yuddie

Coming round to that way of thinking tbh. His selections are strange and so is the setup of the team. It is worth saying though, a long injury list to first teamers can crucify a team. Case in point being liverpool in 20/21 when they lost VVD and all of their CB's for a large portion of the season. It was only until Klopp actually played the youngsters in defence in their natural positions instead of shoehorning players in that they righted themselves and went on a run, then subsequently took a quadruple to the final day of the season in 21/22. Clement should've smelt the coffee in that regard, dropping McCausland and shoehorning Sterling into RW or even at LB when he could've put his faith in Fraser was indicative of a manager desperately trying to find solutions when there's plausibility staring him in the face. Plugging away with Lundstram when freezing out Raskin until it's shit or bust at Parkhead another example. I'll back the man but this Cup final could be seminal for him, especially with the first OF being at Parkhead. Sigh.

Fair result. Was tough watching Tav get torn to shreds in that second half though - his legs have completely gone. Not like he's up against a speed merchant next week is it? McCausland played like there's a cup final place up for grabs. It is what it is, I'll think we'll win at Hampden until we don't.

Ngl, I do like that new chant.

Fucking brilliant young man!

I'm not a keeper and maybe I'm being harsh but I think Butland sells himself for their goal. There's a chance King recovers enough to force him wide and then Butland can guard his near post imo. Cracking finish mind.

It's a really strange setup from Clement. We've seemingly got loads of players who want to narrow in and head towards the penalty spot - playing diomande on the right of midfield makes that worse. 0 width. Or have I got this wrong?

If you want a reason for why slaughtering McCausland for his goal contributions is moronic, that's it. Dessers is almost offside when Ross plays that pass as well. There's sweet fa the boy can do if he's setting up 3 or 4 chances a game and the forwards are spooning those chances over the bar.

Mad how Raskin hasn't been given a chance. The difference in legwork and dynamism between him and Lundstram is pretty stark. He's started well.

Just on the face of their age in years, that lineup is 25.3 years old. That's much more like the age profile we need to be getting down to imo, maybe even a year younger than that. We were fielding teams which were getting towards 30 years old as an average at points this season, when you're finishing second that's criminal. Obviously you want the quality married with the potential of the young players and injuries have no doubt forced than lineup somewhat, but it at least looks mobile and athletic.

I'm happy with this, good to see a young side take to the park. Hopefully Fraser impresses - heck, if he does well he could make an appearance in a cup final!

Hopefully we see the second half v Dundee carried on for the full 90 today!

Late to the thread, voted for McCausland for his desire and persistence throughout especially for the first. It will be interesting to see how many MOTM he's won throughout the season.

Cordoba won the Bulgarian Defender of The Year this season. Signing the best young talent in other European leagues, it'll never catch on...

Tbh if the lads are going to Portugal again for a pre season camp I wouldn't take him - strap him to a chair in the boot room, put matchsticks under his eyelids and make him watch Bernardo Silva compilations until we get back to Auchenhowie instead. He's about that size; plays off the right or in central midfield, isn't a natural goalscorer nor electric with pace. But by god, Silva is a magnificent player otherwise.

We're coming to the end of the season and as night follows day, the youngsters are being brought in for some game time in dead rubbers. Yet this season we've seen an academy graduate contribute, start in a cup final and looking like he might get another. Ross McCausland has had his critics this season, rightly or wrongly, but could this be the start of a new era under Clement for Rangers and our academy? I was reminded of the John Henry quote in Moneyball I know you've taken it in the teeth out there, but the first guy through the wall. It always gets bloody, always. Ross could be the first of a wave of academy graduates under this manager and board, if his comments in press conferences are to be believed. If he is then it will get easier for each passing graduate as the fans get more accustomed and more patient with the development process required. He could almost be the patron Saint of the B team - not quite fed to the lions, but as quoted above, he took it in the teeth. What are your thoughts? Just some general musings. I'll include some stats of his this season to try and give some analytical context to his first season in senior football: 1858 mins this season (20.6 90's) 8 G/A 0.38 G/A per 90 2.31 chances created per 90 Some league percentiles: 92nd for Assists p90 (0.25) 93rd for expected Assists p90 (0.29) 96th for Key Passes p90 (2.31) 93rd for Dribbles p90 (3.38) 90th for Dribble Success (1.50) I make no apologies for having the lads back and firmly believe he could develop into a player we can rely on in rotation - we don't need him to be a future Balon D'or Winner. What do you think, is he taking flak for potentially being the start of a movement within the club? Hopefully the numbers are right, I've tried my best haha. Cheers.

