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We have a tremendous asset in Tavernier: 30 goal contributions a season from FB is phenomenal. Is it worth removing that for a FB that can defend? Or do we compensate by defending differently? I'm in the latter camp.

Rangers have drawn Morton at Ibrox. Tie to be played on the weekend of 19/20 August.

Maybe have the point for your scorer to do so at any point rather than FGS.

How about leaving it as it is. It works well, with a range of opportunities to score points. The only problem with it is my inability to get anything right.

I'm happy with it 👍

It gets real on Saturday...we shall see.

works for me mate @Rousseau and I want my title back

As per my post yesterday, after pre season close. I'll try to remain optimistic. In summary: SPFL Champions? It's certainly possible. I do believe we can run them close. We must sustain the winning mentality against the others, which we did largely last season after MB's appointment. We certainly have better attacking players though doubts remain on our defensive fragility. CL / EL hopes? Another EL run is possible. CL qualification is in the balance. May just come too soon in terms of new squad players bedding in. Domestic Cups? I disagree with the notion they are unimportant. We need to win 1 or both of these. In probability it means beating that Mhob at S/F or Final stage. Capturing these engenders a successful winning mentality. Players want silverware. Success breeds success. Failure in this respect, just piles on more agony, if we don't win then we know who will! One final point. We all must hope for a season where serious injury to players is minimal. The injury plague was unbelievable in the last one. Look across at our rivals. McGregor for a while and C-Vickers at the end of the season. I can't recall many more. It could make a huge difference.

I also believe that GvB's run was built upon the fitness work done by Gerrard's team. Once GvB implemented his own the following season, we were awful in that regard.

Happy as is

Me too.

You're correct, but in our case we only need a true high press in certain games. Domestically, the majority of teams let us have the ball so it's usually about beating a low block.

I think playing the 'high press' constantly takes it out of players and it can't be sustained season after season. Liverpool being a prime example of this.

I said it at the time: Gerrard or Beale don't get pumped in the CL the way GvB did. That doesn't mean we would have won any games - it was a tough group - but I don't see 0-7 drubbings under SG or MB.

And yet it wasn't a problem before that when they pressed properly. It's their pressing that has dropped off; the defence has remained the same.

Because we needed to replace most of the squad. In hindsight, it's probably 2 or 3 windows too late, but we've done it this window and have added quality to Raskin and Cantwell who both impressed since joining. I'm excited about the forthcoming season, whether we win the league is debatable, Celtic are rightly favourites but I believe we have rhe quality to match them. Will depend on how quickly the team blends.

He's part of the problem, not the solution. We need better full-backs.

A luxury who has scored over 100 goals for the club (including in every round on our run to the EL final) and scored and assisted yesterday? Some may say (rightly or wrongly) that's a necessity rather than a luxury?

It seems that we are financially front loading a squad revamp for the manager and his coaching team. Expectations from those upstairs who made those decisions is that we can win the league, have a decent European campaign and the coaching team are still in place going into next season or are poached (at a price) by another club. We have overhauled the attcking side but friendlies finished, we still have little idea of how things will shape up and neither it would seem, does the manager. We are not in a great place to start the real stuff as the experimentaion will have to continue. Domestically, had Celtic kept their coaching team and squad intact, I wouldn't give us much of a chance regards the title. However, they have changed manager and thus far, have sold one of their main attacking threats, bringing in potential. So basically, it becomes more difficult to predict and will largely depend on both teams recruitment, at the moment, especially us. All things considered, I expect second place but still have some hope for the title, given the above. I expect that we will win one of the domestic cup competitions. If the season goe Pete Tong and Beale is moved on, we will be in an ever more challenging financial place. Europeanwise, I expect a very decent Genk side to put us out of the CL but would look forward to being more competitive in the EL. Losing out on the play off round would cost us major finance but would give us a free midweek prior to the first OF game, which is huge.

I have a growing suspicion that Tav has become a luxury we can no longer afford ... but I think we're probably stuck with him for another season.

Go on yersel, Pip.

