As UEFA moved swiftly to reject N.K Maribor's claims that Rangers fielded an ineligible player last week in Slovenia, it may be time for the Scottish champions to put the Slovenians firmly in their place!
American captain Carlos Bocanegra looks set to make his second appearance for Rangers and it won't be without controversy. The Slovenian side feel that Carlos shouldn't have been allowed to participate in last weeks 2-1 defeat because he hadn't obtained a UK Visa. UEFA didn't take long to rubbish their claims and tonight's match goes ahead as planned.
After fielding a makeshift midfield in the 3-0 win at Fir Park, Rangers welcome back Lee McCulloch and Maurice Edu for the Europa League qualifier at Ibrox. In defence, Steven Whittaker, David Weir and Sasa Papac are still injured while influential figure Steven Naismith is suspended. His place up front is likely to be taken by Kyle Lafferty who enjoyed a scoring return to domestic action against Motherwell. Hopefully Lafferty can find the form that made him one of the best SPL players towards the end of last season after returning from a hernia injury.
Gregg Wylde will also be hoping to keep his place after signing a new long term deal at Ibrox. He bagged his first goal of the season on Sunday and will be hoping to cement his place in the team.
I think the team for tonight will mostly pick itself. The only positions that are up for debate are at right back and in the middle of the park in my opinion.
Will the impressive Jordan McMillan keep his place? Will Edu and McCulloch return to the centre of midfield with Davis going to right midfield?
It would be a risk to play an unfit Kirk Broadfoot at right back, so hopefully McMillan keeps his place. The much debated Edu/McCulloch partnership would be a disaster when we are looking for goals tonight. Steven Davis is at his best when he is driving from the midfield and is wasted when played out wide right. He also tends to drift inside and that would leave McMillan exposed. I would give Edu the nod ahead of McCulloch and play him alongside Davis with Ortiz and Wylde in their natural positions of right midfield and left midfield respectively.
Here is how I see Rangers lining up tonight -
McGregor
McMillan Goian Bocanegra Wallace
Ortiz Davis Edu Wylde
Jelavic Lafferty
Prediction: Rangers 2-0 N.K Maribor
No comments:
Post a Comment