Edwin critical of Rangers

Edwin van der Sar has criticised Rangers' tactics in the wake of Manchester United's 1-0 win at Ibrox.

The Red Devils stayed top of UEFA Champions League Group C thanks to Wayne Rooney'ssuccessful late penalty.

With Valencia putting Bursaspor to the sword elsewhere, Rangers needed to beat United in order to retain hope of staying in the competition.

However, Walter Smith's side remained compact and Van der Sar was surprised they did not come out of their shell.

"We knew it was going to be a hard game and that they were going to defend well, and they did," he told Sky Sports.

"Maybe they were a little bit on the negative side, but they've had some success with it.

"We hoped maybe in the second half, when they knew the result in Valencia, they would open up a bit and try to maybe win the game and maybe even try and stay in the Champions League.

"It didn't really happen as they kept everything tight and it was tough for us to put the balls through."

Source: Sky Sports
Date Published: 25 November 2010

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Have your say on Edwin critical of Rangers in the United Online forum

I'm not saying it's gonna happen just that i'd like to think it will, surely he'll have to come good eventually ( fingers crossed ) and i'm hoping this will finally be the spark to get him to push on with more goals but then again he could easily revert back to his normal underwhelming self. Only time will tell i suppose.

- Munsterman

Well Berbatov has scored 12 goals this season and 11 of them have come when he has started with Rooney. Maybe it's just a coincidence...

- Munsterman

With Rooney playing up top with him regularly noe he's fit id like to think he'll be in among the goals more often from now on.

- Munsterman

makes sense. I see pepe is on there. Didnt play his first game in 2010 until September!

- birchy

As far as I know FIFA make the shortlist of nominees and the world's professional players vote for the best 11 in a 4-3-3 formation.

- Bragg

Isnt it voted for by the players?

- birchy

Stop! The world football governing body want to have their say on the Berbatov situation... BREAKING NEWS: Berbatov makes FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 shortlist Anyone want to retract those Dimi bashing statements...I mean this list comes from football's men in the know, the guys with genuine expertise, the movers and the shakers...basically the guys who know what's what...our glorious leaders...demi-gods one and all... oh wait what's that...Gerrard and Kaka included in list of 55 too...erm...

- Bragg

Hernandez has to be close to being a first choice starter, and i know Rooney was great up top last season but I do like seeing him in the hole getting involved, and if we have a proper finisher up top then he can play that role.

- birchy

Rooney will make the world of difference, IF we can get the right sort of service to him. Giggs coming back will also help, but I agree Valencia's return would be very important too, particularly as Nani seems to be out of sorts these past few games. Rooney's obviously not lost the aerial prowess he discovered last season, and even his movement alone is a huge boost. Berbatov? I'm beginning to lose patience. He's talented, and I don't mind players struggling for form every now and then, but his attitude really stinks. It was awful in Turkey, awful at Villa Park and not great last night either. I'm also not convinced he's the right type of player for our front line - he slows play down too much - and I'd much rather see a willing runner (and lethal finisher) like Hernandez starting alongside Rooney on Saturday. All in all, a very good night's work though. Our passing was better and we created a few chances, albeit against mediocre opposition. Smalling looked decent, as did Fabio. Even better, our whole first-choice back four, plus Fletcher, will be fresh and raring to go on Saturday.

- Neil

Smalling again looked comfortable in the first team. More so than Evans of late. I thought Fabio was great last night. Carrick played well at what he does (still thnik he needs to offer more in final third, the game is about goals and assists). Rooney, i thought, looked good. He was a little rusty with his finishing but his movement was great and he got to into plenty of good positions. Add some match sharpness and you can see he is ready to go again. Berbatov did ok but, at United, we expect more. Its no good performing in stops and starts, especially when there is the likes of Hernandez on the bench. I hate Rangers. They have a small club mentatlity both on and off the pitch. So glad we found the winner and send them all home with nothing more than the deserved. Still undefeated without conceeding a goal. IF Rooney finds form, we stay injry free and Valencia comes back soon youd think we are sure to start firing sooner or later. Wont we?

- birchy