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Like almost everyone else I thought Rangers were awful last night, a turgid game with only a few positives. Yet, some 12 hours later not only was ours Scotland's best result in Europe last night on reflection we were rarely troubled despite being away from home and playing in oppressive heat. We created some brilliant chances and on another night could have won 4 or 5 nil. Perception is everything in football. Most of us could see that Alashkert were as poor a side as we've faced at this stage in Europe and after our good runs in recent seasons there's an expectation we'll reach the group stages comfortably and with some style. The disappointment of losing to Malmo still hangs heavy in the air. It's worth noting that Scotland will have no representatives in the Europa Conference League this season, unlike Gibraltar, Cyprus and Kazakstan. Aberdeen and St Johnstone failing to qualify, following Hibs who were already out. The reality is we play in a poor league, that's getting poorer every season. We've probably over-achieved in Europe recently. I think the Europa League is one we can expect to compete in. The Champion's League, despite its riches and glamour, is a step beyond us currently. We'll see where we are in 12 months, but for now I'm looking forward to the draw and to some big European nights at Ibrox once again. It's great we're there.

Morelos has had previous dips in form, where he was very much like that. Every season he's been here there have been fans saying he's useless at certain times. It's similar to the Kent situation - on their day, both of them look world class but when off form, they're a waste of a jersey. If they were playing well consistently, we'd have had huge offers and they'd be gone.

Thank you sir, however i must object to being classified in any category with TLB. I'm off for a shower and bleaching down and hopefully that will cleanse me from this post!

Disgusting. I've reported you to admin, UEFA, FARE and Points Of View. ?

However, last year's form would probably have seen us qualify for the Champions League this season.

I actually think Morelos is more suited to the deeper role , rather than being up top on his own

depends final of that will easily beat last 16 or EL. Then various things in between

If 100% fit, I'd say Ryan Kent is a certainty to start against Celtic.

so just to clarify , 1st place automatically into the last 16 with other group winners , 2nd place team plays one of the Champions league 3rd place teams for a last 16 spot , 3rd place in the group plays a conference team and the winner progresses in that competition .

You are in poor company, Neil Lennon can never differentiate either. Slavia are the racists, Sparta are in waiting.

Can Stevie G not send one of the young lads down the Co-op and get a quarter pun of tempo, a quarter pun of pace and, hauf a pun of gumption? Remember and use the Divi' number.

I would have taken that beforehand: all are beatable, with a somewhat glamour tie thrown in.

Lyon, Sparta Prague and Brondby. Not bad.

McCoist and White - no thanks. Is Kent being back in the squad a positive? Obviously, we want all our players available - Kent has a good record against that lot but his form, so far, this season has been poor. I'd leave him on the bench but I expect SG won't. Roofe is the one we really need. Their defence isn't great and a player like Roofe can cause them all sorts of problems. I'd start with Roof, Morelos and Aribo as a front three. We need to be focused from the outset. None of this pedestrian, slow-paced, predictable stuff - get at them and pass the ball quickly. We know we can do it. Mon The Rangers! ??

As always there are going to be tougher draws and easier draws, but with the top 3 all guaranteed post-Xmas matches, we have to be confident that no matter who we draw we will not be huge underdogs to progress somewhere, and if we can repeat our feat of last season and win our group, we get a bye from the last 32 games and go straight to the last 16, which would be a huge bonus and add to our reputation and profile.

Thank you JohnMc and Frankie for painting such a positive picture, certainly changed my perspective from what I witnessed last night. Cheers.

Filip Helander - without whom Rangers wouldn't be in the Europa League

I expect the heat was a factor last night. Morelos looked as if he’d never been in a hot country before. Unusually Hagi’s radar was off. Aribo was very good, Kamara and Helander were fine. Paterson is mature for a young Scottish footballer. I liked McRorie’s outfit. He did well what he had to do. Got the look of a young Billy Ritchie about him. Needs to bulk up a bit but as we all know that comes naturally every year. Being an athlete he’ll convert that to muscle. There were a couple of crosses an old-time ‘keeper would have come for, going through the centre halves if need be. Modern defence planning maybe says something different. @Frankiewill tell me.

All put in a decent shift but gone with Helander

If I were skippy I would be looking at the rule book to see if I can start with ten men ?

