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I think Fashion Sakala is easily justifying his transfer

Good to see an outbreak of sanity on this thread. At times last Wednesday you would have thought we had just lost the league. Folk wanting GVB sacked, heavens above. We've every chance of clawing back that one point deficit.

Am I alone in thinking that an honourable exit to a Bundesliga side wouldn't be too bad a result given the increased importance of racking up domestic points? Particularly if the lot across the city have a lengthy, energy-sapping, (but ultimately fruitless) diddy-Europa cup run...

Calvin Bassey was a f*cking liability who singlehandedly could have cost us the game. His significant positive contribution counts for nothing if he's going to make suicidal errors of judgement like that. He seriously needs to wake up and focus on his positioning. If he does he can have a bright future at Ibrox.

I didn't intend to denigrate Calvin Bassey, who I've praised many times. As far as I'm concerned he's our first choice left back. What I would hate this to do is arrest his progress to being a much better players week in week out, although I'm sure our coaching staff will be well on top of that. So far so good with Bassey but he is prone to moments of silliness and needs to work on his decision making.

I've watched Sakala's goal several times and it gets more skilful every time - and what was with has stolen celebration? 😁 The best bit about Kamara's goal was the pass from Morelos that left the Hearts defence wondering what day of the week it was.

Its almost as if he is a young player who could possibly learn the game and improve.

A look at tomorrow's Champions Youth League Opponents. https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2022/02/07/uefa-youth-league-sevilla/

We have all had our doubts to some extent since Gio came in, for me even at one point I was thinking the players aren't getting his tactics! or they don't like the set up! are they playing for him?. Well that performance eased my concerns! they reacted alright! and yes still a few errors in there however I believe they are all in it together and as long as they maintain the hard work and tempo, playing on the front foot then we will be in with a great chance of 2 in a row!

i hope celtc go far in europe. There are real limits to moving fixtures with the upcoming world cup.

He must mean the other way young players get away with murder in a lot of cases. That is perhaps fair enough. Patterson for example was never even close to being as good as Tav but was hugely favoured over him.

League is priority and I'd sacrifice all other tournaments

Yes, the important thing was getting into the group, then qualifying for the knock-out stage is a bonus, for me.

His celebration? We have two buffaloes! 🤣 https://twitter.com/fashionjr10/status/1490411883190435840/ SPFL highlights

Yes, sentimentality often obscures reality among football supporters. Bassey has undeniably good qualities but he needs to be sat down and reminded that his development as a player has some distance to go and he needs to knuckle down if he's to realise his potential. With determination and support, he could yet be a much better player.

Lundstram has now been excellent in 7 of his last 8 starts. I don't know why his game time has been so limited recently other than we were trying to punt him.

Already did at Ross County.

This Castore deal concerns me…. James Bisgrove even said something at the AGM there had been issues. A year after Rangers signed up with them they got Wolves & Newcastle too. I wonder how much these two deals are costing Castore & if we’re taking a hit because of that Always felt if Puma( as alleged) had matched (or bettered) Castore we should have gone with them as the 3rd biggest sports manufacturer in the world

Most pleasing aspect of yesterday was the fact several players could easily have won this award but has to be Morelos for his two goals and being involved in all the rest too. Shout out for Lundstram who I thought was very, very good.

A lot of good performances, but I thought Lundstrom and Morelos were the real standouts. Morelos gets it due to 2 goals and assists.

I went for Morelos: I think he set the tone for the match. His work-rate and link-up play was fantastic. Topped it off with a couple of goals, and should have had more.

Leeds United issued a statement about it, advising parents of any child doing it would be subject to bans. I'd fully support that. I think it's happening because of poor parenting and a desire for likes on social media.

I think it was a bit of both. Tactical issues, combined with meek performances from the whole team.

What a performance. Blew a very good team away. A team that doesn't ship goals easily. We had an abundance of chances. Could have been a bit more than 5. Dreadful refeeding performance again, just dreadful. Missed a clear pen, booked Bassey for a great challenge and booked Balogun for something the forward made it to be. Shows what we are capable of if the players believe and have that kind of hunger and intensity. My 2 main criticisms of the management were answered today. Our midfield has lacked shape and presence. Our forward line is too far apart and cant linkup with the midfield or each other and our central striker is isolated. The same single fix solved both those problems. Jack and Lundstram played as the 2 'sitting' midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 type formation. Both drifted out wide when in possession to make triangles with the fullback and wide player. Bassey Lundstram and Kent caused hearts a fair few problems. The first goal a great example of that and what a ball from Bassey to Kent in behind the fullback, the cross and finish were sublime. Should have had a penalty not long after for a pull on Kents shirt. I've been especially critical of Lundstram since he came in to the club, a few bad performances initially followed by the fleeting good performance. But yesterday he was great. Full of running on and off the ball. Good passing and offering the right angles. Made a cracking run in the second half which I want to see more from him. Its why i believe we brought him in for those lung bursting break the line runs. Kent much better today, he needs to keep that type of performance going for the rest of the season. We need him playing like that. Bassey was great too apart from that headed pass back we need him to stop trying things like that. Full of praise for the entire team yesterday. Makes me wonder, were the players at fault for Wednesday or did the system hang them out to dry? (specifically Kamara).

