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Another fine long form read from Alex, posted below for your forum convenience... Please read and share to support all our contributors!

A player, and a great loss to Govan's Chosen Few. Mind you, with that size and build he would have been No 1 target for the SPL's significant thugee tendency, unchecked by officialdom, and the risk of his career being derailed, truncated, or finished, to choruses of approval from experts in the various media, very high.

Glad to see Morelos apologise but he needs to properly address his errors and remove them for good.

Gerrard has a lot to learn. I realise he's still growing into his management career but there are some lessons he needs to learn quickly before he creates the wrong culture at Ibrox. I have sensed for a while now that we are generating a losers' culture within the club. That's quite a statement to make considering the man we have in charge but here's why I believe this. In the past year I've heard/read 6 press conferences or tweets where our players (twice it was from our captain) have suggested that winning the next game somehow "makes up for the performance in the previous match". Immediately when I heard this I wanted to scream "no it doesn't!!!". These remarks by players and staff are symptoms of the culture I'm talking about. Winning the next game, or the next 5 games does not make up for a defeat if you plan on winning the league, or plan on winning a trophy. Our players have now bought into this concept that it's ok to suffer a loss if you "bounce back in the next game" (another common thing I hear them say). Of course, if we do lose a game the only thing we can do is win the next one, but it does not make up for the loss. Our players need to understand that the real lesson to learn is not about "bouncing back", it's about not being beat in the first place. For too many of them however, it seems that when things are not going well during a game they are thinking "oh well, we will just have to bounce back in the next game". No, what they need to do is find a way to overcome that challenge there and then. Gerrard needs to fix this and quickly. This is why an on field leader can help but we don't have one. We have a manager who has won many things in his career so you'd think he'd be ideally suited to bring out the best in our players. There is a problem however with using successful players as managers and that is because they treat the players in the same way they wanted to be treated to bring out the best in them in their own playing days. Gerrard was a winner and very often he was the guy who would drag his team up from losing positions. He is mentally strong and will rise to the challenge. I've no doubt that if he played poorly in a game, the best thing for him and his team is just to put him back out there for the next game and he'd be sure to work even harder. The problem is that our players are not like him. For too many of them, it doesn't seem to make a difference to their determination or attitude when they suffer a defeat. Gerrard must be wondering what is going on because if it was him he'd be running faster, tackling harder, and doing everything to win. Gerrad has created this culture however. He now knows which players react to a defeat or a challenge in the right manner. Those are the players he can put in for the next game. Those are the players that even when they're out of form they will work even harder to make things right. However, those that consistently fail to respond must be dropped. By not dropping these players it sends the wrong signals to that player and every one else in the squad. It says "I know you're out of form and not working as hard as you should, but I believe that this player will eventually turn it around". That's not what he will be saying to his players, but that's what they'll hear. Gerrard must address this now or he will lose any chance of creating the winning mentality he talked about when he arrived. I like Gerrard and I do expect him to be a successful manager. I just hope he can change this poor culture we have or his future success will not be at Rangers. I posted my opinion in this thread because I see that Compo suggested that all would be forgiven if Morelos scores goals. I can't think like that. I know my role as a supporter is to get behind the player but he is consistently letting the team down and I have lost all patience and understanding with him. He's a great player, but he's damaging the culture within the squad and for me he has to go. The manager's treatment of Morelos is consistent with the point I'm making. Morelos will play brilliantly and then after a few games he will let us down. The manager's response to this is to keep playing him. This is damaging in the long run because it's teaching him that this is ok. It's not! It's also teaching the other players that this is acceptable. In a winning team this is NOT acceptable.

