Why is Rangers defensive formation Anti-Football but other teams are a tactical masterclass?

Rangers produced probably their best defensive performance since the 1st of May 2008 in Florence in Eindhoven on Thursday night holding PSV Eindhoven to a 0-0 draw. Rangers even had the best chance of the match through Kyle Bartley when he forced Andreas Isaksson into a fabulous save to keep it at 0-0. The media, however, are reporting it as "Rangers Park The Bus" or "Anti-Football Returns", yet two days previously when English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur did the exact same thing against AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, Harry Redknapp was praised for it? What's that all about?

Of Course Spurs aren't the only side thats praised for it, the defensive counter formation has been the Special One's favoured tactic for years, Mourinho who is dubbed the best manager in the world plays a very defensive formation but yet again this is a defensive masterclass and Mourinho is called a tactical genius yet Walter Smith's tactics are called Anti-Football? Now, look at the group of players Inter had in their squad last year, they had Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Etoo, Diego Milito, Goran Pandev, Dejan Stankovic and David Suazo who are all very formidable attacking players who could destroy any team in the worlds defence yet they took the more defensive approach and it's called a masterclass? Now, no disrespect to Kyle Lafferty or El Hadji Diouf but lets face, none of these are players that will strike fear into defences around Europe so Walter Smith plays to Rangers strengths he gets shot down for it, Rangers goalkeeper and defence is the best area of the team, Allan McGregor is one of the best goalkeepers in Britain while the defence has 5 very good defenders, on Thursday Rangers had Neil Alexander in goals followed by a back 5 of Richard Foster, Madjid Bougherra, David Weir, Kyle Bartley and Steven Whittaker. Normally Allan McGregor would be between the sticks and Sasa Papac would be in for Richard Foster.

I, personally think it's ridiculous and credit should be given to Walter Smith and his men for a fantastic run so far in Europe, hopefully they can prove everyone wrong and make it all the way to Dublin.

The Old Firm Summit

Yesterday saw the Old Firm summit take place, Martin Bain and Peter Lawell met First Minister Alex Salmond and the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police to have talks about reducing violence at Old Firm matches. The full summit can be seen on both clubs official websites. Also on the websites you can see both clubs reactions to the summit agreements. In the summit both Rangers and Celtic agreed to the "six point plan". This plan is as follows;

To support the introduction of tough new measures to reduce alcohol consumption before and after games, and to make a significant contribution to the longer term effort to tackle Scotland's alcohol problem

To ensure that all those involved in matches are fully aware of their legal responsibilities

To support the expansion of the excellent existing community and social partnerships between the "Old Firm" to take every opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect and cooperation

To offer full support to all the work by clubs, authorities and police to work with communities to address alcohol misuse, sectarianism, racism, domestic abuse and violence

To consider the expansion of Football Banning Orders and the clubs' own codes of conduct to respond to criminal behaviour of fans away from the grounds specifically on domestic abuse

To ensure that the Police have the support of all parties to the enforcement of the law in relation to public order including on the internet. This would include consideration both of the consistency of the policing of football in Scotland and the potential role of a dedicated Football Intelligence Unit

.

Now I think it's fair to say we all agree that something needs to be done about the level of violence before, during and after Old Firm matches, however, I don't think we can blame some acts of domestic abuse, racism, violence purely on Old Firm matches if these crimes happen on the day of a match.

The first point of the summit is one I completely agree on, a ban on alcohol on the day of the game is needed but how far do we stretch this ban? Is it just on stadium ground? Is it in the area's around Ibrox and Parkhead? Or is it all of Glasgow? Or even beyond Glasgow? Because let's face it, a vast number of fans travel long distances for these games.

Again, the second point is one I also agree on, every person involved in the game needs to know their legal responsibilities. You'll get no arguments from me on that, however I think arresting members of staff/players at Rangers or Celtic is ridiculous. If thats the case you would have to arrest every player on the pitch for assault after a bad tackle? How far do we go with this one as well?

On the third point, are we going to take away the rivalry of the Old Firm? What's the point in the Old Firm if you can't have a rivalry? Fair enough there is people that take it to far but come on? How about we go the whole way and join Rangers and Celtic together to create Glasgow F.C? It's ludicrous even suggesting that.

The fourth point is one where I don't disagree, although what can clubs do to stop domestic violence?

The next point, are we going to associate every crime that happens on the day of an Old Firm game with the Old Firm?

And the last point in the six point plan, are they suggesting that the Police don't already have the support of both clubs?

For me, there was absolutely no need for the Scottish Parliament to get involved, there was no need for Rangers and Celtic to send representatives to this meeting as they were basically a publicity stunt and finally there are problems with every one of the six points.

Old Firm fallout?

As we all know(or the majority of us will anyway), last Wednesday's Old Firm clash caused a lot of trouble, with 3 sending offs and two bust up's in the technical area, it certainly was more eventful than the last few clashes. Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon both will be up in front of the SFA disciplinary soon and it's fair to say they'll both get big bans, and who's to argue otherwise?

What I don't get however, is how Rangers are made out to be the bad guys and Celtic the good guys? Both were at fault. Lennon and Mjallby were at fault for having go's at Diouf when Diouf was getting information from Smith and McCoist on the touchline, McCoist and Diouf maybe shouldn't have reacted but lets face it? If your getting abuse hurled at you or your player from an opposing manager what are you going to do?

Diouf was equally at fault though throughout the match, on his way over to Smith and McCoist before previously mentioned incident he does nudge the Celtic physio which is wrong as well. However it is not purely Diouf or McCoists fault is it? This is what is being made out in the papers and other media.

Neil Lennon has been at the centre of a number of incidents but do we see anything being said about him? He calls a referee "a f*cking cheat", what happens? Neil Lennon, Ally McCoist, Johan Mjally, El Hadji Diouf are all partly to blame for Wednesday's fiasco, as is another man, the man in the middle, Callum Murray.

Hello :)

If your reading this then great :) Follow me on here :)

Firstly, my names Mark, I'm an avid sports fans and this blogs mainly going to have my views on Sport but I will have other things I want to express my views on.

Writing about sport is something I've always had a great interest in and this will let me channel my views.

P.S: When I say sports I generally mean Football/Soccer.

Thanks for reading this short introduction,

Mark