The Flat Back Eight

       On Tuesday evening the Rangers coach, Walter Smith, employed his usual tatics for an away match in the Champions League.  Whenever Rangers didn't have the ball there was at least eigth men behind the ball and at some points they had every single man behind the ball.  Rangers are not the only side to employ this as there go to tactic when they are away from home.  Walter Smith believes it has become almost impossible for teams from smaller nations to compete in the Champions League.  But this tactic also has been used by top sides as well.  It has also been used in most european leagues for a long time and it used to appear in the Premiership.  The problem is that fans of the Premiership, in all likelyhood, will see it again very soon. 


       In a competition where the group sizes are small, if you win your home games and don't lose away matches then you will usually qualify for the next round.  So if you have good home form or have a home pitch which is designed for only your style of play then going defensive when you travel seems like a solid piece of logic to me.  But although Rangers managed to pick up two away draws, at Stuttgart and Unirea Urziceni, using these defensive tactics last season, Rangers lost all three of there home matches to Sevilla, Stuttgart and Unirea Urziceni.  They only scored four goals compared to 13 conceded

      With this sort of home record Rangers need to going for every single point that they can get.  This means that Rangers should try and play more attacking but when they do play more attacking they end up losing.  So do this mean that Rangers should play defencivly for all of their games and look to nick a goal to grab the win but just try and make sure of the draw. 

      Walter Smith says that they don't have the money to compeat with the top clubs and I agree but the way to get more money is to get further in europe.  This year Rangers have to get at least third this year or the Scottish club coefficient will decrease even further.  Next year the winner of the SPL won't even automatically qualify for the Champions League so anymore poor performances by Rangers will spell the end of Scottish european dreams.

       New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier will take charge of the team after Saturday's home match against Bolton, the Premier League club have confirmed.  Houllier was appointed as Villa's new boss last week but has been waiting for clearance from his technical director role at the French Football Federation.  Houllier's first game at the helm will be the Carling Cup match against Blackburn on 22 September.

 

       I am sure that most of you will remember the defensive tactics that Houllier used towards the end of his tenuer at Liverpool was why he doesn't have many fans at Liverpool.  The Houllier flat back eight fustrated many top english side and with forwards like Micheal Owen they stole alot of games.  Will he use this tactic with his new Villa side, I hope not.  Aston Villa don't have the same quality of forwards that Liverpool did so it would be a poor choice.  I will watch this closely because it will have a big affect on the Villians season.