Rangers show their ‘big three’ credentials
Monday 1st February 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
Rangers goalkeeper Adam Gontier, who enjoyed a fine game, gathers the ball with teammate Arrian Green shielding it from Marc McGrath. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0909217)
RANGERS said that they want to be a ‘big three’ club – and they proved their case with a well-earned win at St Martin’s on Saturday.
The red-and-blacks went into the match in fourth place in Division One and some points off leaders Bels, St Martin’s and North – the top trio.
And they narrowed the gap to seven points as a single goal from Will Thompson settled the outcome at a bright and chilly Blanche Pierre Lane. It also resulted in Saints dropping from second to third with North defeating Rovers at Northfield.
‘We’re getting there,’ said Rangers boss Paul Ockleford afterwards.
‘It all depends on where we are at the end of the season. I’m pleased with the way we’re progressing and improving.
‘It was a good win.’
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Can I just say that I was at the above and would like to give a different perspective on the above match as a certain coach has, in my opinion, got overinflated ideas of his teams ability. Saints were just very poor not Rangers brilliant
Sainst had at least 6 first team players or benchies injured or unavailable, totally outplayed Rangers in the first half and as poor as a number of Saints players were should have won the match (albeit without many clear cut opps). Rangers rely on Ross Allen pure and simple. Take him out and they would be in the bottom two. That said they play to there strengths with 10 players working hard and then hoofing it up to Ross Allen with a whole lot of desire but little ability or desire to play an attractive game of football.
My final bug bare is Ross Allen whilst a superb player is overhyped in the press(a certain Mr Batiste). Yes he is very very good but there are better all round players. If Dave Rihoy or Ben Coulter to name but two played in a team where every one passed them the ball, were not required to ever pass it and were given the license to shoot at every single opportunity they would score a hatful. In fact i’m confident that most players would score a lot!
This is an exaggerated view on all these points above and probably harsh on Rangers and certain members of their team but i think it evens out the reporting in the press. Of course this is also just my opinion and has just as much chance of being wrong as the press.
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Saint – you sir are a blinkered fool!
You have disrespected the entire Rangers squad by suggesting that they are a 1 man team… Why dont you turn up to one of their training sessions & say that in front of them, instead of hiding on a forum??
To claim that Rob Batiste overhypes a player who has scored a hatfull of goals this season is the most pathetic thing I have ever heard!! The last time I checked, a strikers job was to score goals…. funny that!
You say Saints dominated the first half – I bet you wish you had Ross on your team then as if you out played Rangers that much then you would have scored a goal or 2 – something that your entire team failed to do in 90+ minutes…
Your comment about attractive football would lead to suggest that you were unimpressed with Rangers tactics… well even the best teams sometimes fall to their opponents standards – im sure Rangers will be playing attractive football again in their next game…
Correct me if im wrong but you wrote this after the one man team defeated your team of obvious superstars… Could this be a massive case of sour grapes?!
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Saint your comments were understood by me if not W H Bonney. Not to say that I agreed with all of them but your sarcasm in this case is accepted
W H Bonney Ross Allen is an undoubted football talent but you should read your Guernsey Press before making your comments. Rangers did not only not play attractive football last night (their next game as you state) but they got absolutely hammered by Bels 7-1. Not to take anything away from Bels but a certain Ross Allen lost complete interest complaining to his coach that ‘no one else wants to play so take me off’
The Rangers coach took him off and must have been distraught because when the chips are down you need your talented players to step up to the mark, not just whither into oblivion.
We do not have a chance if Allen behaves in this manner when on Island duties, I know that players act differently when playing for the Island but they shouldnt
If Vance can get the Island side to perform like Bels last night with talent, pace, guts, effort, camaraderie and determination we would be a force to reckon with. On this display several more of the Bels should be involved at Island level and players, like Allen, who just perform when they personally feel like it, should be left out
Matt Drillot fought and sweated blood for his team mates who responded with a display that could only be described as a champions performance – that much Rob Batiste did get right
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Len – I agree with the majority of your post…
Hoever what I didnt agree with was the manner in which ‘Saint’ wrote his opinion! Im sure Mr Allen does have his flaws & I cant comment on last nights game as I wasnt there, however every game is different…
Saint went out to personally attack Rangers Ross’ style of play… I was merely pointing out that at this level – no team is going to play like Real Madrid… does it matter how a team plays?!
Come May, im sure Saint wouldnt be complaining if Guernsey played long ball & Ross took on 4 players & put it in the top corner?!
Bels are in a league of their own at the moment, the rest have to scrap to get points – if that means playing intricate passing, longball, kick & rush or any type of tactic – who cares?!
There was once a Boring Boring Arsenal chant… im sure no Arsenal fans were complaining that whilst their side were winning everything, their side were not playing the best football!!
