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We've had a good run in Europe, better than anyone could ever have imagined at the start of the season. I never expected a win tonight, now we are out it's time to concentrate on domestic football, it's just wrong to start blaming individual players tonight, upwards and onwords.

Well, the run is over and it's a definite missed opportunity. However, lots of credit must go to the players and manager for getting this far so we must be positive. Back to the SPFL it is and we have to start winning again.

His performances may have dipped recently, but I don't think, at least on the pitch, it warrants an early termination of his loan. Maybe he's struggling to cope with the demands? Strange considering he's a Liverpool player.

Not sure what to make of that starting XI. Not the XI I'd have went for but hopefully they can do the business. A lot needed from Coulibaly and Middleton that's for sure but the whole team need to turn up and we're due a good team performance.

I know of nothing to fuel further speculation or otherwise, however one thing is for certain and that is his performances recently have been really poor. He is an extremely talented player and I think we'd all agree with that. When he first arrived he seemed genuinely keen to get involved in games, and make space for himself and others. However now he just doesn't seem to move into space as much, and that forces him to then receive the ball with his back to goal, resulting in a backwards or side pass. I suspect his performance metrics would show a deterioration in his movement on the pitch, but I can't be sure of that. Furthermore, when he first started with us I was impressed at how much of a team player he appeared to be, especially with his skills. Recently he appears to want to show a piece of skill before he releases the ball, and hence slowing the ball down. These are symptoms of a change in attitude in my opinion. I hope the rumours are untrue and that he isn't just another skilful kid that fails in the game due to his attitude. He could be a great player, and I'd hope he'd show that with us for the rest of the season. If he is off, I hope he sorts himself out.

Ovie Ejaria: Has on-loan Liverpool midfielder had his Rangers deal cut short?Ovie Ejaria has deleted his Twitter page, unfollowed Rangers on Instagram and has scrubbed any reference to the Ibrox side from his profile amid rumours he has had his loan cut short and returned to parent club Liverpool. The 21-year-old still follows Gers boss Steven Gerrard on Instagram, along with Light Blues players Glenn Middleton, Ryan Kent and Umar Sadiq. However, rumours are circulating on social media that the midfielder has had his season-long loan deal cancelled and is on his way back to Anfield. Ejaria’s apparent omission from the Rangers squad that travelled to Austria to face Rapid Wien in tonight’s Europa League group match has stoked those rumours. He has scored twice in 27 games for the Ibrox side. Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/ovie-ejaria-has-on-loan-liverpool-midfielder-had-his-rangers-deal-cut-short-1-4843678

