The Artmedia results can be seen in the context of any team in the Champions League being able to play to a certain level but clearly we should have beaten them twice. Let’s just hope that they lose their next two games. It could just be that Porto’s very mixed form could help, assuming we might nick a point away and they go on to beat Artmedia. Hopefully, Inter will also beat Artmedia in their next game meaning that they will come to Ibrox with a poor attitude, knowing they have already qualified. We can but dream.
Ultimately, it might be another one of those “what might have been” seasons in Europe. However, if we could be the first Scottish team to qualify for the knockout stages it would be fantastic – even if we can expect a right good humping from Chelsea, Real Madrid or whoever. Getting into the UEFA Cup would be OK but is by no means a foregone conclusion based on our current form.
Now, on the home front we cannot be so optimistic, even on our best days. Our ratio of goals scored to shots on/off target must be one of the worst in the league. Two weeks ago against Inverness CT we had a total of 18 shots for one goal – Celtic had 10 and got four goals. That’s the big difference. Clearly the defence and unfortunately both “top” keepers have cost us dearly in recent games, but in previous seasons we would have scored that second or third goal to clinch the three points. Sheer bad luck is playing its part but that is no excuse. When was the last time we scored direct from a free kick? Remember Ricksen’s magnificent efforts last year? Surely someone is hitting them in on the practice ground. If not, why not?
Three points against Aberdeen were nonnegotiable. Yet again the team failed to deliver and it is a matter of opinion as to whether you think the manager or the players were to blame. Based on current form maybe it was a bit too much to expect a lot at Celtic Park but surely even the most pessimistic fan would not have predicted the absurd nature of Klos’s goalkeeping and the lack of shots on target by us.
It seems that, because we still have a chance of being in Europe after Xmas, Murray will be unlikely to take any firm action on the McLeish situation. After all, it would seem rather odd if, somehow due to other results falling for us for once, McLeish could be the first manager to get a Scottish team into the knockout stages of the Champions League yet be sacked because of the appalling domestic form.
Our confidence will be at rock bottom going into this weekend’s game and even a draw seems to be beyond us, at least on paper. Even if we take anything off Celtic, we’re away at Hibs (our nearest rivals!) in the next match so there can be no relaxing. A nightmare scenario but one which is entirely possible is that we could be 18 (yes, eighteen) points behind Hearts and Celtic and frighteningly as much as 14 points behind Hibs. That is just a completely unacceptable situation and Murray would have no choice but to sack McLeish, irrespective of our European results.
Overall, I would list myself amongst the McLeish admirers. He has given me some of my best ever days as a Rangers fan and that won’t be forgotten. However, failure to deliver during the rest of November will see even the most committed supporters calling for change. Let’s hope that by Christmas all this misery is forgotten because we’re still in Europe, beaten Celtic and Hibs and clawed our way back into contention in the League. It’s not that difficult – just apply Rule Number One: score more goals than the opposition. Simple, isn’t it?