At the back of seven last Wednesday evening, you'd be hard pressed to find an unhappy Rangers fan. Yes, a dreadful draw in Perth the previous weekend had basically ended any hopes we had for a 55th title but progress in Europe and the chance of winning the Scottish Cup meant confidence was renewed again. Our impressive victory in Braga meant the players had showed once again they had the quality required and the management team had fixed any systemic issues with the tactics. Fast forward 72 hours and all that was was undone with another defeat at Tynecastle. Not only had the players capitulated once more but the manner of the defeat was even more of a concern. We were tactically inept, physically weak, mentally fragile and simply outfought right across the pitch. Yes, on paper we may supposedly have more quality than Hearts but after several very difficult trips to Edinburgh, you'd think the players (and manager) would know by now the very least you can expect is a fight for every single blade of grass. Instead, not one of our players assumed responsibility for their own performance and the assurance we seen in Portugal was replaced by fear. Post-match things didn't improve with the manager less than clear about his future juxtaposed with fan frustration over his inflexibility with player choice and formation. Add to this the disciplinary issues over Alfredo Morelos, the positive events of last Wednesday seemed a life-time ago. At the time of writing, things have settled down somewhat. Tuesday morning's press conference has seen Gerrard commit his future to the club, Morelos has apparently shown 'remorse for letting down his team-mates and fans' and the supporters have reflected constructively on Saturday's defeat across forums. OK, we're not quite ready to charge the Alamo yet but I think most fans realise that despite recent poor form, progress has still been made this season and a change of manager along with a complete rebuild of the squad may not be the best option available to us. However, neither should that excuse further poor performance. At the very least, the fans need to see a genuine reaction from the players to recent events at Ibrox this midweek. It may be unlikely we'll witness us back to our best form immediately but 90mins of obvious graft, commitment and spirit will be the minimum we expect. Unfortunately, further injuries to Jack, Arfield, Helander and Polster may mean we don't see whole-scale changes to the team and the manager may give certain players one final chance to show the fact they do actually care about their Rangers futures but neither can Gerrard allow such a terrible display go without change - both with regard to personnel and formation, though the latter may not happen against Hamilton given the expected nature of the game. In defence, I don't expect many, if any alterations to recent matches. Allan McGregor might not be the worst offender of late in goal but he really needs to command his box a lot better. Too often, he's stuck to his line and not able to take the pressure off by taking crosses or sweeping up long balls. And screaming at officials doesn't show you care as much as actually ensuring the defenders in front of you know what they're doing. Nevertheless, the performance of the four in front of him hasn't been good enough with only the away game in Portugal an indicator of how good these players can actually be. If Matt Polster was fit, he would replace Tavernier and the skipper will still be very lucky if he keeps his position ahead of someone like Nathan Patterson. The captain has had a very poor season all things considered and simply must improve his contribution offensively and at the back. Patience has now run out. Meanwhile, Connor Goldson has very much been up and down this campaign and we can't keep using the excuse of differing central partners for his inconsistent form. Even so, it will be interesting to see if Gerrard changes this partner again tomorrow. As good as Edmundson was in Braga, he was the polar opposite in Edinburgh. Indeed, shortages in midfield may mean he's pushed forward, allowing a return for Niko Katic who has also been very poor of late. At left back Borna Barisic has reverted back to his ineffectual self of last season and will also struggle to retain his position. As a unit the defence must improve and not one player is immune from such criticism. In midfield, the loss of Jack and Arfield will result in changes within the engine room for the visit of Hamilton and again for the weekend. Steven Davis is another key player who has been nothing short of awful recently but, as with Tavernier, our lack of options may see the manager expect him to turnaround his form. Glen Kamara - another who has been very poor when selected - may find himself back in the team by default with a third player selected from Edmundson, Aribo, Hagi and Halliday. I would actually play Hagi in the deeper playmaker role and see if he can be the one to get us to play a bit quicker from further down the park. In attack, I'm expecting a three-pronged approach. For all his faults and recent issues, Alfredo Morelos remains our best player so it would be a big surprise if he didn't start. Kamberi is again available for selection, so after some decent showings, the Albanian international should start with Ryan Kent also played off the Colombian. Kent has shown glimpses of his talent but they're fee and far between for a £7m outlay. The likes of Jordan Jones, Greg Stewart, Sheyi Ojo and Brandon Barker might expect to grab a place in Kent's stead but, other than Stewart who can create in and around packed defences, Kent arguably remains our best option. All in all, the conundrum for the manager is fairly clear. His preferred XI haven't been performing but neither do we have players ready and capable of stepping up in case of poor form or injury. Yet, can the manager really afford not to make changes when the same players keep letting him and the fans down? And, as much as we can cast doubt on the ability of a Jones, Ojo or Barker, they've not had the same kind of extended run in the team that others have. Why were the signed if they're not to be played regularly when others aren't doing the business? Ultimately, I don't think the manager can let what has happened of late go. He has to change the team and he has to change how we line up. It might be difficult to make defensive changes but further forward we can and we must. That's the leadership required here and the players have to be made to understand if they don't play well - or least work hard - they will be replaced. Second best isn't good enough at Rangers and that's a lesson that now needs to be given at every opportunity. Possible Starting XI (4-3-3):

We've gone from looking a top side to a complete shambles in a couple of months. It's baffling. Gerrard looks like he doesn't have a clue how to turn it around. Leverkusen will hump us next week if the players don't screw the nut.