It's been exactly five months since Rangers started their competitive season. The World Cup Final was still to be played, most of us were on our summer holidays and it's fair to say (new manager notwithstanding) few of us were confident about making much progress (that's progress) in the Europa League again this season. Fast forward to mid-December and a fairly impressive run in the competition reaches an important fork in the road this Thursday evening in Austria. It's quite simple: win, and we're through to the knockout stages despite being the fourth seeded team. Lose, and we're out. Now, speaking on the Gersnet Podcast this week, I was keen to highlight the positives of going further in Europe. Sure, we've already played over 30 games this season so we don't really need any more matches than we have already but there are too many good reasons not to want a win. First and foremost, the income from going through keeps us ahead of schedule in the Steven Gerrard rebuild - for it's easy to forget we've still only just started that. Secondly, the profile from reaching the latter stages could be useful in terms of attracting any new players in future transfer windows. Finally, and perhaps most importantly in the short term, the morale boost would prove invaluable to a team that has looked somewhat jaded in recent days. The loss to Aberdeen, followed by a dreadful draw in Dundee on Sunday, means our good work at Tynecastle the previous week was undone in a matter of a few days. If (and it remains a big if) we want to make an SPFL title challenge, then momentum has to be built up and maintained for the rest of this month in particular. Ergo, whilst a win over Rapid may not win us anything domestically, it could still prove vital. Unfortunately, despite criticisms of the manager for tinkering too often with his line-ups, more changes are likely to the starting XI for this game. It appears Ryan Kent is injured again and didn't travel whilst Candeias and Rossiter are both unavailable as well - the former to suspension after his ridiculous red card versus Villarreal, whilst the latter wasn't named in the 25 man squad in August. The good news is Steven Gerrard still has plenty options at his disposal, not least a return to action for Morelos and Arfield after recent SPFL suspensions. Meanwhile Borna Barisic is available after missing most of the Europa campaign with injury. We should be able to name a strong team. Trying to anticipate a Gerrard starting line-up can be a fool's errand though and the defence is notoriously hard to predict. Yes, Allan McGregor and James Tavernier will be first picks but you can perm any three from six for the other roles. Despite some poor form, I think Connor Goldson remains the pick of the central bunch for me so he should start and it may be a coin toss to see who partners him between McAuley and Katic who perhaps deserves a return to the side ahead of Joe Worrall. At left back, Jon Flanagan started in the corresponding fixture at Ibrox two months ago as he was selected 'to do a specific job' by the manager that evening. Some poor form since means Barisic may be more likely but it wouldn't be a major surprise to see the Croatian actually play in front of Andy Halliday on the left flank with the latter doing well at left back so far when called upon. Indeed, it will be further forward in the team where Gerrard will have vital choices to make after two disappointing attacking performances in the Scottish league. One would expect Morelos will lead the line but who plays behind him is less certain. As touched on above, could Barisic feature on the left or might the industry and unpredictability of Kyle Lafferty may be preferred? Eros Grezda is another option but he should start on the right due to Candeias' suspension. Glenn Middleton has struggled of late so it will be the bench for him. Centrally, we've missed the late runs and goal threat of Scott Arfield so he should be a stick on to return to the side. That leaves us two more defensive roles to fill. Although Ryan Jack is another who hasn't really impressed in recent weeks, I think he has been better than the disappointing Coulibaly. It's a shame the on-loan Angers player hasn't been able to find his form after a family bereavement and it will be very interesting to see if he's favoured over Ovie Ejaria and Ross McCrorie who are our other options in midfield. In any case, Rangers will have to look after and use the ball a lot better than they've done of late if they've not only to keep Vienna on the back-foot but create the kind of chances we'll need if we're to win. Even after two awful league results, I'm starting to get excited ahead of the game on Thursday. As the butterflies rise in my stomach I'm hoping this is equating to the roller-coaster climbing again towards another exciting run of good results. It's that kind of pace and tempo we'll need if we're to turnaround the disappointment of the last week and right those wrongs. We're more than capable of winning - let's hope all the players selected have that same confidence and belief. Possible team (4-2-3-1):

Last year we never had any European matches, this new squad has been playing 2 games a week since the start of the season, let's see how we do now we have no European matches!

The tactics tonight have been horrendous. We needed a win, they only needed a point. Yet we set up with three destroyers in centre midfield as if we’re visiting the Neu Camp. Then when, shock horror, it is still 0-0 late in the second half we start chucking men forward and get caught. So disappointed in Gerrard tonight. We’re going out to a side who are 8th in the Austrian league and have played like it tonight.

From the initial line-up, I thought we were playing a 4-4-2 Diamond, with Middleton beside Morelos, but we're not playing that at all. Arfield is just playing wide in the normal formation. It's working well: there's a solidity to it. We're really sloppy in possession, though.

Yes, with Arfield dropping into Coulibaly's position; Grezda out wide.

Another Ryan Jack special. Stand there and get kicked and then get booked for it!

Not sure. I think he'll look for Tav and Barasic to get forward and we'll extra protection in the middle. Bit like the 2nd half in Villareal

Manager has said he's 'unsettled' and they will talk more with him tomorrow.

I hope whoever replaces Daniel Candeias is prepared to give the same amount of effort because I think we are going to miss his work rate in defence.

