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With only a few days left until the start of the new Scottish league season, Rangers fans are in reasonably fine fettle ahead of both the away opener in Aberdeen and, firstly, tonight's home Europa League second leg qualifier against Osijek. Yes, the performances so far - in the competitive games at least - may not have raised many eyebrows but the results, at least, have been good. Add in impressive friendly wins at home to Bury and Wigan with no goals yet conceded across all five games so far then not only have Rangers demonstrated a defensive improvement but they have shown an ability to get forward at pace to create chances and score goals. In that sense, Steven Gerrard may be caught in two minds somewhat ahead of this evening's game. Does he, as in Macedonia, instruct his team to keep it tight, sit deep, control the game and try to create on the counter? Or, should he look to build on the advantage gained in Croatia and expose any weaknesses in what is a reasonable Osijek outfit? The sell-out crowd attending the game may favour the latter but, initially at least, Gerrard hasn't been afraid to show his pragmatic side so I wouldn't expect any attacking fireworks from the off tonight. It's in that defensive vein, Gerrard has sought to his improve his squad with the bulk of any transfer cash spent on the £5million central defence partnership of Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic. Add in the experience of Allan McGregor and the physical reputation of Jon Flanagan then we should no longer have a defence that leaks cheap goals. Some set-piece lapses aside, that has been evident from our games so far but Osijek certainly carry more of an attacking threat than any of the other teams we've faced over the summer. With that in mind, I expect one or two changes from the team that snatched that important away win last Thursday. Firstly, with Scott Arfield fit again, I think it's likely he'll replace Ovie Ejaria in central midfield. The on-loan Liverpool youngster has performed quite well so far but Arfield's experience and more rounded game will be necessary this evening. It wouldn't surprise me to see last season's player of the year Daniel Candeias come back into the side as well instead of Ryan Kent. Again, the on-loan Liverpool player did OK last week but, despite a poor start to this season in the Shkupi games, Candeias' relationship with Tavernier is one that shouldn't be broken up so easily - especially given the threat Osijek carry in wide areas. Candeias played well against Wigan and his creative influence can't be under-estimated. That leaves the tough-tackling Lassana Coulibaly and Ryan Jack to sit that bit deeper and with both midfielders doing well so far this season, that gives the Rangers manager the kind of platform he'll need to not only lock opposition sides out but dominate other midfields to secure possession and create chances. In that sense, I'd expect Jamie Murphy and Alfredo Morelos to be our main attacking threats and both will be keen to continue their goal-scoring form in Europe so far - even if both their performances have been rather inconsistent. The good news for Rangers fans is that we now have strength in depth should changes need to be made. Players like Kent, Ejaria and Glenn Middleton will disappointed not to make the possible starting XI below but will be needed throughout this season. The same will be said for players such as Ross McCrorie, Umar Sadiq and Greg Docherty. The enigma that is Josh Windass hasn't yet impressed this season but, if he does stay at the club, then there's no doubt his creative input will be important as well and he may well start tonight! Indeed, with the manager keen to add at least two further players to his squad - these being another central defender and striker - and with injured players such as Rossiter, John, Dorrans and Wallace still to feature this season, there's no doubt our squad appears bigger and better than last season's. Ultimately though, that will only be decided on the pitch and with good results. It's early days but it's been a case of so far, so good in our pre-season preparations and it's vital we build on that with European progression tonight and a positive league start as well, not just against Aberdeen on Sunday but right through August and September. Not only will that deliver confidence and self-belief to the players and fans but it will lay down a marker to other clubs in Scotland. For too long now we've been too passive, too negative and too easy to beat on and off the field. It's time that changed and there's no time like the present. Possible team (4-2-3-1]:

Very encouraging to see an 18 year old force his way into the squad. Here's hoping he takes the opportunity.

4 results out of 38 are irrelevant. All that matters is that Aberdeen finished in 2nd place, us in 3rd. It's all well & good say "If this hadn't happened", or "if only we'd beaten xyz" etc, but at the end of the season, Aberdeen had more points than us, and that has been the case for the past 2 seasons. Until we can move past Aberdeen, we have no chance of winning the league.

Find of the season must be Katic. He was excellent tonight and was everywhere. McGregor may have pulled off some great saves but for me it was Katic MOTM. Another fantastic display by Morelos as well. The whole team played well so Plaudits to everyone.

