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After the weekend we could be on our way to the second cup final at Hampden of the season and be odds on favourites to lift it. While I don't doubt that Saints and Queens will put up a stiffer test than most would imagine we have to be glad that is is second tier opposition that stands between us and the Scottish Cup rather than teams from our own level.
St Johnstone didn't have too tough a time getting to this stage. The team that currently sits 3rd in SFL1 nearly blew it in the quarters against St Mirren having to come from behind to earn a 1:1 draw at McDiarmid but in the replay they showed a different side. They crushed St Mirren on their own patch and the 3:1 won was flattering on the SPL side. It was a night where everything came off for them. Hopefully it won't on Sunday but we can not underestimate them as it was only last season that they won 2:0 at Ibrox to knock Paul Le Guen's Rangers out of the CIS cup.
It will be a different Rangers side they face from that night and they are different too- as both managers have now left. Walter Smith will freshen things up but will try not to change too much. I'd imagine he'd like to go with the side that beat Partick in the last round if possible but some other factors may come into his thinking. Thomson will start as he is unavailable midweek and as Ferguson is unavailable too for the visit of Fiorentina Smith will have a decision to make on whether to start him or keep him on the bench. Away to Partick he kept Ferguson on standby which I'd imagine was due to the fixture list and the fact his ankle may have given way on the dodgy surface. At Hampden Smith won't have these concerns over his captain.
If we did ever have a left side to speak of then we don't have one now with Beasley, McCulloch and Adam on the casualty list. As important as this game is there is a bigger issue in my opinion. With the UEFA Cup game midweek and then legoland to follow Smith needs a workable solution on the left and really must try it out in this match. Who would play there is beyong me. We know it won't be Gow or Buffel who although it's not their natural position could play there if asked and probably provide a better option than we have available to us. And given that the options are limited it would be criminal of Smith to overlook them again. Given how much we have made this year in the cup runs I'm sure the pending payment for Buffel could be covered. I would rather see Gow there but knowing Smith it will probably be Novo, Smith or Burke played out there.
In goal we'll obviously have Alexander who will now need to get some games under his belt. In front of him with be Cuellar and Dailly with probably Stevie Smith on one side and either Whittaker or Broadfoot at the other. Up front we'll hopefully go with two. Boyd will surely start so hopefully Smith will start either Darche or Cousin alongside him and later try out a Darce/Cousin frontline. Maybe even try it from the start and bring Boyd on later.
Again although this is an important match I really feel we should be using it with a view to the next two matches. New personnel will come in and here is where they must show they can do a job.
Whatever happens I hope we go through to the final in 90 minutes and it leaves our fellow XT member Gers with a dilemma.
St Johnstone didn't have too tough a time getting to this stage. The team that currently sits 3rd in SFL1 nearly blew it in the quarters against St Mirren having to come from behind to earn a 1:1 draw at McDiarmid but in the replay they showed a different side. They crushed St Mirren on their own patch and the 3:1 won was flattering on the SPL side. It was a night where everything came off for them. Hopefully it won't on Sunday but we can not underestimate them as it was only last season that they won 2:0 at Ibrox to knock Paul Le Guen's Rangers out of the CIS cup.
It will be a different Rangers side they face from that night and they are different too- as both managers have now left. Walter Smith will freshen things up but will try not to change too much. I'd imagine he'd like to go with the side that beat Partick in the last round if possible but some other factors may come into his thinking. Thomson will start as he is unavailable midweek and as Ferguson is unavailable too for the visit of Fiorentina Smith will have a decision to make on whether to start him or keep him on the bench. Away to Partick he kept Ferguson on standby which I'd imagine was due to the fixture list and the fact his ankle may have given way on the dodgy surface. At Hampden Smith won't have these concerns over his captain.
If we did ever have a left side to speak of then we don't have one now with Beasley, McCulloch and Adam on the casualty list. As important as this game is there is a bigger issue in my opinion. With the UEFA Cup game midweek and then legoland to follow Smith needs a workable solution on the left and really must try it out in this match. Who would play there is beyong me. We know it won't be Gow or Buffel who although it's not their natural position could play there if asked and probably provide a better option than we have available to us. And given that the options are limited it would be criminal of Smith to overlook them again. Given how much we have made this year in the cup runs I'm sure the pending payment for Buffel could be covered. I would rather see Gow there but knowing Smith it will probably be Novo, Smith or Burke played out there.
In goal we'll obviously have Alexander who will now need to get some games under his belt. In front of him with be Cuellar and Dailly with probably Stevie Smith on one side and either Whittaker or Broadfoot at the other. Up front we'll hopefully go with two. Boyd will surely start so hopefully Smith will start either Darche or Cousin alongside him and later try out a Darce/Cousin frontline. Maybe even try it from the start and bring Boyd on later.
Again although this is an important match I really feel we should be using it with a view to the next two matches. New personnel will come in and here is where they must show they can do a job.
Whatever happens I hope we go through to the final in 90 minutes and it leaves our fellow XT member Gers with a dilemma.