TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Rangers can go for Celtic's jugular Such is Rangers' form and firepower, and Celtic's defensive weakness, the SPL leaders can really attack, attack, attack at ParkheadThis just won't do. Walter Smith, pragmatic Walter, the man behind Watenaccio, the manager who saw his team accused of playing anti-football by Lionel Messi, is suddenly presiding over an utterly prolific bunch. Smith used to bridle at the suggestion he was overly negative with his tactical approach; these days he laughs it off. And well he might: Rangers' recent run of 26 goals in just six outings could hardly be more timely as, on Sunday, they face up to a Celtic back four who, so far this season, have looked as if they couldn't defend their own goal with the assistance of baseball bats.Smith's biggest dilemma before Old Firm encounters used to surround whether or not he would select Kris Boyd, the prolific marksman who stands accused of not scoring on the big occasion. This time around, Boyd's inclusion is a no-brainer given his current touch, including five goals against Dundee United on Wednesday night. Boyd and his regular strike partner, Kenny Miller, have claimed 31 goals between them already this season, Boyd's improved fitness and link-up play ensuring he is in the form of his life.Miller's absence is a significant blow to Smith, then, on account of the Scotland international's petulance and subsequent red card in the second half of that United romp. Given Boyd, by his manager's own admission, does not relish being a lone striker, it seems Kyle Lafferty or Nacho Novo will be moved forward to assist the SPL's new record goalscorer.Tony Mowbray, then, should have cause for anxiety but it remains to be seen whether Smith senses Celtic really are so defensively weak that the visitors can attack with purpose from kick-off at Parkhead. Smith's experience of Old Firm encounters will reinforce his belief that widely made assertions regarding each team before a ball is kicked count for little. He is unlikely to believe, therefore, that the Celtic defence really is as bad as onlookers have suggested it is.Indeed, it is away from home – where Celtic have shipped 13 league goals, a mere five have been let in at home – that such failings have been more prevalent. Mowbray objects to the suggestion that he has been publicly or meaningfully critical of his defenders but it was after the first Old Firm match of the season, which Rangers won 2-1 at Ibrox, that the manager made his distress perfectly plain.Mowbray's transfer moves this month are likely to highlight that sentiment once again. The former West Bromwich Albion manager has already broken up the earlier successful central defensive partnership of Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus by allowing the former at least to attempt to improve matters while alongside Glenn Loovens.Caldwell is almost certain to depart, possibly this month and probably to Middlesbrough, with McManus also surely not content to sit out his contract as a substitute. Neither player has become woefully inadequate overnight but both are suffering from a patent lack of confidence, a flaw which has resulted in one embarrassing moment after another for club and country in this campaign. Loovens, who merely by process of elimination seems to be Mowbray's favoured centre-half, has hardly been a glowing beacon of light, either.Andreas Hinkel, the right-back, has been Celtic's finest defensive performer of the season. On the other flank, Danny Fox is yet to convince that he is vastly superior to the man he has replaced, Lee Naylor, certainly in a defensive sense. Taking such factors into account, Smith has suitable motivation to insist on an attacking approach even if he has personnel problems. It would be a major boost, for example, if the reborn American winger DaMarcus Beasley could make a return from injury.Given Rangers' points advantage at the top of the Scottish Premier League, it could even be argued their manager has little to lose by adopting forceful tactics. Smith's men could go 10 points clear of Celtic on Sunday, albeit having played a game more; if they continue to play even close to how they have done of late, Rangers surely cannot be overhauled from that position of strength.Rangers have their own defensive trouble due to Madjid Bougherra's absence. The Algerian's return to the team has coincided with the Ibrox men's best form since the end of last season, when Celtic were toppled at the SPL summit. If Bougherra's replacement is to be the teenager Danny Wilson, the experienced Celtic strike force of Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras will not be forgiving opponents. Moreover, the Rangers full-back Kirk Broadfoot has endured more than one troublesome game when faced with Aiden McGeady.Rangers' 4-1 victory at Hibernian on Sunday and earlier 6-1 demolition of Motherwell owed plenty to the comic defending of the opposition. The possibility of the same cannot be ruled out on Sunday nor, given the respective strengths and failings of these old foes, can a glut of goals. Smith's tendency to err on the side of caution suggests the American Maurice Edu could make a return as a defensive midfield player at the expense of an attack-minded wide player. Yet, facing opposition who arguably cannot afford to lose and for whom "obdurate" is a forgotten adjective, this could be the very time to load fully the attacking artillery.Scottish Premier LeagueRangersCelticEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Snow disrupts sporting schedules Premier League and Carling Cup football, racing and Premiership rugby all hit by hazardous conditionsFreezing weather claimed a Premier League football match among many sporting fixtures abandoned across the country.Arsenal's game against Bolton tonight was called off, joining two Carling Cup semi-final matches between Blackburn and Aston Villa and Manchesters City and United as victims of the snow.Racing suffered too, with planned National Hunt meetings on Friday at Bangor, near Wrexham, and Fontwell, West Sussex, cancelled. Ed Gretton, clerk of the course at Bangor, said: "Five inches of snow on top of frozen ground left us with as much chance of racing as England have of winning the third Test in South Africa."A race meeting at Kempton was abandoned for safety reasons due to inaccessibility for paramedics, with one planned for tomorrow looking doubtful. Meetings planned at Ludlow and Huntingdon were called off, as were Saturday fixtures at Wincanton, Hereford and Sedgefield.Two Premiership rugby matches this weekend – Sale Sharks' meeting with Saracens at Edgeley Park on Saturday and Newcastle against Gloucester at Kingston Park on Sunday – are off.WeatherHorse racingRugby unionCaroline Daviesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Ivory Coast reaches African Cup quarter-finals Ivory Coast beat Ghana 3-1 to become the first quarter-finalist at the African Cup of Nations in Angola on Friday. cbc.ca |
Ghana gain quarter-finals place Injury-hit Ghana have qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over 10-man Burkina Faso 1-0. foxsports.com.au |
Nigel Reed: Is fair play a thing of the past? When David Beckham gets booked in the first five minutes, you just know there's going to be trouble. cbc.ca |