I agree with most of that mate but I think our injuries have really picked up post Gerrard. I've heard interviews with Halliday and others who said his pre season was incredibly intense. Even Matty Cash for Villa said its the toughest pre season he ever had when he was in charge at Villa. Not just in terms of their Cardio work, you saw how much Tav and Kent filled out under Gerrard - we need to get back to that. McCausland would probably put 3-5kg on in muscle if he came through under Gerrard.

Bring in Semi Automated off sides and stick with goal line technology. Give the power back to the on field official. Hopefully VAR does get scrapped because, apologies if I sound like some sort of victorian gentleman, it's against the spirit of the game. If you're still getting subjective decisions go against you, but are having to go through a painstaking process to get to those decisions which kills the atmosphere and spectacle in the stadium then just scrap it and stick to onfield. It's mental that Scotland has VAR but no goal line tech btw.

I enjoyed the Rangers PICKS for awhile until it was pay to play.

Nice little surprise!

Aye that's why I laugh when people are baffled by how many injuries we get. It's almost like signing crocks when you've got a medical department run by Ronald McDonald and then subsequently putting them through poor preparation during pre season will lead to a shitstorm in unavailability.

Saw The Rangers Journal do a vid on some freebies, the one I was really interested by was Koita for Salzburg. 34 in 75 for them in the league, 24 years old and has European experience. Mali International too. Decent injury record outwith the first half of this season. Plus he's a Salzburg graduate. What's not to like? Down sides for me are that he's not scored in 15 in Europe and he's 5'8. On a bosman though I'd happily take him. 👇 here's the vid anyways.

Does anyone participate in the RYD Lotto and Rangers Pools? It's only about £22 that comes out of my account a month but it's something tangible. Best I've had on the score draws is about 18 points, half the time I even forget to check. I know some of you lads mention the bookies odds on threads so I thought you'd be into this. Any winners? Cheers

Watching him try and recover against Maeda was brutal viewing though. Carragher did a little piece to camera on MNF last week about how Casemiro needs to leave to the MLS or Saudi because his legs have gone and that it's sad to see him like that. That's where I was with Tav on Saturday - if he was a brilliant defender with little pace I'd happily keep him as a starter, like an Azpilicueta or Carvajal..but alas, he isn't. Although if we had a good structure and system in place his deficiencies would be less prominent.

Not to sound like captain obvious but we also need to install a 'No Dickhead Policy', for want of a better term, when scouting potential targets. Thorough background and character references - players who show up well in a dressing room and against adversity. Players who want to be the best they can be rather than coming to collect a big signing on fee and paycheck. We've had some pull out of playing because they aren't 100% imo. That's not on. Maybe I'm shouting at the clouds though - I'm just fed up of seeing a team full of 'crocks' and chancers.

I don't disagree with the retained list but I just can't see how we shift Tav and Goldson outwith Saudi money. Both have 2 years left (criminal), legs have completely gone and have a really poor recent CV (post Seville). Although I am encouraged by the links we've had in the market in recent weeks. Qerfeld, Cordoba and Mofokeng are all players in markets we should be looking at at the right age profile too. Clement today saying we need to replace the experience that will be leaving is a nonsense though, the average age of the starting XI next season needs to come down by about 4 or 5 years compared to this - if that means it takes a couple of seasons to hit a groove and gel then so be it. And don't give me the pish that you don't win with youngsters either - Arsenal have a young team atm and are pushing City to the last day...but guess what? They'll get better and better. If there's Bosmans out there like Alzate or Ben Johnson to be done then by all means do it - but I want the actual transfer fee's spent on youth, athleticism and potential. Sellable assets basically. Hopefully this post makes sense.