Dutch Of Class!
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Rangers v Ajax
Ajax have been here before on
Super Cup business in 1973
and they were not a joy to watch! As
a Rangers fan I confess to a hatred
of any team beating the Rangers.
We lost that night 3-1 as the
European Cup holders played us, the
Winners of the Cup Winners Cup.
We had a right good team at the
time but the Dutch were just starting
their Total Football period which would
see them be in the forefront of
European and World football.
Their National Team would be the
stars of the World Cup in Germany the
following year, only to lose out in the
final to the hosts.
I have always loved teams who play
the game on the deck. Players who
can see a pass and make that pass
count have always excited me.
We've had a few at Ibrox over the
years. The Wee Prime Minister, Ian
McMillan was a master craftsman at
laying on the ball for his colleagues.
Ask Willie Henderson, he revelled in
the service he got from McMillan.
Likewise Davie Wilson, Ralph Brand
and Jimmy Miller all benefited from the
same sort of service from the most
educated left foot in the business,
Jim Baxter.
Football in Scotland has changed
since those days though, and this
season we start off with about ten
players who are at the start of their
careers at a huge football club.
Tonight they will have the chance to
pit their wits against some of the best
talent in Europe. It will do them no harm.
Whilst I hate to lose any game, the
result of tonight's game won't matter if
the likes of Lee McCulloch, Jean-
Claude Darcheville and Carlos Cuellar
can show us that they mean business
at this club. I think they will.
I am just as excited about seeing Alan
Gow and Kirk Broadfoot stepping up to
the plate as Rangers players and of
course DaMarcus Beasley will be
desperate to show us that's he's Da Man!
I am really pumped up about the
coming season. The players look fitter
than they have ever been and will have
been left in no doubt that another
League Flag flying in the other end of
Glasgow is a big NO NO!
Added to all the players I've
mentioned already I know that Chris
Burke, Charlie Adam and Alan Hutton
will be keen to show The Gaffer that
the great form of last season was not a
flash in the pan.
Charlie scored 14 goals from
midfield last term and Alan Hutton was
magnificent, especially after Walter and
Ally came home.
Now I haven't mentioned Kris Boyd
so far but my opinion of the big
Ayrshireman will never alter: Give him
the ba' in the boax and he'll score
goals for the Rangers. Job done!
So is tonight the first step to
success this season? Well let me tell
you something.
For the past 62 years I've supported
The Rangers and as I stand in the tunnel
at Ibrox waiting for my cue to run onto
the pitch and read out the team, the
hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Whether it's Ajax in a friendly or
Celtic in an Old Firm Derby it doesn't
matter, the thrill is always the same. If
our team have that same feeling then I
believe we can beat the World!
COME ONTHE RANGERS!
www.rangers.co.uk
