Champions League 07/08- Rangers 2-1 Stuttgart (Ibrox Stadium)

[Andygers]

How do you see this one going????

If we play with our best players then I can see us winning by a goal but if we play with players like Amdy Faye we are doomed.

This must be an improved performance from the weekend...we were a shambles.
Stuttgart recorded a good victory at the weekend and we must hope they are not as good as they were on Saturday.

My prediction: Rangers 2-1 Stuttgart

[Andygers]

I cannot wait for this one, a packed Ibrox with around 50,000 people there. Unfortunately I cannot be there but I will be going to the Lyon and Barcelona games....anyone going to the match on Wednesday???? I wish i could go :sad: but I will just watch it on TV

[Andygers]

We Must Bounce Back


WALTER SMITH suffered defeat for the first time this season as Hearts ran out 4-2 winners at Tynecastle and the Rangers manager hopes it is merely a setback.

Rangers effectively lost the game in the first half with a poor display when Hearts scored twice and Cousin scores from the spotalthough they got back into it briefly, Hearts ran out deserved winners.

Smith said: "It is obviously disappointing that we lost our first match but we are also disappointed in the manner that we played and defended - especially in the first 20 minutes.

"We have been handling situations well this season but we didn't do it in the early part of today's game and I hope that we are able to recover from it.

"We have managed to do that in the past and we need to do it again especially with our game against Stuttgart coming up on Wednesday.

"The gameplan this season was to make sure that we mounted a challenge in the SIt was a battle for Steven WhittakerPL and I hope that this result is only a setback."

There was also physical pain for Rangers as Kris Boyd was unable to play in the second half with a nasty head cut, suffered in a clash with Robbie Neilson, which required four stitches.

However, boss Smith believes that Boyd will be able to be included in Wednesday's game against the German champions.

The Rangers manager opted to leave Barry Ferguson on the bench but was forced to bring him on to try and rescue the situation.

Smith said: "Barry is going to play a lot of games between now and Christmas and we have been trying to utilise the squad because it is impossible for everyone to play in every single game.

"It was difficult for Amdy Faye, who was making his first start for us. I wasn't unhappy with his performance it's just that I had to take him off as a defensive midfielder to get Barry on."
-Source Rangers.com

As the title says we must bounce back, I just hope we don't commit suicide against Stuttgart that would be hard to digest....Come on Rangers!!!!

[Vic]

It will be a tough game for sure, in my eyes it can go either way, a draw is most likely.

1-1

[Sema]

I'm gonna go with Rangers on this one. My dad has always praised to me about how the Rangers were a good team in his days, and had some of the best fans, and he always enjoyed watching their games. So I guess I'm going in his footsteps. Good luck!

2-0 Rangers.

[Andygers]

It will be a tough game for sure, in my eyes it can go either way, a draw is most likely.

1-1 Ya I suppose 1-1 wouldn't be a disaster but it wouldn't be great.

[Andygers]

I'm gonna go with Rangers on this one. My dad has always praised to me about how the Rangers were a good team in his days, and had some of the best fans, and he always enjoyed watching their games. So I guess I'm going in his footsteps. Good luck!

2-0 Rangers. Your father is obviously a wise man!!!! 2-0 would be fantastic for us, thanks for the support Sema!!!

[Andygers]

Smith ponders Stuttgart test


As he looked ahead to his side's UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 encounter against VfB Stuttgart, manager Walter Smith claimed that Rangers FC "couldn't have picked a tougher draw".

Tough draw
After coming through two qualifying rounds to reach the competition proper the Glasgow giants have been rewarded with a tough Group E draw, which means they must get past FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais and the German champions for a place in the knockout stage. Armin Veh's side clinched the German title on the last day of last season and Smith knows full well that the Bundesliga outfit will provide a stern first test for them on Wednesday night.

Stuttgart strength
"It's an extremely tough group - I don't think we could have picked a tougher one," he told uefa.com. "Against the odds Stuttgart last season managed to win probably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe in the Bundesliga. It's a very difficult league to win but they managed that so they're obviously a very good side. We have a new team and have our work cut out to do well but obviously we go into the section hoping that after qualifying well in two awkward games we had, that we can take good form into the Champions League."

Home advantage
Smith knows that a good start in front of their own supporters will be important for Rangers as the matches don't get any easier thereafter. "The home matches will be crucial for all the clubs, I think they will give us a basis," he continued. "We managed to get through the qualifying games against [FK Crvena Zvedzda] and [FK] Zeta so we know that we can compete on a level. We'll have to show that we can step up a level. Anything we can achieve in the Champions League will be down to our home form and we would hope that getting a home game to start would give us a good start."

European best
Neither Stuttgart or Lyon have made a particularly good starts to their domestic programme but Smith feels that current form has no bearing on the European campaign ahead. "I think the Champions League can be catalyst for a lot of teams to show their best form and a lot of players whose team might not peak in the same way domestically save their best for Europe. So the Champions League brings out the best in most teams." Source-Uefa.com

[Andygers]

Any Stuttgart fans out there??? What do you think of the match ahead????

[Andygers]

Cant wait only three hours to go COME ON RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[~zero_signal~]

Scottish football fans are almost euphoric here in Australia! Especially with the Scots doing so well in the EURO 08 qualifiers. I had a teacher in HS who went for Celtic. One day some student told him that Rangers owned Celtic. You should have seen the expression on the teacher's face, he looked like someone had insulted his mother :lol:

Anyway, good luck Rangers.

[Andygers]

Scottish football fans are almost euphoric here in Australia! Especially with the Scots doing so well in the EURO 08 qualifiers. I had a teacher in HS who went for Celtic. One day some student told him that Rangers owned Celtic. You should have seen the expression on the teacher's face, he looked like someone had insulted his mother :lol:

Anyway, good luck Rangers. Lol well the student was right...we do own Celtic :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the support Zero Signal!!!!!

[Vic]

You've any ideas on how Rangers starting lineup might look like tonight Andy?

[Andygers]

Yes I just heard it on the radio...and its 4-5-1 :mad2:

This is the team

---------McGregor----------------

Hutton------Celluar-----Weir------Papac

Whittaker----Hendami----Ferguson---Thomson----Adam

--------Darcheville--------------

Jesus WTF Adam hasn't played in the league yet and he was shocking in europe last year...we better win

[Vic]

4-5-1 at home huh? Interesting, it might work out who knows however man goodluck tonight!!

[Andygers]

^ Yeah it will be interesting and I suppose we are not going out to commit suicide......however I hate when Walter Smith does this in Europe it makes us look weak sometimes...

[Sema]

4-5-1 is the stupidest formation ever. I don't see how that can possibly work out.....

Well, So far so good! 2-1 Rangers, :).

[Saraj Fanático]

Bravo Rangers! 2-1 win! You guys kick ass!

[Vic]

Congrats to all rangers fans!!

[Andygers]

COME ON THE GERS!!!!!!

my prediction was correct 2-1!!!!

Ferguson was outstanding.....Roll on Lyon :D