I expect us to win the treble and qualify for the CL groups (we are seeded to do so). Our only domestic opponent is full of piss-poor Asians and led by a has-been ego-maniac. I also expect us to be a shambles defensively and to be looking for a new manager by the winter break. I don’t expect something in the middle of these extremes.

I have Great Expectations, Miss Havisham's wedding breakfast table awaits.

There was some better link up play with the forwards today so good to see improvement there. Lammers is really beginning to impress. We need Cifuentes here. The midfield is lacking. Cantwell is like a lost soul at the moment. He is doing his share of defending but is making little impact going forward. We need to find a niche for him. Our fullbacks are a major worry. I know Tav scored and had an assist but defensively he was a bomb scare. Ridvan was just dreadful. We cannot possibly go into the season with these accidents waiting to happen.

Having watched today's game, like nearly all other posts on here, it was a frustrating afternoon. However, I have just reflected on all three of the interviews above and the honesty and positive vibes that came from all 3. First up, Dessers, who states he is not nearly match fit yet and explains why. He sports a lovely black eye for his efforts. There is clearly much more to come from him. Butland also puts a very positive spin on the game and says how much he enjoyed it. Lastly Beale explains how the game plan was hijacked by late call offs to CB's. We also finished the game without a CB! The most important message for me was all three confirmed it was a pre season test, deliberately set against high quality opposition. As supporters, sometimes we expect too much too soon. I get a vibe of real togetherness in the squad, there are early signs of increased squad quality. All seem eager to embrace the challenge ahead. I, for one, will try to remain positive. I really am looking forward to this one. Let us hope it's special!

If MB was only left with an inexperienced teenager and another 4th choice centre back, and others that stood and watched in awe as their favourite team ran riot, I don’t see him getting a better outcome. Are you saying MB is that much better a manager than Gio who took a fairly average squad to two cup finals past the likes of Dortmund & Leipzig and only lost on pens and won the other? MB has done nothing in big games to give the impression he could do any better in those conditions. He has achieved better consistency in the league but failed all the big tests and his football last season was mainly boring.

My report on today's U14's game against Sunderland https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2023/07/30/sunderland-edge-out-u14s/

Ideally, we qualify for the CL, finish third and go into the EL knockout rounds. We got a really tough CL group draw last year - there are teams in the CL we can compete with and we won't have GvB's dismal attitude this time (admitting we can't compete at that level after one match was utterly pathetic).

Rangers should always prioritise the league therefore that must be our primary goal this season. A league win followed by some stability, foundations and foresight to learn from 55 would also be preferable. With regards to Europe, it has to be the Europa League for me. The CL is out of our reach at the moment and I fear regular goings over are more detrimental in the grand scheme of things. Going toe to toe with teams that we can beat will help build more confidence and momentum. Cups...I genuinely couldn't care less about the cups unless they are welded onto a league win. I get the overall trophy haul thing with the Tims but FFS St. Johnstone won two cups in a year.

Or instead of the FGS point, replace with a point for correct goal difference. So if you predict 4-1 Rangers and the score is 3-0 Rangers, you get a point.

Difficult. Defending is a team exercise. There are stats out there but you have to pay, so I don't have access.

Anyone have stats for how many goals he helps concede against his scoring rate if we’re going to be honest he’s a crap defender

How about replacing 1 point for correct no Rangers goals with a point for every goal scored when correct number goals scored selected. So if you select 3.0 Rangers and match ends 3.1 you score 3 points. 😶

With attackers who score more goals, which I'm hoping we've already done. I'm sick of hearing about Tav's attacking stats. His defending capabilities are not good enough.

Nor have they supported the attackers.

Thanks. You are absolutely correct.

What an effin' brilliant speaker. Love these Benelux guys.

Unfortunately, we badly lack stability when he doesn’t play. The defence is far better protected when he plays. I think our defence has been hung out to dry a bit in preseason by the tactics and player selection in midfield. They’ve offered no protection to the defence.

€111.13M Transfermrkt are never wrong.

Yeah, we really need the likes of Hibs to put away teams like this. It's bad for the coefficient.

Not a good result for Hibs or for the standard of Scottish football.