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With another international break imminent, Rangers host Motherwell this Sunday in another important match at Ibrox. Recent weeks have been frustrating for fans, players and manager Steven Gerrard alike with just one win in the last five games: the team haven't played badly but inconsistency, attacking impotency and defensive mistakes have seen us lose games or drop points we should have won. In all these games, Rangers have had periods where they've dominated possession and even in the games we lost (v Aberdeen at Hampden and Spartak in midweek) fans have come away disappointed knowing we could and should have done better. Add in two home draws to Spartak and Kilmarnock then last week's win at St Mirren is our only solace of late. With that in mind, it's interesting to note the lack of consistency in team selection. Injuries and suspensions have proved problematic in this five-game period and the manager has been forced into changes he probably didn't want to make ahead of this international break. Yet, he also made five changes on Thursday night for the trip to Moscow from the team that won in Paisley so not every change was enforced. Given the defence's performance in particular against Spartak, fans are now asking why he won't persevere with a first choice back four instead of rotating Flanagan, Halliday, Katic and Worrall? Sure the sheer number of games will mean defensive change is necessary but wouldn't one at a time be more prudent than two? Midfield has been another area of concern recently with the management team apparently struggling to find a suitable balance in the midfield three and again having to make regular changes. It has to be said none of Coulibaly, Ejaria or Arfield have really found genuine form lately whilst the likes of Rossiter and Jack seem unable to play two games a week due to injury concerns. Meanwhile, Ross McCrorie who had a decent debut season last term has struggled to get any game-time at all this season. We do have plenty depth centrally so it's vital we find a balance we can rely on. Moving into attack, poor discipline at times aside, the contribution of Alfredo Morelos has been fantastic but the question is how long can the young Columbian maintain his goal-scoring and goal-creating form? With Kyle Lafferty unsurprising injured or having off-field issues, his signing has been a poor one so far - especially when the manager and fans seem less than enthused by Umar Sadiq. Morelos is one more booking away from an inevitable two-match domestic suspension so we have to have an alternative ready, willing and able for when this kicks in. In support of the main striker, a jaded looking Ryan Kent has succumbed to a hamstring strain so it was good to see youngster Glenn Middleton start and score in his first European game on Thursday. However, to become a first choice, he has to certainly work on his positioning and concentrate at key moments. On the opposite wing, Daniel Candeias has been his usual reliable self but because of a laughable red card will be missing on Sunday. This should mean another start for winger Eros Grezda who has struggled to find full fitness after a pre-season injury at Osijek. The Albanian should prove to be a pivotal creative player through the rest of this season so fingers crossed he can enjoy a full Ibrox Stadium this weekend. As for the opposition, they've won their last two SPFL games so will visit Glasgow in good spirits. We can expect further physical, direct play but the pace and creative play of guys like Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell cannot be ignored. As always Curtis Main will be their attacking focal point alongside Ryan Bowman who I'm sure will get a warm welcome from the home crowd. Their main threat may well be at set-pieces and after scoring three times against us at Fir Park, they'll want to do the same this weekend. Ironically in that match (for some of the opening period anyway) Rangers deployed a back three so the manager may consider that again this week - especially if Kyle Lafferty is available. In closing, after this game Rangers will have two weeks off but Sunday's match and the next two (v Livingston and Villarreal - all at home) are vital ahead of an increasingly difficult and hectic schedule in December. Win all three and our season is poised perfectly ahead of nine (yes, nine!) games next month so that's the challenge the players and manager must set themselves. Despite our inconsistency they are capable and they'll have three sell-out crowds cheering them on while the rest of 2018 will certainly tell us a lot about the squad quality and depth we have. Keep believing seems ever more apt! Possible team (4-3-3): McGregor Tavernier | Goldson | Katic | Halliday Jack | Arfield | Rossiter Grezda | Morelos | Middleton

Ach... these group stage games were always a bonus, for me. I didn't expect us to get past Maribor -- I did expect us to give Ufa a good go, but thought it would be very tough. It's just desperately disappointing because we positioned ourselves wonderfully with some brilliant results.

Improved ambiance ?? Anyone that saw their disco lights last night should actually be cringing. It looked as tacky as you could get. About the level of that club.

I listened to about three minutes in the car before turning it off in disgust. I'd rather not know that listen to that sneerfest. The question I was left with was ... why would any Rangers supporter with an ounce of self-respect listen to the BBC, let alone campaign for Rangers to make gestures of reconciliation to the weasels at PQ?

These international breaks seem to happen as often as we change our central defensive partnership. I don't think either of these things are helping.

We need a good display to banish the blues of last night and set us up for a good run after this pesky international break .

