James Sands at Rangers (olf NYCFC)

Mum's the word?

 

Not necessarily (nor terribly likely). The Brits always write it down as "mum" even when people say "mom".

 

On the bench for the EL final

 

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Sure seems like he won't play in this one, but you never know, I guess.

 

I guess we start by wishing for extra time and hoping he's considered a good PK taker.

 

I saw him play U-13s, and he wasn't even his team's penalty taker then...

 

Not following closely but looking good (for our purposes): 1-1 at 75'

 

Sands on in the 101st.

 

He's on, in the 10th minute of extra time

 

Defender for a forward:

101' SUB: A change for Rangers

➡️ ON: Sands
⬅️ OFF: Aribo

Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers | #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/UkLSmSrYXr

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 18, 2022

 

Airborne?

 

AET: 1-1.

Penalties it is.

 

Frankfurt wins 5-4 in PKs. Aaron Ramsey had his saved for Rangers.

 

Disappointing result, but likely still a valuable experience.

 

Tough for Rangers and their fans. Hard to see them back in a European final. Pretty rare opportunity that just slipped through their fingers.

 

At least that's what the 4th official's numberboard said.

He had 20 minutes and did . . . something I guess. I suppose he ran around a bit but I can't remember even that.

 

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SUB: James Sands (101' for Aribo) - 6/10 - Didn't really have a lot to do.

https://www.90min.com/posts/eintrac...rs-5-4-p-player-ratings-europa-league-2021-22

 

Frankfurt's better individual quality and depth made the difference.

Rangers' first-choice XI is very competitive at this level, but the drop-off after is fairly sharp. They really missed Morelos and Roofe

 

Sands played RCD but also seemed to be tasked with man-marking Borre who EF was trying to use to break. Gers were on their back foot after the trying goal, but starting about 80-85 they had the majority of the ball and had an incredible chance to win it in ET when two shot hit players in the box. Sands was pretty invisible, but Borre/EF did not get any great chances and the few breaks that almost came off were on the EF right side when he was on. An aside, but the collection of PK shots were some of the best, in aggregate, I've seen in a while. Hard, inside posts and upper Vs, with only a couple of chips. Ramsey tried to be too cute, but most everyone else just ripped them. I expected Trapp to stop at least one, he's a big boy with good range. EF were very good with all 5 PKs. Only one Mac could have hoped to get a hand to.

 

Wasn't it Sands that played the ball down the line near the end of the game for the very nearly winner? Trapp made a great stop on that one.

 

Video:

This ball from Sands — who played the last 20 minutes at RB — is very nice. https://t.co/BpcS9mXJDh

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) May 18, 2022

 

That was a great pass from Sands... great touch on that one. But what a save. Man o man... that is a Europa League Title Save. I think I recall Sands making a sic long ball pass in that Eastern Title Game against the Revs last season that could have been the game winner?.?.? But the PKs went their way anyways. At any rate... I think Sands is set to stick around for another year w/ Rangers. Not sure whether I would prefer him to just go back to NYCFC. Whether he can get more playing time next season will be the decider I guess.

 

It was. Watching it live I didn't catch that it was him. Very nice pass (and I thought it should've been a CK?), but he also kept the shape in D very well to that point. Despite the Aribo goal Trapp looked like he was not giving up anything today. Haven't seen a ton of him, but he looked really big in nets.