complete team performance.

“Of course I’m very, very happy tonight. I’m very proud of our performance, we were under pressure to score goals.”

“We will try, that is all we can do,”

“I believe we can, let’s go for it and continue to have that kind of determined attitude.”

A manager of genius, a defence of steel, a midfield of intelligence, and a (weakened) strike force of rage - Arsenal are now in deep, and boy do they plan to finish the job this year. Can Arsenal win the double this year? Is it, now, shaping to end that way? We will have to see.

Arsenal manager rues missed chances against Milan

Have the Gunners missed their chance of qualifying for the quarter finals of the Champions League? Although they managed not to concede an away goal on Wedensday night, Arsene Wenger must be concerned by how profligate his team were in front of goal. The best chance fell to Emmanuel Adebayor in injury-time, yet the striker could only direct his header against the crossbar. The BBC report the Frenchman’s discontent.

“We didn’t take advantages of the chances that we created,” said Wenger.

“We were a bit forceful and a bit nervous in the final third or our finishing situations.

“The positives are that we put them under pressure for a big part of the game and that we didn’t concede a goal.”

Is the Arsenal team’s inexperience starting to show after a disappointing past couple of games? Or will the young Gunners relish the return leg at the San Siro and exploit an ageing Milan team on the counter-attack? It’s all poised nicely for a fortnight’s time.

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