You won't find many serious observers who think Rangers will be ready to win titles under Gerrard in less than two seasons, at least not without a sensational collapse over at Torbett Towers. The objective this season is to finish the league campaign with a coherent platform for progress, something we've not done since Walter left. Only then will we be able to move on. Anyone can muster outlandish criticism if their expectations are equally misplaced. Gerrard has a long and difficult job on his hands, let's allow him to do it.

Last night's coverage of our match was depressingly routine. PQ had three Aberdeen supporters in the studio, Big Dick, Wullie Miller, and Liam McLeod commentating from a TV screen. Buddie Thommo and his EBT joined the down beat, low brow discussion for fifteen minutes pre-match. Al Lamont(like Villarreal) was in situ' in Moscow to provide a few lines. The atmosphere was a grouping of four or five guys standing a half mile down a food queue in cold war Moscow, knowing there was nothing in the store that was likely to provoke interest. That's it, the whole disinterested production. They don't want to be covering our games, they have no enthusiasm for Rangers games, but they'll take the remuneration. The pounding bass and flashing disco lights signaled a considerable increase in pace and enthusiasm, the A team surrounded the microphones. Pat Bonner, Tom English, and Scott McDonald joined the Dandies, and everyone chorused, 'you'll never walk alone' and agreed this was akin to a Champions League night, "simply stunning" purred McDonald. No doubt, the improved ambiance will be carried into tonight's coverage of Aberdeen versus Hibs? If these guys don't want to do it, and they don't; why can't the responsible Producer bring in a couple of guys that do want to cover Rangers on behalf of license fee paying Rangers supporters? Is there any elected representative(s) in this country willing to highlight this continuing anomaly, and demand we receive the same service provided to others?

I'm all for criticism but let's be sensible about it. This is a work in progress so we can't keep putting a big X through everything and everyone at the first sign of adversity.

The International break is perhaps an opportunity to deeply drill the team into being able to effectively use a 3-5-2 of occasion.

I'm going to go 'full luvvie' now. This Gerrard documentary is a serious piece of film-making, this isn't some 'Cameron Communications' in-house production type thing. The team behind it have literally won Oscars for their previous work. The film 'Senna' is fantastic, it won at Sundance, arguably the highest accolade an independent film can win. I believe this is going to be shown on Amazon, despite not being about Rangers I expect it'll be well worth seeking out. I think we forget sometimes just how big a star our manager is.

The defending was criminal at times, but outwith individual mistakes / poor decision-making (Goldson going with the outside of the foot) or pure flukes (deflection), I felt like it was more down to the wide midfielders, or even central midfielders that cost us defensively. Flanagan was exposed time and time again, because Middleton didn't track his man. It was the Full-back that was getting in behind; that's Middleton's job, not Flanagan, who's covering the winger. For the 1st, Tavernier was caught inside, but there was an overload of 3 against 1. Where's Candeias or a central midfielder to cover? For the third, again Tavernier is caught under the ball, but again it's the Full-back, so it's not strictly his man. 4th was a pure fluke, starting from the ball squirming out from Arfield's (?) tackle in the build-up.

Aye, right enough. Makes perfect sense. Get shot of them all 4 months after a new manager comes in. Yep, we have the money to do that too. Anyone agreeing with the above is clearly willfully ignoring the absolute dross that Gerrard inherited and the fact he has had ONE transfer window to put it right... As well as that, he hasn't had that much time to work on them in training as the games have been 2 or 3 a week since July/August. Honestly, this post is absolutely baffling to me.

Yes, he's hardly set the heather on fire, but we all thought Andy Halliday was on his way out ,and just look at how things have worked out for him under Gerrard.

This season we know we're getting an 8 figure number but the biggy re. unpredictability has historically been European revenue. A gamble is the only palatable dish that will attract 40K+ ST buyers.

Grezda speaks good English, which is helpful. Gerrard is good at press conferences but I'm detecting a less enthusiastic demeanour than there was earlier in the season (understandably).

Must win. Will be a hard game against a physical team. Any kind of win will do. Another international break? Didn’t we just have one 5 minutes ago?

So its your fault pete. A swift boot in the haw maws is yours when we eventually meet up

Somebody’s got to keep the Watch in the night, Compo. Just be thankful it’s neither you nor I.

Aside from anything, if you look at all 4 goals Katic can barely be blamed for any of them - the OP's assertion was that Gerrard should be embarrassed for saying Katic is better at defending set pieces. I could see the point to the OP if Katic were at fault for the 4 goals - but if you look at them in the broad light of day I don't think Katic is at fault for ANY of them. And when you add in the fact that the OP was wrong in saying that we "lost 4 goals from crosses" it really makes you wonder what game he was watching. BTW, watching Katic's interview post game in the reactions thread - he is absolutely gutted at the loss. From what I saw Katic actually did fairly well.

