Gamblers Should Learn from Rangers' Defeat

Rangers' defeat to FBK Kaunas has served to prove two things. Firstly, Rangers were not as good as they believed they were. I was fortunate to watch Rangers on a number of occasions last season, fortunate in the sense that it allowed me to honestly say they were the worst team I have ever seen to win a trophy... and they almost won 4. Scraping their way from round to round in all three knock-out competitions, often against lowly Scottish minnows, and even struggling to get the win in the Scottish FA Cup Final against lower league opposition... I just couldn't work out how they were on the verge of an unprecedent quadruple. Rangers bored me. They played boring football in an attempt to sneak victories, and in the end, Zenith destroyed them and beautiful football prevailed over evil. I was glad to see Rangers' European adventure end early this season.

Secondly, Rangers' defeat to FBK Kaunas proves that favourites do not always win. The Champions League (and Uefa Cup) Qualifiers are not forgone conclusions. Finishing 3rd or 4th in a major European League is a helpful consolation for qualifying for the biggest prize in Europe, but the job is not complete until the Qualifiers are out of the way. Rangers know that now, and Barcelona know that too - hence their legal dealings to ensure they can have Lionel Messi available for their qualifying games (although in the end the correct decision has been made and Messi is staying in Beijing).

As the opening weekend of the Football League approaches, heed the advice offered. Favourites do not always win, and also, as we come into this first round of games... there is no form, there are little stats, and everyone is guessing as to who will prevail come May. The bookmakers do not know any more than the regular football fan.