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I might as well go through the positions. GK - I’m happy to give McLaughlin a go as number 1, but I’ll be concerned if MacGregor is still seen as number 1. Despite what some still say, he costs us points. If MacGregor has been renewed on a fairly low wage as a number 2 then I’d be content with that. LB - Yilmaz is the exactly the kind of signing we've been crying out for, very high potential. He looks a technically capable player who could be an asset at building attacks and getting plenty assists. I'd urge a wee bit of caution in terms of expectations and patience, he won't be amazing defensively and I wouldn't be surprised if teams target long balls on him. And he hasn't actually played a huge amount of senior football yet. The transfer fee shouldn’t be used against him. RB - Sorted CB - I think we are improved here with the signings of Souttar and Davies. Bassey is a loss but he was never a natural and had weaknesses. I think the main question mark now is what we are doing with Katic, Helander and King. I expect we will move on Katic and be back to 5 centre backs, with two of those being injury prone. Sands can cover here too so it is a strong position, although lacking in terms of aggression and pure defensive ability, Helander is ahead by quite a bit in that regard for me. CM - I think we are strong here with Kamara, Lundstram and Jack. I was probably hoping we would recruit another quality player due to Jack’s unreliability, and let Davis and Arfield move on. I do think both are declining and are often not at the level we need, but as backups you can't really complain. AM - Tillman is a very exciting signing and I think he could do really well this season. Probably the one I am most excited about at the moment. Lowry has a big chance this season too and I hope he takes it. Between those two you have a lot of creativity. The fact Lawrence can play here too, and Hagi, means we finally have a number of options for creativity in the middle. LW - I was hoping we’d get money for Kent in this window tbh and replace him but as most know I’m really not his biggest fan. Capable of great performances and moments but not good enough week in week out in the league for me. With the signings of Lawrence and Matondo though he finally has a bit of competition and that is a good thing. RW - Excited by the Matondo signing. Can GVB find a way to make him our Sterling? Certainly an improvement. In terms of overall quality on the wings I still feel we generally lack a bit of quality/end product with still a bit of reliance on Kent, Wright and Sakala, but I am hopeful Lawrence and Matondo will make a big difference, and Tillman in the middle will create more for all. ST - As with Kent, I hoped this would finally be the window we’d get decent money for Morelos that we could reinvest, though again most know I’m not his biggest fan. Although I wasn't excited by the Colak signing, I do believe he could have a really good season in terms of goals, and provide real competition for Morelos. Roofe is a great player but depressingly unreliable and Sakala can also play at CF so we are fairly well covered, although reliant on an unreliable player for depth. In summary I think it's been a good window and we have finally added some more creative players and that could make the difference domestically. This is a team who are capable of winning the league back, and I do realise I am being a bit greedy with some of my comments in terms of wanting a bit more. I’m still hopeful we might have one big big sale and one more big purchase, though it doesn't look likely. Trimming of the squad is required too of course.

I'll be happy enough if the new lad were to win eight major honours with Rangers, including 3 league titles and play in a European final.

My point was that such comparison has no meaning while the funding disparity is so large. Given what Rangers has already achieved in Europe, what might we do with a bung of £130m every season. You might even turn this on its head and ask why Spurs (for example) has achieved so little with so much money? If Spurs and other EPL clubs had to earn their money like Rangers does, then you might be able to assess their achievement as a club.

Any keeper playing for Rangers should be stopping shots but we can no longer afford the luxury of a keeper who won't come for high balls and whose distribution from hand or foot is so poor.

I was surprised and concerned with Davis getting a new deal. However, I've come to think it's a smart move. If we're going to use a double-pivot - as it looks like we will - having Davis as back-up makes sense. I think Lundstram and Kamara will be first choice, with Jack coming in when fit. We then have Davis for cover alongside McCann. I still think renewing Arfield and McGregor was a mistake. The latter just causes a headache between the sticks.

