BBC Scotland gave Rangers fans a rare treat by re-showing the 2002 Scottish Cup final, fondly remembered by those of a Light Blue persuasion as “The Lovenkrands Final”.
In a true beauty and the beast game, Alex McCleish’s fast, skilful, almost poetic forward line of Neil McCann, Peter Lovenkrands and Claudio Cannigia (replaced by Shota Arveladze early on) were faced with the aerial assault and “direct” style provided by Martin O’Neill’s team of giants as Rangers looked to continue their resurgence under Dick Advocaat’s replacement.
For all the Lovenkrands stole the headlines with his 92nd minute diving header to win the trophy for the Gers with a 3-2 scoreline, it was the second-half performance of skipper Barry Ferguson that dragged his team to success.
A stunning 25-yard free-kick levelled the scores at 2-2 putting his team back on the front foot and Rangers fans watching the game reminisced about just how good their talismanic captain really was, taking to Twitter to voice their opinions and dismiss any comparison to Scott Brown across the city.
Those that think Scott Brown is better than Barry Ferguson have only been watching fitbaw since 2017. Barry Ferguson is on another level, what a pler.
— Lewis (@LewisM93_) April 5, 2020
Not even on the same planet. Brown couldn’t lace Fergie’s slippers never mind his fitba boots.
— je maintiendrai (@jemaintiendrai1) April 5, 2020
All last night done was remind me Barry Ferguson is the best player to have played in Scotland this century. Don’t @ me.
— Gordon John Wilson (@GordonWilson88) April 6, 2020
That game last night alone proves there’s absolutely no comparison between Barry Ferguson and Scott Brown should never have been a debate in the first place right enough!!
— Stephen Davis (@stephdavis32) April 6, 2020
Settle an argument. Some friends claim there is an actual, genuine debate about Barry Ferguson v Scott Brown. Please tell me it ain’t so….
— Scot Heart and Hand (@ScotHeartHand) April 5, 2020
Tell you something
The match was 18 years ago
I was 18 years old and typical teenager mwi on 4 cans of tennents 😂 and whatever else was in the fridgeBut I dare anyone to watch that game tonight and tell me Barry Ferguson wasn’t World Class , maybe the best individual
— Albertz3 (@King_Albertz) April 5, 2020
Ferguson was a true leader of men having grown up at Ibrox surrounded by players like Richard Gough, Ian Ferguson and John Brown amongst others, added to his obvious technical ability, he was arguably the finest Scotland player of his generation, how sorely Steven Gerrard would love to have a player of his ilk available now.