Unrating The Players: I Blame The Turnstiles For McDonalds Touch.

The men with mics on ESPN last night seemed to enjoy reiterating the fact that a creditable draw was not enough to get us through.

The intelligent amongst us knew that our Euro jaunt was done for after the first two games but in a strange twist of events the correct results in the Rapid Tel Aviv double header could have left us in with a decent fist of qualifying.

Not that we deserve it.

Looking at the Zooropa stats the shots on target columns in most groups resemble a dodgy bingo card that just has high numbers. At a paltry 16 the tag the Glasgow Galacticos is sadly misplaced.

It seems in a tournament that is a glutton for goals as the have not's of European football slog it out we are the pragmatic bunch.

How strange.

Ratings?

Zulaska 8

The 'For Sale' sign is being polished and placed on the Holy Goalie MK1. But I remember Mark Brown having a decent game in Moscow

Hinkel 5

Decent Bjork impression. Oh, so quiet.

Caldwell 7

No own goals but a stupid booking. About as good as you get.

Loovens  7

Europe makes you look good. Then your hair style suits Germany.

Fox 5

Why does the image of Michael Gray now spring to mind?

McGeady 4

Difficult night. No complaints about his subistution but it did take the Hamburg full back a while to get him out his pocket to allow it happen.

N'Guemo 8

Showed why I thought Arsene Wenger only discovered these types of players. I'm sure on Sunday he will show on Sunday why Arsene Wenger never discovered him.

Crosas 8

Simples. Pass, move, get another pass then watch the ball rebound back to you from the front men. Ask Massimo how he coped and watch for Scott Brown trying to injure you.

Robson 7

Lacks the finesse for this level. But seeing a big glaikit ginger must be amusing for those on the continent.

Skippy -1

I'm sure there is a sport somewhere that being able to knock the ball 30 yards with your shin is a skill worth having. Go and find it.

Sammy: 1

If only you put the same effort into your thinking as you put into your histrionics.

Subs

Naylor: 1

At least you weren't brought on as a winger

McGinn: 1

Struggles to make an impact at times. Pace could be useful in the future.

MAF: 1

Caught Skippyitis and struggled to hold the ball for longer than 2 seconds.

The Manager 5

You mission was akin to putting deck chairs out on a submarine. They were always going to be displaced when it went down.

Thing is. It never went down and  it limped into port without ever looking in danger of submerging.

I hope by this point next year we will be able to handle European mobs and keep possession against those we should be competing with.

Your task is to ensure that Rapids and Tel Avivs of this world are at least 4 points in the bag.