Not Bad For Starters - Not Bad At All
So we've got the first three points in the bag, we made hard work of a game which should have been over after 25 minutes but, if that's as all we have to moan about over the forthcoming weeks and months, it'll do for me.
The quality of football from Rangers in the opening 45 minutes was as impressive as anything I've seen from us since the first year or so of Tricky Dicky's reign. The one-touch passing and movement was a joy to behold and, if we'd got the goals our play deserved, there would be a lot of anti-Rangers morons crapping themselves today. Only slackness in front of goal, with Tommy Buffel the prime offender, kept the game alive but it would be more worrying if we'd failed to create the chances. On another day Rangers could have been 5-0 up, back on top of the table before the half-time whistle, with a catch-us-if-you-can message ringing out from Fir Park.
Of course, nobody wins anything on the first day of the season but it was just so good to see the Gers showing so much class and it served to underline the dross we have tolerated for so long. Libor Sionko was superb on the right, his pace and movement had the Motherwell defence all over the place and he showed he has the strength to hold off opponents when he sets off on a run. For all the talk of foreign imports taking time to adapt to the hurly-burly of the SPL, he took it all in his stride and looks like being a real star.
He was sharp enough to elude the offside trap for his early goal and, while he did get a bit of luck when his initial effort, saved by the keeper, ricocheted off him and trundled over the line, it was good to see him time his runs to perfection, rather than charging forward and getting caught when the defenders step forward. Buffel too was clever in this area, getting through on top of the keeper several times but, playing in moonboots instead of football boots, it wasn't to be his day.
And I was very impressed by young Charlie Adam. His use of the ball was superb, it was his pass which set up Sionko for the opener, and he certainly didn't look out of place amongst all our big money signings. Full marks to the guy for knuckling down to some hard work to catch the new manager's eye and it says much for the Le Guen philosophy that he hasn't hesitated to stick Charlie into the side and into a vital role where his predecessor might have been reluctant to do so.
Each and every one of us was amazed that it was only 1-0 at the interval and I certainly wondered of Motherwell would be overrun quite so easily after the interval. I got the answer just five minutes later when they drew level with their first serious attack and I got that ‘on no, here we go again' feeling. Oh ye of little faith.
All the clever football in the world isn't worth a bean if the team doesn't have the ability to respond to a kick in the teeth and it was very pleasing to see the Gers react so positively. Big Dado did the needful with a brilliant header from an Adam corner but, in truth, we did enough to rattle home another two or three and, although there were a few worried looks when Motherwell launched a couple of late attacks, it would have been a travesty if Rangers had let the game slip.
We will have to be more ruthless as the season progresses but I have no worries there. Sionko, Prso, Buffel and Adam all look like they've got goals in them, Kris Boyd will relish the service from the men alongside him and, if the Filipe Sebo thing comes off, he knows where the goal is. It can be silly to make judgements after just one game but I'm convinced this new-look Rangers is perfectly capable of dishing out more than a few real good bleachings.
Elsewhere, the Killie Boys started well at the Piggery but, once they gave away the first goal, it was curtains for them. As if they enjoyed their nightmare of a pre-season build-up, the Muppets head for the land of the rising sun this week. Hurry home guys, the Jambos are waiting for you next weekend, a win-win situation for the Sons Of. Hearts hit the ground running with a 2-1 win at Dunfermline and Falkirk and St.Mirren both made impressive starts with victories at Dundee United and Caley Thistle respectively, while Hibs and Aberdeen shared the spoils at Easter Road.
On Saturday night, all eyes focussed on Scotland's Under-19s who met Spain in the European Championship Final in Poznan and, while they were outclassed at times by a very impressive Spanish side who netted twice in the second half, the young Scots kept at it and, when they pulled it back to 2-1 in the closing stages, their classy opponents were suddenly rattled. Young Ranger Brian Gilmour came on towards the end and went close with a curling free-kick. It will be very interesting to note how many of this squad go on to make it as the years unfold.
But for FFers everywhere, the main feature of the weekend was the stylish football of Paul Le Guen's men. Rangers played some excellent stuff, we got the three points we deserved and all the signs are that a very interesting and entertaining season lies ahead. Bring it on!
ERWIN G.