At the time of writing this, PSV are 3-1 up at half time against Strum Graz, after having had a goal chopped off towards the end of the half.
Their performance has been head and shoulders above what they turned in last season, on the way to being knocked out by Van Bronckhorst’s team.
They will present the Ibrox club with very serious problems.
If, indeed, the Ibrox club even manages to get through its tie with Servette.
They should. The Swiss are coming to Scotland tomorrow minus no fewer than eight key players. Even with a great performance the odds are stacked against them. The Ibrox club, as poor as they look right now, should have enough about them to get through.
Still, PSV are what looks likely to be waiting for them, and that’s interesting.
It’s interesting because, first, PSV are no mugs. But it’s also interesting because The Mooch is going to have to field a full strength side for that game, whilst Celtic enjoys another quiet midweek in preparation for going to Ibrox.
In a perfect world I’d have the game on Tuesday 29 August go to extra time, where PSV would win, and our rivals would come home to Glasgow in a sickened frame of mind.
Prior to that second leg, they have a game against Ross County – in Dingwall – slapped in between the home game and the away one.
That is not a trip I’d wish to make on either side of those massive, massive matches against the Dutch. Nor is it one you’d want to take if it finds itself a must-win fixture because they are already three points behind.
It’s very clear that it’s this four game run – PSV, Ross County, PSV and then Celtic – which could make or break the season for The Mooch. He has been in the papers and on the telly tonight begging their fans to give him the time to get it right.
They well might, if “time” means precisely two weeks because that Champions League game on 22 August, if they get that far, is already hurtling towards him at high speed and the three which come after it will not wait as they lick their wounds and try to get their act together.
Of course, he can spare himself the ordeal if his team cannot get past their injury plagued opponents tomorrow and in the away leg.
If that happens he and his club, like ours, will have a free week heading into that Ibrox game … but in that scenario he’s in even deeper trouble of course.
I wouldn’t put it past this iteration of Rangers to be knocked out next week in Switzerland. The Swiss may have some players missing, but at least the ones who are playing are half decent. This Ibrox squad may be the worse team they’ve fielded since promotion – worse than Warburton’s team, and worse than the team who were eliminated by amateurs from Luxembourg. Their new front line – Dessers, Sima, and Lammers, scored 14 goals combined last season as all 3 of their former clubs were relegated. No pace, no width, can’t score, and their defense is just as awful as it was last year. The only place they’ve improved is goalkeeper – and even that is improvement by subtraction. The new keeper didn’t even play a single game last year and is very inexperienced despite being 30 years old.
A phrase which he might want to learn for the future:
“Do you want fries with that?”… although I suppose he can just reopen his old chippy in Albert Square.
He might need to be re-nicknamed The Mootch as he’ll be oot of his dream job !
Jelly and Ice cream in for tomorrow night!! Lol.
PSV looked to have pace wide and quality in the middle. They played some good football. Cannot see them getting anywhere near PSV.
It all depends on the players, nothing to do with Beale the Speal, he will only blame the players anyway.
Personally I don’t mind who beats The Rangers, as long as they are well beaten.
I didn’t realise there was another play off game before group stages. Rangers will need to improve but if they beat the Swiss I don’t see them progress any further even with that improvement.
Looks like Tillman could be loaned out to PSV, surely not 🙂