Gutting that it’s a clean sheet lost and goes down as a draw because it should have been 3-4 nil.

I totally disagree that this was a sweat party. We controlled the whole second half up until a lucky deflected goal from Bandheidyvic. Yes the last 4 minutes were a bit bum biting but we seen that out easily too. This was far easier than I expected. Roll on Sunday

Ejaria has lots of talent but there are flaws which I hope he works hard to eradicate. Like I said earlier, we have the quality so just need to apply the finishing touches. Hopefully that will come over time as we're not far off.

Annoying to concede that goal as we did stroll the second half. However, the wastage from good positions is an immense source of frustration. The game should have been long gone by the time Osijek grabbed that goal.

Radio Clyde did some innovative stuff months ago. they were questioning a Holyrood minister about the availability of pitches and the cost for keen youngsters. The cost of hiring pitches and facilities that would have been free when schools etc. were owned by the council way ahead of sportsound. However BBC have allowed their journalists in Scotland to follow their own agenda as regards football, and that is lack of governance

He looks like exactly what we missed last season in those home games against the wee teams that cost us so many points. Very excited about his potential this season and I hope he’s more than a “super sub” or “impact player”

I'm really worried about this game tonight. Although we won the first leg, it was a very tight game, and on another day we could easily have lost 1-0 instead of winning 1-0. If the Croats get the first goal tonight, the fans will get restless and the players will get nervous and apprehensive about playing their normal game for fear of making a mistake. It's what we have seen from our side since 2011, and I think it would be unfair to think that we have re-written our whole squad's mindset in just 3 competitive games, 2 of which were against a pretty poor side. These are the type of ties we should be winning easily given the difference in budget, but we seem to rarely look like the money we spend on wages/players compared to our poorer continental cousins. It would be nice to get back to having some confidence in european ties against sides we should be beating. If we get through tonight and against Maribor then we can perhaps say we are seeing a turning of our fortunes, but that for me is a long way off. I hope to see Kent continue instead of Candieas, who is so wasteful with the ball. I'm not sure if Kent will prove to be a decent player, but I am sure Candieas is not of sufficient quality to hold down a starting place. A bit harsh on a player who works really hard, has a good link up defensively with Tav, but he is a creative player and I dont think his final ball is good enough often enough. I am impressed so far with Coulibally, albeit only 1 game so far, and hope this can be the protection for the back 4 that none of the players playing that role managed too well last season. Who partners him when we go 2 holding players (as we surely will tonight) is debatable, I prefer McCrorie to Jack of those currently available but think the manager will go with Jack. I hope he doesnt let us down as his temperament is definitely suspect, as is his concentration. Ejaria reminds me so much of Oduwu who was with us a couple of years ago. Plenty of flair and fancy touches but will he have the workrate and quality to make a lasting impression? When Sadiq gets up to full match fitness it will give us more options, and perhaps we will see him from the bench for 30 minutes tonight. Hopefully he can get off the mark tonight and get himself off to a flyer which will also see us through. A clean sheet sees us through, but realistically, we want to start the game positively and get the first goal which will force them onto us a bit more which should let us hit them on the break. However if we want to show we are a proper football team again, we should be winning these sorts of matches at home. SG talks about making Ibrox a fortress again. It starts tonight! C'mon the Gers!

I would take 0_0 right now

suppose it doesn't help much given our contractual situation, but thought I'd have a quick look at how others operate. picked Everton, at random, they have a pretty slick looking online shop. Ts and Cs say it is owned and operated by Fanatics International PLC. never heard of them but obviously they are a company with an abilty to provide the infrastructure requied to provide online facilities and get everton shirts and merchandise into high street outlets. demonstrates the big names like sd , jd aren't the only options for partnership.

I don't think we'll sit too deep but just look to control the game where we can. To do that we will have to be better on the ball and in possession and it may mean our wingers sit deeper than normal - as per the first leg really. That will require the fans to be patient and that's sometimes a big ask! In saying that, I don't think we need to fear the Croatians either so, as we did with Wigan, we need to press well and make the most of the chances we hopefully create. Score at least once and I think the tie is ours.

If they just get the strips out online then they could look at opening shops in the future. That would obviously need a warehouse and a number of staff but surely that would not take more than a couple of months to set up if you get a good manager in.