The inquiry was about getting out of liability not helping victims

Looks very like gerrard has lost the dressing room. Either that or our training is awful

Just in from game not read any comments but must say I am so fucking angry/embarrassed,it must be worst we've been last two games getting beat off two bottom teams. Goldson must be dropped along with Tavernier two headless clowns. Subs did not do anything and Barker??? we must be barking mad to even include him in the squad. I totally fear for us against the mhanks. It's obvious there are off-field problems.

Undoubtedly true but we all know where the buck stops when the manager signs the players and the players don't play.

Can no one in our team head a ball on target?

SNP won’t allow a public enquiry into Celtic BC scandal because it would cost them votes.

As much as I like Tav. We've not had a great captain in a long time. Weir was probably the last great one. In terms of our 4-3-3. It really comes across if we have urgency in our play and the press we employ. We function as a unit pretty well. If we don't have that then we really struggle. We've not been doing that domestically recently. We seem content to let teams sit deep, which just puts pressure on our forward players to find a chance. Where in theory if we press when they're so deep and they lose possession. We should be right on top of them posing a significant threat.

Where/When will this all end? An open and honest public inquiry is a must. It's a travisity (and gut-wrenching) that this has been allowed to fester for so long without political / SFA intervention to find the true scale of these horrendous acts. The surviours deserve no less.

McGregor is never a captain. Too prone to bouts of hysteria.

IMHO, Jones played well enough, then we got Kent and he never get a foothold again. Kent is no left winger, Jones has pace, is direct and will shoot at goal. Barker ... haven't seen anything from him that validates his place on the bench. Why we signed him and Jones and Kent when we had Murphy ... all vbying for on slot is beyond me. Murphy was back from injury and needs competitive footy. He was not going to get it while we had Kent (and Jones), all fit and running. At the time, they were ahead of him. Docherty runs a bit hot and cold at Hibs, as does McCrory. Both do show some grit the current folk lack though. What sent us even more down the mire was not having Morelos, Defoe, Helander and Polster ready to step in after the break, for one reason or another. IMHO, the main reason remains the wrong tactics time and again ... Can't for the love of the game understand why we tried to play that "modern game" against people who sussed it out ging back to MW days. It is as much a luxury as is the European run.

The very least, the absolute minimum, we need to see from our manager before the next game is a clear sign he accepts massive changes are needed if we're to succeed in Scottish domestic football. By far the best way he can signal this is by announcing a new captain on Friday.

Gerrard looks as defeated as i've seen him, but i agree with the comments about the quiet dressing room . I'd to see want to see fisticuffs and baws booted, and a few home truths coming out in the process. Sometimes it's the only way.

Pass marks tonight to Aribo, Hagi, Barisic, Kamberi and ... no one else.

I never saw the interview. But the dressing room was quiet ??? Quiet ?? can u imagine ur 9IAR team in the 90’s after a result like tonight? Gough, Goram, McCall etc would be tearing the paint of the walls

I think that may be the key. How many times did he pull it out of the bag for us? Just one example is it was him who scored the crucial goal to qualify us for the Europa league groups. And when he's misfiring so are the team overall. We need more than one prolific goal scorer.

There won’t be wholesale changes between now & the end of the season because we don’t have the squad to do so. However I do think we will try to move on some of the first team regulars who’ve been disappointing of late at the end of the season. Regards our form before the winter break I think it just goes to show how reliant we are on an on-form Morelos. That needs to change if we’re to challenge for the title next season.

Yes, agree to everything you have said. Spot on. Anyone who sat through that tonight will feel the exact same.

Made my decision on Saturday. This is embarrassing and I said for long enough the Europa run is nothing to do with SG. The players turn up as it suits them. Tbh there will be a good few who have not taken to SG honesty and airing laundry in public. Some will say we had shots on goal; however, we never looked like scoring apart from once (hit the bar). FWIW the atmosphere at the end was toxic and I can't blame anyone for that. Last point:the applause on 8 mins was cringeworthy, and I certainly wasn't taking part.

