| GUTLESS RANGERS ROLL OVER AGAIN
I wish I could say
that I am shocked by the capitulation of Rangers at Tranmere, but
I'm not. I wish I could say that I am shocked by Holloway blaming
everybody except himself for the defeat, but I'm not.
For the umpteenth time this season we
have rolled over and died and it is time that Holloway took a long
hard look at himself.
Following the nail biting victory over Wycombe Wanderers Holloway
made only one change to the side. Wes Daly replaced the perennially
injured Bircham on the right side of midfield. This meant Culkin in
goal, a back four of Forbes, Shittu, Carlisle and Rose, a midfield
of Daly, Palmer, Langley and Cook, with Gallen and Furlong in
attack.
I am told that the first twenty five
minutes of the game saw Rangers play some nice stuff and carve out a
few chances. I say told because me and my pals were still thundering
up the motorway at 3.15! You will have to forgive the lack of
comment on these proceedings.
From the moment I arrived I have to
say that I didn't see an awful lot to back up the claims of those
around me. Tranmere were offering little in attack and likewise
Rangers failed to create another genuine chance before the end of
the half. Lee Cook dragged a shot wide following a typical jinking
run and Paul Furlong had a freekick deflected wide after he had been
fouled just outside the box.
Tranmere almost opened the scoring
themselves when Barlow seized on a Matthew Rose slip and attempted
to lob Culkin. Luckily the keeper was alert and saved the effort
with ease. Minutes later, the man the fans love to hate was
dismissed. Paul Furlong challenged for a cross and was immediately
called over by the over officious official. At the time we were all
mystified over the sending off, but having seen the replay and seen
that Furlong did appear to lead with his elbow it wasn't that much
of a shock. His lack of argument suggests that he wasn't at all
surprised. I'm sure this will do his cult status the power of good.
Sorry, did I say cult?!
Even though we were down to ten men
the last few minutes of the half passed without incident and
Tranmere, in keeping with the other ten minutes I had seen continued
to offer little. The second half saw a marked change in Rangers and
we just let them take the piss.
Ten minutes into the half Tranmere hit
the front through former Wigan man Simon Haworth. Tranmere had
started to use the ball to pull the Rangers players out of position
and an opening appeared on the left. Rose was caught out and Haworth
turned the cross past Culkin with a neat finish.
It should have been 1-1 minutes later
but Shittu headed a simple chance over the bar with keeper
Achterburg nowhere. Tranmere went straight up the other end and
scored the second.
More diabolical defending meant that
once again the back four were all over the show and Simon Haworth
bore down on goal, he looked up to pick out Gary Jones for a tap in.
Now the heads went down and the players must have wanted to look to
Holloway for some inspiration but it was, as usual, in short supply.
He threw on Oli for Daly to try and change the game but you somehow
knew nothing was going to happen.
The third goal follows only eleven
minutes later and the defending was once more diabolical. Barlow
provided the ammunition for the goal with a fine left wing cross;
Jones strolled between a statuesque Carlisle and Shittu to head past
the helpless Culkin. You had to feel for Culkin as he had conceded
three and had no chance with any of them.
The only player that looked like he
might create some problems was Lee Cook who was a constant threat.
His running was causing some semblance of confusion and it was more
than anybody else could say. Holloway's answer, drag him off! This
decision alone brought howls of derision, add this to his inability
to instil any sort of passion or fight into his men had the calls
for his head beginning.
So, Cook went off along with Shittu,
to be replaced by Murphy and Doudou. Yet another tactical
masterstroke from our exulted leader. Carlisle had been poor
throughout yet he left him on over Shittu. Cook had been our best
player and he was now sitting on the bench and Gallen was forced
wide onto the left to accommodate a striker so poor as to be
embarrassing.
Yet another defeat and a drop to tenth
in the table. This was a collapse on a par with the Cardiff game. I
know we were down to ten men but that is no excuse for disregarding
your defensive duties and allowing three simple goals past you.
Having a striker sent off should not mean your defensive and
midfield units can forget their responsibilities. Time and again
they were pulled apart by a Tranmere side that, with the greatest
respect, are not one of the better teams in this division. They
should not have been allowed to score three against us regardless.
Holloway needs to decide what he wants
to do now for the good of the team and the club in general. I am in
favour of giving him another month and then, if we are not within
two points of the final play off place he should be sacked. This
will allow a new man to come in, change the squad as required and
try and do something next season. Holloway has displayed a total
lack of tactical nous and an alarming inability to lift his team in
times of adversity. You only have to score the first goal against us
and you are almost guaranteed all three points.
We are lacking in three major areas at
the moment, ability, passion and pride. I'm not sure this is
something that can be injected back into the side at this stage and
I am beginning to fear the worst. Relegation dogfight anybody?
simon@qprnet.com |
