The goalless draw with Panathinaikos at Ibrox was never a bad result. Having created so many chances that night, we were always going to get a sniff or two in Athens and, even after losing an amazing goal, we were just one strike away from victory. And wasn't it just great that, having been the villain for missing so many snips a week earlier, Nacho Novo rattled in the goal that mattered?
That wee man mirrors everything I want to see in a Rangers player. I know he is erratic, there are times when I feel I could throttle him, but he has never been one to hide. Even when things ain't working out for him, he keeps coming back for more, never more so than in the past week when he held up his hands for the goalless first game but was in the right place at the right time to blow away any regrets and give us at least one more wee jaunt to look forward to.
When the Minted One feeds the Press Gang lines about our latest financial figures, hinting of big things ahead (that old one again?), he should remember that Nacho was the man who accessed the riches of the Champions League with his last minute winner against Red Star Belgrade. Yet just 18 months ago he was so far out of the picture that he had to pay his own way into games, sitting amongst us Bears behind the goal at East End Park while PLG's under-achievers were struggling to draw 1-1 with Dunfermline.
There are a lot of more talented players around, there are many more valuable men in Walter's squad, but Nacho Novo has always delivered value for money and the encouraging signs are that he is good for more of the same for a year or two yet.
And while we are at it, we should surely appreciate where we are at this moment in time and get off Walter's back regarding his tactics. The 4-5-1 set-up has put a few bluenoses out of joint but did any of us really imagine we'd be sitting on top of the league, still on course for the Treble AND still in Europe going into March? C'mon guys, sometimes it might not be the most attractive stuff to watch but it is working. Having gone close to three years with nothing to shout about, recapturing the winning habit has to be top priority before we can begin to think about being more demanding.
I don't care how we do it, I just want to see that SPL trophy back at Ibrox at the end of the season and if there is another cup or two (or three!) alongside it when the team pic is taken then so much the better. Winning ugly is a phrase which has been used a lot lately but I'd rather do that than lose with meaningless style. Yes, I want us to play well but we have to walk before we can run. Bring success back to the club, then we will attract better players who might be more inclined to play with some swagger.
Barcelona's visit to the other place underlined a few points in our favour. I couldn't believe the way the Hack Pack went OTT about the occasion and the drama at the Scum Dome in midweek. We're never going to get a fair crack of the whip when it comes to comparing the atmosphere of their place with ours but the BBC's David Begg let something out of the bag towards the end of his commentary. He spoke of 'only' about 5,000 fans having left early. Well, when Ronaldinho and his mates came to Ibrox, my eyes told me that even the Subway Loyalists stayed in their seats to the very end.
As for the respective styles of play, last week's game might have made for better television but don't tell me it was any more exciting than our 0-0 draw with Barca in October. Walter knew we couldn't afford to go for it against such top quality opposition, the name of the game was keeping things tight, then try to hit them with a late break or two. Barry and Cousin Dan had chances to nick it but, in the end, we were happy to settle for 0-0. I'll bet Gordon The Garden Gnome wishes he was taking his lot to the Nou Camp with the scoresheet still blank.
Walter adopted the same strategy in Athens. Even at 1-0 down, the team kept its shape, there was no need to go gung-ho, especially in the first hour of the game, then we gave Pana something to think about when they started to look at the clock. OK, so the same game-plan is hardly ideal for SPL football but 4-5-1 doesn't really need to be seen as defensive. When we have the ball, it can quickly become 4-3-3, or even 4-2-4, with the onus on the midfield players to get forward in support of the lone striker.
Anybody who watched ManUre slaughter Arsenal last weekend will have seen that Sir Greetin Face has also got his team playing 4-5-1. Sure, Rooney is the perfect man for the sole striker role and we don't have the likes of Nani, Tevez, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes (have I missed anyone?) bombing forward in support, but this is the template we are working from. Defensively we are solid, we have plenty of midfield options when everyone is fit and, if we can just get it right with the link-up between the middle and the front, we'll be motoring very nicely in the right direction.
As we approach the business end of the season, it is essential that we all stick together and get right behind the team. For now, lets leave the debates about Boydie, Cousin, 4-5-1, the Subway Loyal and the Asset-stripper (support the team not the regime!) in the pub. Walter, his backroom staff and the players have done their bit to keep us on course for a memorable season, so we must pump up the volume and play our part too.
Hey, those who infest Breezeblock Boulevard and Shittodrie would give an arm and a leg to swop places with us. Aye, its good to be a Bear...don't be shy in letting the rest know about it!!!
LITTLE BOY BLUE