Think some of these players are struggling with the expectations. I think Gerrard knows exactly what the expectations are and the players are resisting it. If they play Gerrard out of a job I will be fuming. We need to get a shit load of these guys out.

I suppose this team of chancers might advance in the EUFA Cup.

I think of opening the Summer Transfer Window Thread soon, so we get some excitement for the remainder of the season.

The players have let the manager, fans, club down big time!

Luckily the split will be coming up soon

It's beyond ridiculous now. I don't know as much about football as Gerrard but I do know about building teams and this has disaster written all over it. He has to drop Goldson, Tav, Davis, and Morelos at least. It actually doesn't matter who he puts in or what the score is. He has to demonstrate to them and others that these performances are not going to be tolerated. At the moment he is condoning it by persisting with them. The lack of consequence is killing this team.

This Rangers team has shot it's bolt I'm afraid.

There’s something badly wrong in the psychology of the players at both end of the pitch

How does this keep happening just now? Teams create nothing against us and yet keep scoring.

Livy up 2-1

That’s exactly the team I would like. But there is next to no chance of it unfortunately.

I don't think it is the issue. Many of the comments you read criticising it make out that May-December didn't happen. We were the best team in the country May-June last season and then Aug-December this season after adopting this formation. However that's not to say that changing the formation isn't a good idea. Sometimes you hit a poor patch of form and you just need to change it up to bring some freshness and unpredictability to your play. I would be keen to see a 3-5-2 with Hagi playing between the lines. It is a formation which plays to our strengths. However Gerrard refuses to drop Kent so I can't see it happening which is a real shame.

a captain

I have a lot of sympathy for Morelos' treatment by refs and opposition fans and agree club could/should be doing more to avoid isolating him in that regard. However, it's very tricky when the lad continues to cause his own problems in a disciplinary sense by diving, giving dissent, being overweight and missing flights/training. At some point, he has to take ownership of his own issues (the racism aside obviously).

If you had, in your pool of 1st team players, three "strikers", say...oh...Hately, McCoist and Mo Johnston, would you -as a rule- play one up front? For me, especially, and specifically, against SPL heiders and hoofers, you pay two up front; as a rule. And, do you know, this might even ease the pressure on (the treatment of) Morelos, on the pitch, to his, and the team's, benefit. So, Kamberi and Alfie up top, Hagi in behind. For Europe and, arguably, for the fhilth, you might adjust tactics and formation. As for the Captaincy, nowadays, how important is it? This is worth a debate on its own.

Correct. He should have followed a path similar to Ferguson’s. Partick then Dundee United then Ibrox. He could read a game like no other. I used to listen to his radio summarising. His ability to predict the timing and method of the next goal was uncanny. If he had kept Sandy Jardine he might have overcome the obstacles JohnMc rightly points out.

That Morelos Tweet reads like it was written by a professional PR. Fine, if he can sort himself out and find his form again most will forgive him. There is no correlation between playing level, ability and management. Zidane was one of the finest players who ever lived and has managed a side to the Champions League while Klopp was a journeyman player in the German 2nd division. My main concern with Gerrard is his ability to relate to 'ordinary' players. He was so gifted and driven as a player I worry he struggles to understand players who aren't. Unfortunately in the Scottish league you aren't going to have a squad full of top professionals. I look at players like Docherty and Murphy, good SPFL level players doing well out on loan, or Jordon Jones proven at this level, and wonder why they can't get into our first team. BTW On John Greig, I've argued before that Greig was a victim of circumstance and actually good have gone on and been a great manager. His tenure coincided with Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean, two freakish geniuses, the rebuilding of Ibrox causing revenue issues, and the ageing of our double treble winning side. Advocaat used Greig quite a bit when he was in charge for scouting and advice on teams, he felt Greig was wasted not being involved in the football side of the club.

He's definitely after Wullie Collums crown as idiot in chief

I would be astonished if he changed the team that much. The front line is probably the most realistic change. It would certainly be welcome for Hagi to spend more time in the middle.

The SNP's complicity couldn't be clearer but all the same it's interesting to have it laid bare by their mickey mouse newspaper.

I'd just edited my post at the same time as you posted yours to add that word as well. they have no human decency.