If anyone's in the MENA Region, ART Prime Sport has got the right to SPL games again. We get the full package for about ?10 a month (about 10 sports channels, plus films, UKTV, US tv, Nat Geo, Animal Planet etc etc). Well worth it if you can get NileSat.

Falkirk v Rangers is on Libya Sport 2 (Libya al-Rhiahyah 2 or something) for free. No idea why. No Libyans playing (just one Algerian). Though you do have to decipher the likes of Lee Maklosh (McCulloch) and Falkreek (Falkirk).

Chris

NB This is not some dodgy connection internet tv, so not against the rules.

Edited August 9, 200817 yr by starchief

FALKIRK 0 : 1 RANGERS

Nice touches there from Falkirk. Really do play an entertaining game. You can see why Stokes scored so many for this club, with an ideology of passing the ball on the deck and enhancing the creative side of the game. Unfortunately, Stokes is long gone and both Higdon and John Stewart are no regular goal scorers. McBride was especially commanding, being at the heart of all Falkirk's good play. Having said that, there was little get-to-the-bye-line-and-cross action. In the defence, the Bairns were solid. McNamara, who I have to admit I thought was past his sell-by date, was particularly impressive in the first half and solid throughout. Bullen, who I remember from a few years ago, was solid, dependable, with a calming influence. Think Steven Pressley at Hearts. ICT would have done well to sign him, although he's no spring chicken.

Rangers were pretty much what you come to expect. No flair. Grinding out results. McGregor, apart from one almost disastrous mis-kick, was extremely solid. A keeper any team in Britain would be proud to have. The back four rarely put a foot wrong. Dailly, the subject of some criticism lately, played well overall. Commanding in the box and keen to set up attacks. Although Christian did have one or two dodgy moments, these strangely disappeared once he was booked mid-way through the first half. Bougharra had a terrific match. This Algerian could really be some player. I fancy he may well be able to play midfield as well as centre-back so comfortable he was on the ball. Remind me of Desailly. Papac and Broadfoot were both never under any real pressure and coped with everything. Thomson was easily the stand out midfield player...and that's it! The supposed wide players of Whittaker and Lafferty did nothing pretty much the whole game, although Lafferty will probably claim an assist, which may have been a sclaffed shot. The front pairing produced nothing of note for each other...which is no real surprise. Either can score when given the chance but they ain't gonna be setting up too many for each other! Cousin or Novo would be the natural partners, though Novo appears to be only used now in an ineffectual wing position and Cousin just doesn't appear interested. Nuff said about the headless chicken of Darcheville the better. Alternatively, an attack of one up (Boyd or Velicka) and a more creative midfield could work. McCulloch looked keen and may have done a bit more with a player like Hemdani (presumably going somewhere so being kept injury free) or Ferguson (injured) in the side.

Overall opinion: should have been a draw. Neither side had anything in attack, although Falkirk the most pleasing to the eye. Both defences solid and on top. Both keepers (pretty much) coped well.

Chris

Edited August 9, 200817 yr by starchief