Similarly, When Maradonna took on 5 players & scored goals – not many Argies complained!! (not that im comparing any local player to Maradonna!)
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Mr Bonney….please accept my apologies if i didn’t make it clear in my post I was exaggerating my post to balance out the press report as i stated and I think you may have taken me a little too seriously! I think my tone may have been lost on you unlike Len B
My point on Ross, was not whether he was a great player but rather that he gets attention over other equally talented players because he plays for Rangers. I was merely asking for the press’ love to be shared around. It is easier to shine in a poorer team than a good team. My point is illustrated when toys are chucked out of the preverbial pram without any punishment. I for one know that whilst Ross Allen playing at Saints or North would give them a real shout at the league he wouldn’t last long without passing etc without a lot of moans and groans.
Also you seemed to think I was criticing Rangers for getting a great result and i’m not. I was just expressing my own personal opinion that they are far from a top 3 team for a number of reasons including there style of play.
Again apologies as i have seemed to strike a nerve with you here, but this is my view and i don’t apologise for that.
The idea of a forum is to discuss views so i won’t be going to rangers training ground but i have expressed my view to several of their players in the past however i would like to point out i have personally told a number of rangers players of my opinion and as you can imagine they don’t agree with me about their top 3 potential etc they do totally agree with me on another aspect of it
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ps in a better team no doubt his style would be more all round and show him as probably Guernsey’s best player
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Fair do’s!
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i’ll take that as an apology!
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It’s not an apology… You have your opinion & I have mine!
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i feel have to comment on a couple of things after reading these posts. firstly i would like to pass coment on what W.H.Bonney said about Rangers and Mr Ross Allan. i my self enjoy watching Rangers playing football as they are a team of lads that have gone from the wipping boys to a team of maybes and long may that contiue. Secondly Mr Ross Allan yes he is a gifted player but alas not gifted enough or he would be away by now playing else where. as for as the Bel’s match where Mr Allan was show when the chips are down he wants out of there which to me is the worse type of player you want in a team one that only thinks of himself and not the other ten players out there trying there best. one last thing i would like to say is that Mr Ross Allan is also a player who thinks during agame that he is never wrong the amout of times he is heard and seen to complain to officals, team mates and coaches and how would i know what he is saying is because i have Refereed and been an assitant on many games involving Rangers and Mr Ross Allan. only my opinion and yes i would come to trianing and tell him to his face.
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all in black your knowledge of the english language and being a referee narrows down who you might be
i agee tha allen thinks he is a rule onto himself, so did his father
strange talented people who but ross is definitely not a team player
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There wasn’t a big crowd at St Andrews on Saturday to see Ross Allen score four goals(two pens).His efforts on the day highlighted a good performance by the home team, which was acknowledged by the away coach.
I had no problems with him on the day,his behaviour was a good example to any player.
Credit where credit is due.
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Firstly, I don’t think criticising island players the week before important games for Guernsey is especially constructive.
To claim that Rangers are a 1 man team is quite laughable – particularly when Ross didn’t actually score in the Saints game referred to. The Rangers as a team have shown they are a force to be reckoned with and are growing in strength and determination. Great news after years of battling to stay off the bottom spot!
To come off in the last 15 mins whilst 6-1 down against Bels was perhaps an error on Allen’s part. However, safe to say the game was pretty much over at that point and with a game against Rovers followed by 2 Island games in a week it would have been wise to avoid risk of injury. To criticise his attitude towards the game and suggest Allen is a glory seeker is nonsense. Surely the fact that a player has remained loyal to his club for his entire football career in the Island, despite the tougher times (I think a win for Rangers in previous seasons was a rare occurance), and offers from other players and coaches for him to join the ‘big three’, would suggest otherwise. I think it admirable that a player with talent and passion for the game would give up the chance of winning medals, and face heavy defeats week in week out due to club loyalty and is a testiment to the Rangers and Allen. And long may that continue so that local football remains as gripping as it has been this season, rather than consistently dominated by the top 2.
The press does praise but Allen has played some cracking football and scored a hatfull of goals for a mid-table team. Praise where praise is due. It may be easier to shine in a weaker team…but it is hard to score against the Bels! Last night’s defeat over Devon highlights the great talent on the island at the moment. We should be celebrating our great players and getting away from all the inter-club bitching.
Finally, at a time of the support the ref campaign, I think All in Black ought to re-think his unprofessional forum post. Is it a wonder that players feel the ref is often ‘out to get them’ with comments such as these? I think you’ll struggle to find a game of football at any level where the ref doesn’t face some criticism and without mutual respect like Geoff has shown here, there is no hope!
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Sportsfan Allen behaves like a spoilt kid at times
No one is knocking his obvious talent and he is important to Rangers and the Island
He must prefer to be a big fish in a small pond and I am not sure that any of the top three coaches would want a player with such a selfish attitude
He would be a disruption
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