Aberdeen need to be taken seriously because McInnes has delivered season after season despite having to rebuild the squad on a a pittance every summer. Surely to goodness we’ll pull away from them this season but they are due respect until that happens.

SG will have to learn not to use Windass as a late sub,IMO,I sit about 30 yards from where he showed his cowardly side by turning away instead of tackling.That gave us a nervous finish to the game. Like others on here I feel he should be sold on asap as he does not fit in to what we have. Great game from both central defenders,Candeias was outstanding and Morelos totally deserved the chanting of his name,covered every blade of grass in their half as well as helping in defence. Roll on next Thursday.

Not sure it was that good! Osijek would have walked all over us this time last year though.

We look fitter, stronger (Mentally and Physically) together, faster and hungrier than I have seen for years. Some of the one touch stuff was just breathtaking. Needless goal to lose at the end but we held out. I feel like The Rangers have returned

What teams don't make some mistakes. I was surprised that it was Coulibaly who went off for Arefield and not Ejaria

Seen them as I passed by going up Edminston Drive and being shown in the ground.

Phe-e-e-ew. A more close run affair than it ought to have been, as we are not composed or clinical enough in front of goal. It was a good test, against a technically proficient side, individually and collectively; they can trap, pass, move, read the game, work hard, and are, partly as a result of those traits, well organised. In fact Easyjet are typical of any no, of "Continental" sides, whom we -and other Scottish sides- have struggled to contain over the years. McGregor has certainly returned with his "A" game intact, and may well have been MotM. We are making headway.

Possibly. Kent and Ejaria are young guys but picked the wrong options too often. They have to work on their first touch and final ball.

This is one of the worst things about recent Rangers teams: you can see the quality at times but just not often enough. We just lack that extra tiny bit composure and that makes all the difference.

I certainly wouldn't describe it as comfortable.

Even game so far. As usual we're inconsistent - some good player interspersed with very poor decision-making in good positions. A few half-chances as well - the best of them a disappointing finish from Coulibaly from 6 yards out. The Croats have actually played similarly - good play with bad passing and average finishing. I'd like to see Arfield some on to shore up the midfield: too often Ejaria gives the ball away or is missing defensively. I've also been disappointed with Tav at times tonight who has also been caught napping too often and was fortunate not to be punished. All in all, the tie remains in the balance and could easily go either way.

The first half has been quite comfortable. We are making a few bad decisions in the final third, otherwise we could be a couple of goals up. Happy with that though. Again, it's clear to see that this Osijek team is very technically gifted.

A group of around 20-30 Croat ultras apparently causing bother - now kettled away from the ground.

I agree with Tannochsidebear's view on Candeias. My only worry in not playing him is that he does help out Tavernier. Hopefully somebody else can perform that role as I don't think Candeias is good enough at this level.

The key is to be sensible. So far the team have managed games pretty well - especially away from home. They need to continue that here. We dont NEED to push for another goal, we're already winning the tie. However, we need to make sure that we don't lose a goal. Keep things solid in MF & try a couple of quick bursts at them to kinda test them a bit & let them know that they're in a game. Osijek are the ones that need to really push for a goal, otherwise they're oot. Basically, be sensible & take chances when the appear.

You say that Rab and I tend to agree with you, but Radio Clyde has been just as bad as Radio Scotland for years and years and as a commercial organisation are still going and show no signs of ever becoming impartial. I dont think its about the licence fee, its about the scum that work there, and their bosses who approve of them.

The young lad has looked lively in his few appearances to date, hopefully the official move up to first team duties spurs him on again and he continues to improve with the experience he is getting.

It seems the Croats mind games have got thru to us. I think we afford them too much credit and I’m confident we’ll roll them over.

I meant "bury".

If everyone wants some transfer business in this slow time, I am perfectly willing to give my Bank number and you can transfer as much as you want on to it.

If he stays (doubtful), Wallace will probably have a longterm niggle. It'll be Flannagan on the left tonight.

It amazes me that Rangers feels a need for a retail partner at all and certainly not at this particular time.

To not acknowledge Aberdeen’s achievements in recent seasons is to show the same disrespect we complain about receiving on a daily basis.

Don’t understand why you or anyone else would think that.

They've finished second for the last several seasons and can't be discounted that easily. Until we achieve a consistency of result throughout the season, we won't break away from the provincial pack. We have to put the results together, until then words are just that.