Some interesting results and heartbreaks,Kidderminster being mugged twice in added on time periods,our ex player Ryan Hardie missing a penalty to take game to shoot-out,Man U beat by Middlesburgh,Leicester gubbed by Notts Forrest and Bournemouth by Boreham Wood.

I struggled to see how he made that goal. The speed at which he took the touch and angled it passed Gordon was absolutely incredible. What a composed finish. Another who deserves a run in the team.

Jambos, Fifers and, the Bairns in the Scottish Cup. Mark Feld was a Face from Stoke Newington. By the age of 14, he had accounts at several Tailors and a regular model for clothing catalogues. He was the epitome of the Modernist approach. Initially, as a 15 year old he played guitar in Helen Shapiro's backing band but graduated to his own beat combo whilst worshipping at the altar of the Modfather, Steve Marriott. He took a bit of acid, read a bit of Tolkien, found a bustle in his hedgerow and, emerged as a fully formed Peer of Glam Rock. Electric Warrior was the number one album and Telegram Sam was the toppermost of the singles chart. Marc Bolan had arrived eulogising Purple Pie Pete and Jungle Faced Jake. As the Jambos ran out at Ibrox on the 22nd of January'72, a few dozen Bears behind me in the Enclosure serenaded them to the tune of Telegram Sam, "Alfie Alfie Conn, he gies a haun tae his local flute bon". I don't think it caught on? A bigger talking point was the news of Wullie Henderson storming out of training midweek, promising never to return. Thirty-five thousand of us had stormed into the Stadium to watch Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, Johnston. Hearts - Garland, Sneddon, Kay, Brown, Anderson, Thomson, Renton, Ford, Winchester and, Murray. The Hearts Gaffer was former Rangers Assistant Manager, Bobby Seith and the general consensus was the Jambos were on the rise. At half time the Boys in Maroon were the talk of the Toon, Donald Ford had been the most spirited forward on show in a no scoring first period. The next forty-five saw a 20 minute DJ hat-trick, with further goals from Bud Johnston, Alfie Conn and big Ham and Egg. A six - zip thrashing, easily our best League performance of the season. The cacophony on the Tannochside RSC bus on the way home was all about Big DJ, he was maturing nicely. Derek had just turned eighteen. He must keep his place for next week's visit to Bayview. Methil was, maybe still is a dour town. Bayview was an electric venue to view football. An attendance in excess of several thousand created a crackling atmosphere. The high terracing behind the goals allowed for excellent vistas of Largo Bay and games against the Fifers tended to be hard fought. Schools football was back and the mate's Brother with the Tunnock's wagon was required to transport three of us from deepest, darkest Lanarkshire to coastal Fife. The lunch of champions was included, half-a-dozen of Tam's finest pastry enclosed mince pates went down a treat. The newspaper was a harder swallow, Flying Pickets and Three Day Week were new terms, notification of power cuts was a new experience. Bayview was surrounded by members of the NUM(National Union of Miners), all toting collection buckets as the Strike was at the end of it's third week. Thirteen thousand watched East Fife - Gorman, Duncan, McQuade, McLean, Martis, Clarke, Honeyman, Love, Hughes, Hamilton and, McPhee; Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, Da Johnstone, A MacDonald, Johnston. It was blood and snotters in a stiff breeze and the glaur. Rangers dominated the first forty-five, Bud's pace continually got him to the bye-line and, DJ obliged in the 35th minute by nodding the opener into the net. The second period was a game of attrition. The Fifers Gaffer, Pat Quinn was a devotee of the Offside Trap and the Linesmen had sore arms. Bud beat the collective step forward, was hauled down by the Keeper and, Bud stroked the resulting penalty past the post. playing into the wind resulted in Tommy McLean being paired up front with Bud and the nicely maturing DJ was back with John Greig in front of our back four, heading and swinging at every East Fife lumped forward ball. We held on for a nil-one victory. The Scottish Cup third round draw saw us paired with Falkirk at Brockville. Another atmospheric ground where we had been vanquished the previous season 4-3. We were on a one week warning, a State of Emergency would be declared if the NUM Strike continued for a further three to four days. Conserving energy had seen nearly 2 million workers on a three day week, a number of the bigger companies were predicting large scale temporary redundancies and, the nationalised power authorities had drawn up plans for nine hour long power cuts. Twenty thousand squeezed into Brockville to keep warm. Falkirk - Donaldson, Jones, Gibson, Cattenach, Markie, Shirra, Hoggan, Ferguson, Jack, Young and, McLeod; Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, Johnston. Apparently, the tie was a fizzer, the game ended 2-2 after the Bairns opened the scoring through Jack(34). We notched either side of the break with DJ(42) and Greig(49) to go ahead 1-2 but could not hold on. Former Ranger, Alex Ferguson was the head of the Players Union in Scotland and he had released a statement in full support of the Miners then subsequently stuck one in the Gers pokey on the 72nd minute to take the tie to a replay under the lights at Ibrox. I missed all the excitement, did not even know the result until early evening. I had embarked on my Duke of Edinburgh award through the auspices of the Scouts. I spent the entire weekend in Lochgoilhead and on the Loch, kayaking and sailing. I was one of the 45,000that made the replay, it was allowed to go ahead despite the State of Emergency being called that very day, 9th February'72. The power cuts would begin the following Sunday evening. We lined up the same apart from Colin Stein returning in place of Bomber Jackson, DJ moving to central defence. Falkirk made three changes, Wheatley, J Scott and, Harley replacing Cattenach, Hoggan and, McLeod. CThe Loan Ranger, Colin, Colin Stein came to the party early, finding the net on the 2nd minute. Bud missed another penalty and the Bairns, Jack could not see green cheese, obligingly missing his spot kick too. Tommy McLean used his height to nod the clincher with 15 minutes left. We were drawn away in the fourth round to St Mirren, then solidly mid table in the second Division. It would be a week of contrasts, visiting Paisley and Turin. Ironically, the then Love Street had a greater capacity than Torino's Stadio Comunale. Anyways, that was three weeks in the future. We had the Arabs at Ibrox and two away days at Fir and Rugby Parks to negotiate in between and, we did not know if the floodlights would be on. The SFA were meeting to discuss moving Saturday kick-offs forward to Noon. How about us playing schools football, how were we going to get to the match?