Pot 1 Olympique Lyon Napoli Bayer Leverkusen Dinamo Zagreb Lazio Olympiakos Piraeus AS Monaco Sporting Braga Pot 2 Celtic Eintracht Frankfurt Red Star Belgrade Leicester City Rangers Lokomotiv Moscow Racing Genk PSV Eindhoven Pot 3 Olympique Marseille Ludogorets Razgrad West Ham United Real Sociedad Real Betis Fenerbahçe Spartak Moscow Sparta Prague Pot 4 Rapid Vienna Galatasaray Legia Warsaw FC Midtjylland Ferencváros Royal Antwerp/Omonoia Sturm Graz Brøndby IF I'd take Zagreb, Ludogorets and Midtjylland ?

I was apprehensive a week ago but now looks like Kyogo may not make it. Given also that Starfelt looks even worse than Duffy in defence, the worst I expect is a draw - which wouldn't be bad. We are due one I suppose, law of averages and all that.

Were have I heard this before ???

I don’t think we can have too many complaints about the draw we got. Olympique lyon have made a poor start to ligue1 & Sparta Prague arent as good as Slavia. And if we’re honest we should be able to beat Brondby home and away.

I Expect we need to sell before buying. The budget should now be clearer so yes. Won't want to sell before Sunday though of course.

I expect him to score a bucket-load for the B-team.

Davis scored in Sweden. The other strikers mentioned to make my point have little or no game time.

Move to Birkenshaw, there's a BIG water tower. Stand underneath and demand they open the sluice, that should just about do it. We pray for your cleansed recovery.

Even better. Hard game to make your debut in whilst adjusting to team mates in a poor defence.

I think if the chances fall to Itten, Roofe or Defoe we are guaranteed at 2/3 goals. Morelos is off the pace at the moment. Christ, even his goals have had an element of fortune IMO. The "header" against Malmo came off his side. His goal V the Armenians just crept under. The sclaffed shot V Ross County. I know a goal is a goal regardless but it seems indicative of his general play at the moment.

Kent has been off form, as have all the players! teams are terrified of him, he is a cracking player and has good experience against that mob, he would play if it was my choice.

my virtual draw Lyon Rangers Ludogorets Midtjylland

Thought I'd leave it until today before commentating on yesterday's game. Positives first: to qualify for the EL group stages for the 4th straight season is fantastic consistency and worthy of great praise given the challenging circumstances year on year. Well done all! In that regard the manager and his staff as well as various players have lots of credit in the bank when it comes to effort, attitude and quality of performance. It's not easy to hit the ground running early in campaigns so such context is well worth noting. However, as the manager is fond of saying, that's now in the past. We must look at where we are now and, for whatever reason and without hysteria, the start of this season - and right through pre-season too - has not been good whilst our body language and confidence seem poor. Defensively, we look unsure of ourselves, our midfield is rarely offering the platform we rely on and our attack is misfiring game after game. Too many changes (some enforced, some not) haven't helped and one would hope these will be minimised across coming weeks. The trip to Armenia and the conditions over there are also a negative and will explain some aspects of our pedestrian performance last night. But, again, these guys are professional athletes and if you want consistent success, these are the hurdles you must navigate. No excuses. Now, Sunday's game isn't exactly a title decider so fans have to avoid panic. CV19 issues are a factor but we still have plenty of quality to stand tall as defending champions (have our players forgotten this or taken it for granted?) at Ibrox this weekend. Of course Celtic, as always, will offer a test of nerve but, given last night's qualification, I'm confident our players will call on their experiences in such games last term to find the muscle memory and frame of mind to finally get going this season. Personally I can't wait.

I'd love to see us beat Zagreb, Marseille and Galatasaray but a preferred draw would be: Braga, Real Sociedad and Midtjylland. The repeat tie possibilities are a bit of a pain.

Monaco, West Ham and Galatasaray would be interesting

celttc looks to be poor away from home. Something that has been true through Ange career.

Very! Was why he wasn't playing- loaned out and sent back.

As much as we'd prefer to get into the CL due to the financial rewards, the EL is somewhere we know we can compete. I'd be doing a @Rousseau and hiding behind the couch for games against Chelsea and Juventus, on current defensive form. Roofe is a more cool-headed striker than Morelos, so hopefully he can sort us out when the latter isn't being clinical (ie. Tonight).

Torture. I'm getting fed up watching Morelos one on one with the keeper. I can't remember the last time I felt confident watching him in that situation. Even the goal last week, against Alashkert, was almost a miss. He used to have an edge. Where has it gone? I'm now concerned that this will be a long, and difficult, season.

I DO NOT! Just against them. And top 6 teams. And against those tricky relegation fighters. And cup ties against diddy teams. And European games. And Mondays. But that's it!

https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/match-analysis/1400-four-goals-provide-highland-spring-for-rangers @Govan Rear Bear @Frankie