Consider Rangers position at this time last season? I was both surprised and delighted that we negotiated four Euro qualifiers, and competed in our Europa League without embarrassment. We won two of the head to heads, 3-2 against Rapid and scoring two away goals against Villarreal. I think we would have triumphed over Moscow too, if the goal by Morelos had stood(it was clearly on side) and we would have gone 4-2 ahead? Anyways, I am comforted by the monies accrued from our involvement. We have improved, and hopefully we can confirm that improvement by maintaining a title challenge.

Absolutely Ian. We competed in the most competitive group in the competition. Id say we are further ahead than we thought we would be. This season was always about getting closer but as we have seen potential there is a demand again to go on an win the league, but to be in a title race at this stage is what we should all be appreciating.

Good point Ian

We had the beating of rapid tonight but lacked a cutting edge as seems to be the case recently. We really need to be more direct in our attacking play and drive through the centre of defences rather than always taking the wide route.

I'll be ecstatic if we challenge for the title but I'll be happy if we finish a clear second.

We're not. Yet.

We are just not good enough at the moment. These last three results have been very disappointing.

Middleton is struggling at the moment. Really surprised to see him last the 90 minutes

For the first hour or so the tactics worked fine but our final ball was poor (sometimes down to an awful pitch). A poor goal to lose afterwards and the game was done at that point. I think we needed to change it earlier and that's the main criticism I'd offer.

We’re playing a bottom half Austrian team who have scored less goals than anybody else in the league (but have a decent defensive record) and we set up with three defensive midfielders and only one natural winger and one striker. It’s shocking. Of course we weren’t going to score. Especially after the last couple of games when it was very similar with attacking players thrown on when our opponents can afford to just sit in, are we learning nothing?

Middleton needs a wee rest from the starting XI. Barasic more than capable of delivering good crosses from the left

Couldn’t agree morebmste. This lotvare shite but we are worse. What’s SG doing? His tactics are all wrong. We have not look positive for a long time. Gutted and when will questions start to be asked? I’m telling you-something isn’t right. ItscWarburtin football and tactics all over again. Awful to watch. Absolutely shite!

I don't think the tactics were that bad. It was more the execution of it that disappointed me. We couldn't string two passes together.

I think you're being kind ?

We're sloppy, but it's also so slow. It takes Goldson half and hour to pass it to McAuley.

Barasic definitely adds a bit quality and composure to the team

Time to make change now Stevie and go for it. They are poor

We look solid enough but I just can't see how we're going to score here. They're set up for a draw and we don't appear to be able to invent a way through them.

I'd imagine that will be the plan after an hour.

Afraid so. They are there for he taking but attacks will break down when your relying on defensive midfielders for your final pass. Hope we take on a more attacking player after he break.

Embarrassingly defensive against an average side. What is going on?

Absolutely no way, IMO, is Flanagan better than Wallace as a left back.

I'm sure his hefty pay packet will give him solace

The guy is an ultimate professional but must feel gutted at putting the effort to be kept behind guys like Flanagan.

We should. He would be a cheap punt. And the potential, given his goals record this season, is very clear.

Shankland is a big Rangers fan and season ticket holder. We're not going to be signing Stephen Dobbie.

"We are hopeless from corners." Could that simply be because we're hopeless AT corners? Tavernier has to be the worst corner taker but keeps on taking them. Results from corners could only improve by getting someone to take them who has some idea how to do the job. Seriously, it can't be as difficult as our captain insists on making it.

I think Middleton will definitely start. Lafferty isn’t a left winger and shouldn’t be played there. I agree he’ll go with Coulibaly over Ejaria because it’s an away game where we won’t expect to have as much possession. Centre back is an interesting one. I think it will be Worrall because I think McAuley’s will be used most when we are expecting a lot of high balls into the box, whereas in Europe you need more mobility. It will be great to have Arfield back and after a poor game against Dundee I really hope Grezda starts and finds his flow because I fully expect him to be one of the first names on the team sheet in the near future after he gets a chance to settle.

I'm loving the sympathetic tone in the press. Talk of the Celtic "family" rallying around poor Leigh. If this was a Gers player the tone would be less than sympathetic.

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