In what regards? I don't think anyone will look at Bassey and see a complete player. Any expectations as such are completely unrealistic.

No, you are not alone. The only thing of any importance is to win the league this season. It doesn't matter what Celtic do in Europe as fixtures will be moved to help them.

I'd rather win the Scottish Cup than knock Dortmund out.

I think (hope) Jack and Lundstram will now be our preferred starting deep midfield pairing, with Davis back up and Kamara competing for a more advanced berth with Arfield, Aribo and Ramsey. God knows when our defence will stop the occasional crazy moments but for the foreseeable future we need this re-discovered solidity in midfield to support them.

Defeating Glasgow City 3-1 is a significant result, particularly since we had our Keeper red carded midway through the second half. There's a 30 minute highlights show on BBC Scotland this evening to allow us to see how yesterday's events at Auchenhowie unfolded. Of course, the vast majority of media coverage over the weekend has been focused on the former Raith Rovers Ladies team. Val McDermid withdrew her club sponsorship, two Directors resigned and, the female Skipper left the club. All as a result of Raith signing David Goodwillie from Clyde. Raith Rovers Ladies have formally disassociated from the club and are now called, 'McDermid Ladies'; the crime Author has transferred her sponsorship too. I would have thought, 'Val's Gals' would have been a snappier name? The point I am attempting to make is I viewed two TV reports and listened to one elongated radio report on McDermid Ladies. There are numerous newspaper articles on the game too. However, you will be lucky if any of the broadcast or print reports tell you who Val's Gals were playing and the result? It was Livingston Ladies and the McDermids lost 0-4. It's amazing the coverage available if you are one of the First Minister's Besties. Val's sensitivities trumped the Ladies game.

The result at parkhead could have been very different had Jack & Lundstram started

Neither did stop from Tavernier being here for years and being made captain. Against Ross County, Goldson (again) made a mess of a header, leaving make-shift centre-half Bassey with his fresh air swing - yet who gets the blame? The rest was McGregor`s calamity show. Sure, Bassey made a couple of errors, yet at the end of the half (just ahead of their corner), Tav allowed a chap to run free on the right and we probably have Goldson to thank for his last gasp tackle that it didn`t get worse. If we like to balance Tav´s "contribution to the team" with his assists and overall play, maybe we don`t forget Bassey`s cool pass to Kent for the latter to set up Morelos for our first goal? Bassey`s 22 and will get this out ofhis system. Tavernier is 30 and still prone to errors, some fatal ones at that. Maybe we lay off the players every now and then. Hearts played their game, always pressed us, always tried to get forward too. If the opposition does that, we can hit them hard. We find the space and e.g. Kent the room to run into. These games are not the problem and we have to wait and see how Hibs will approach it. Breaking down the "low-blockers" is the area that we really need to improve.

Kamara's goal was great but what about Sakala's finish?

Gone for Lundstram as i thought he had an exceptional match.

It wasn't quite reflective of the tournament as a whole, which was quite good. However, I was expecting a tight game because of Egypt, who won their last couple of games either on penalties or very late into extra time; they're quite stuffy and don't have much going forward except Salah. And, because it was a final.

ALRIGHT! I'll post it...

System. I said that after Wednesday as everyone else was moaning (rightly, to an extent) about the 'pashun'. Kent's performance summed it up: we were able to isolate him against the FB; 9 times out of 10 he wins a 1-v-1. We don't do it often enough, though, and when he does get crowded out, he's not as effective, which would be the same for the best players in the world.

This time next year Rodney. In all fairness its not a bad idea. The shop is always mobbed so makes it difficult to get stuff bought.

Please add me to the draw - they look amazing

Please enter me. Thanks