I had a bit of a whinge at the slow start, but once it kicked into gear, it has been a mightily impressive window. The two sales were really pleasing. For me, we have to make these sales every year or two. The in-comings have hit the mark: Short at CB - signed! Short at RW - signed! Short up front - signed! Short at LB - signed! While Colak and Lawrence don't excite me, they fill a void. Matondo, Tillman and Yilmaz do excite me: young, skilful, attacking players that can be sold on for good money. There are still a couple that can be let go. (LW) Kent / Sakala / Middleton - (ST) Morelos / Roofe / Colak - (RW) Wright / Matondo (#10) Hagi / Lowry / Lawrence / Tillman (CM) Davis / Kamara / Lundstram / Jack / Arfield / McCann (LB) Barisic / Yilmaz - (LCB) Sands / Davies / Helander / King - (RCB) Goldson / Souttar / Katic - (RB) Tavernier / Zukowski / Devine (GK) McLaughlin / McGregor / McCrorie

Roll on Saturday

So basically all the strikes have been specifically planned to coincide with our home games. Smells dodgy. I hope they get F all. If you don’t like the pay and conditions, quit and see if you can find a better job out in the real world of the private sector.

A side-shed? I suppose it's good to be learning new things, however pointless it might be.

I don't think we are done yet by a long shot.

This has always been the attraction of cars. Despite all the inconveniences and costs of access, parking, congestion, etc you maintain more control over where, when and how you travel. Given the number of car owners, I'm clearly not the only one who wants this freedom.

Aye, IIRC Aslef is the drivers union?. I'm far from an expert, and just as far from a fan of strikes, merely pointing out its not as black and white as some would have us believe.

The goalkeeping position still seems unresolved and that can't be good. I like our number one to be a clear and stable choice but instead no one seems to know who owns the gloves. McGregor is clearly at the end of a wonderful career and prolonging his tenure just seems like dithering. McLaughlin looks like the one we should be elevating to first choice but it's far from obvious that's the case. The situation appears so messy that I'd rather we had brought in a new first choice keeper and ditched both of the current two.

As long as its not pissing, I often walk into central and train it from there tbh. I know of an employee of NW trains* who is getting his wages cut by 9k per year, having to reapply for his job, and will be working 39 weekends, up from 32 at the moment. He's not on great money as it is, too fuckin right I'd be striking. The media like to portray all the strikers as 50k+ per year drivers, which is far from the truth, there's a hell of a lot of lower paid staff involved. * Granted not this area, but fairly relevant.

I think this window has been positive but as always, the proof is in the pudding.

Haha With "Gamble sensibly" on the back

Hi Compo. Hope well. A tenner treble on the highlighted is worth a punt. I am not sure about each way bets on relegation or if you can get - I got 2 out of 3 last season (Burnley and Watford - I cant believe I tipped Norwich to stay up). I think we are in for a rollercoaster bizarre season especially with a World Cup half way through it. It will have an impact especially on the Christmas period. I fully expect City to win the league easily although not accumulating the same amount of points. Haaland is the best striker in the world and will wreck Aguero's record in around 4-5 years if stays fit. But I think the gap will be shorter...City and Liverpool will get low 90s points and high 80s pts resepctively with Arsenal and Spurs hitting high 70s. Until the transfer window shuts I cant comment on Chelsea and Man Utd.

Exactly. Not only that but the strikes give the Tube staff free time to attend Ibrox and gives the faithful no excuse to leave the game early - everyone a winner.

Now that we're approaching our first league game, and with transfers presumably at an end, what do we all think of the business done?

Amen

Gilmour wouldn't present any value to us. wouldn't improve us as a loan and would be far to expensive compared to what he would bring as a buy.

Got an emergency call this morning--"Dad could you take Arran(grandson) over to Ibrox as he has tickets for training session?. Needles to say was out of door in minutes to collect him and seeing look on his face when we got there---priceless. Wished someone could have seen look on MY FACE on seeing Alfie hit back of net probably even more priceless.