I had to listen to a bit of the radio coverage last night - probably the first 25 minutes or so and couldn't believe how excited Mcleod was at any attack from Spartak, and how understated for our first two goals. Says it all really.

If you think back to when we looked our most secure, we had: - Jack and Coulibaly both playing at a high level in front fof the defence - we had a back 4 that picked itself and stayed that way.

Groin injury Must have been that boot in the haw maws yesterday

I've re-watched it and I stand by Flanagan being more culpable. The full back had been passed on to Flanagan and it's clear he was aware of it, however despite the fact that the full back was running at full pace Flanagan remained flat footed and the inevitable through ball was played through and he had already lost 5 yards. Poor anticipation of the play as much as poor positioning. Middleton could have man-marked the full back but tried to close down Popov who was in acres of space and had loads of time to pick the pass. Have to say surely a centre midfielder should have been on Popov and not allowed him to play that pass in the first place. If Popov had been marked Middleton wouldn't have ran in to close him down, and more crucially the pass would never have been played.

I reckon he's been smoking something...

Thanks for that. That was a most comical post and really cheered up my morning.

I don't think Coulibaly justified his inclusion over Jack. Jack gives us a defensive steel and positional discipline in that anchor role and is also our most reliable centre midfielder in possession.

I haven't watched the goals conceded over, however you can't blame the attacking left winger for not tracking that full back. Flanagan was out of position and out of line with the back line. For me the full back should not get sucked in like that and leave a big gap for the opposition full back to exploit. We have defensive midfielders for a reason and if the opposition winger moves inside you (as a full back) tell the defensive midfielder he's in your zone now, I'm staying in my position so that the defence keeps it's shape.

YSaturday matches are dull again. A flicker of interest in ‘Spurs away to Palace. Different story on Sunday. Arsenal v Wolves, a championship decider yesteryear, and City v United. Have United got back enough of their luck to overcome Silva? I hope not. Blades v Owls tonight should be good.

Yeah, that is my worry about playing Middleton who has shown in other games he seems to switch off defensively and/or is uncertain of where he should be positionally. He's still young but it's an aspect of his game he needs to work on if he wants to become a top player and get a game in a 4-3-3. Candeias is usually a good example of how to do that but he was guilty a few times of not tracking back too and with the defence looking uncertain all night, that was always going to cause us problems and I never felt comfortable that we wouldn't concede. In a positive sense, we attacked very well at times and made the most of any space afforded to us. Yes, once or twice, our passing was poor but that's being overly critical given no-one is perfect. The most important thing is we bounce back on Sunday and go into the international break with some renewed confidence. Hopefully after that fortnight off, we'll also have guys like Barisic and Lafferty fit to help give the side a better balance.

I’m going to go against the grain on the central defence and say I don’t think a little bit of rotation is or should be a problem. We’ve got 3/4 good central defenders and with a heavy fixture schedule none of them should be frozen out. There are problems with the defensive coaching by the looks of things because we are leaking unnecessary goals.

Sometimes you see what you want to see. I opened Rangers Chat this morning and read the name of this thread as..... Carlos Pena retiring with immediate effect. Took me about 2 seconds to focus properly and realise nothing had changed

Pena won’t return. He’ll get sacked for breach of contract when he doesn’t show up.

I think that was a major turning point in the match, and had the goal correctly been allowed we would've seen a different second half.

Don't worry. There is another thread for people who didn't watch it!

So it's your fault.....

He is a better player than Ejaria anyway..

I'd give Pena another spin if he's over his issues. Def a player there.

Yeah, that was Dallas up front who did look rather clumsy.

I don't think it's that unpredictable. There will be various scenarios covering European cash and domestic cup runs but it wouldn't be too difficult to have a worst case and an expected scenario, and even a few others if required. Largely anything that has happened this year should be covered and if we do something unexpected like qualify for the group stages then it's just a bonus. Most companies have a degree of variance in their business models and it shouldn't be too difficult for someone who knows their business to manage it within their overall strategic plan.

As it says in the title................ Imagine scoring your first professional goal in the biggest club fixture in your homeland. Now imagine doing it aged 14. For Fernando Ovelar, that unlikely dream became a reality on a Sunday. Ovelar, who is two months short of his 15th birthday, scored the opening goal for Paraguayan top-flight team Cerro Porteno in their Superclasico against arch-rivals Olimpia. It came a week after he made his senior debut.