Our Gaffer Showed 'Em Who's Boss

Feb 24 2008 By Gordon Waddell

DAVIE WEIR last night rounded on the Rangers critics who panned their performance against Panathinaikos and insisted: "Walter Smith proved you all wrong".

Smith was filleted for his side's negative 90 minutes at Ibrox, playing one up front against a Pana side most thought were there for the taking.

And it was compounded after the contrast of Aberdeen's up and at 'em first-leg heroics in their thrilling 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich.

But only one of their names is in the UEFA Cup last 16 after Gers' battling 1-1 draw in Athens last Thursday night - and for Weir their March meeting with Werder Bremen vindicates Smith's safety-first show plus the clean sheet it earned. The Scotland stopper said: "The significance of keeping it tight has just been proven.

"We got stick for our firstleg approach but away goals are so important and a clean sheet at home is a big thing.

"Even losing an early goal in Athens didn't make a big difference to us.

"We still had to be confident. The gaffer sets out his gameplan and you have to stick to it.

"He put another man up front at halftime when we had to score so we have to trust what he tells us - and again he was proved right.

"It would be nice to play better but the important thing is to win. I wasn't surprised by Panathinaikos, they're a good side.

"But we were well briefed on what they would be like by the manager and he was spot on."

Not that Weir thinks Smith was the only man on top of his game in midweek. The 37-year-old has played with and against top international keepers for most of his career in the Premiership.

So he's well qualified to know the quality behind him now.

Allan McGregor has racked up 21 clean sheets this season and Weir said: "He's a top keeper. He is consistent, has all the attributes to have a long successful career and we're happy to have him.

"I've played with a lot of good goalies like Nigel Martyn and Tim Howard at Everton but Allan's up there. He's still a young lad so will just keep getting better.

"Playing in big games like this can only help him gain exposure for Scotland as well. But Craig Gordon is a top man and it's good to have competition for places."

Competition for Weir's place in dark blue is a different story though. It's the one area where George Burley is well short of cover.

But the ex-Falkirk and Hearts ace, having retired once from international duty during Berti Vogts' era, won't step down again.

Weir said: "If the manager selects me I'll be delighted to be there. But I understand he has to build for the future.

"That's his decision - if I'm playing in the first team hopefully I'll be involved for Scotland."

Smith's side still have an unlikely quadruple on the cards yet Weir knows they will be severely tested by one of the Bundesliga's best in the UEFA Cup last 16.

He said: "It's a tough tie because Werder are a good side in a top league. We faced Stuttgart in the Champions League and I also helped Scotland beat Germany in Bremen so have happy memories.

"It will be another couple of games with superb atmospheres. People made a big deal of what the crowd would be like in Athens but we coped comfortably."