Gribz

He said if you take us out of it, meaning they are the best of the rest without the OF.

Pittodrie goes to new heights though so the players have to expect a team who will raise their game maybe 30% compared to maybe a Kilmarnock who raise 10%. (Along with Tannadice and Easter Road) Hopefully MW has learned from the Celtic game not to drop the attacking passing game and go with experience hoping it would be right. I hope we go with the fast younger skilful attacking players.

Back on topic, I think the QotS match comes at a good time. A chance to make a few changes in the team and score some goals and give the team confidence. 2 points from the last 9 isn't what we expected so we aim to change that and get back on track next weekend which will be a difficult match due to playing at a group who hate Rangers more than they like their own team.

That game could have more poison than Celtic last week. Id take a defeat from celtic ahead of that lot right now.

He started young and is one of these players who peak early then its downhill from there. After 27/28 Rooney has been nothing but average. Same as Michael Owen, once he lost a yard of pace he was a poor striker. Yet you get the Sheringhams and Bergkamp type player who get better with age. As for Man Utd, its good to see them losing under Mourinho. Jose seems to have lost it in the last year and I hope this continues, he is nothing but a miserable presence in the league.

Nothing more to be added, my thoughts exactly. The only way MW wont be there this season is if HE walks. Anyone talking about him being sacked if we lost at Pittodrie with results so far has a postage stamp mentality.

You have to remember Everton's manager is 4 games into his career there, they will only get better. Klopp is starting to improve Liverpool but it is the same story - they pick up points in the big games but lose the so called easy ones.

West Ham cost me a coupon for the second week running. Deep problems there at the back. Everton looking refreshingly good. I did say Koeman should have stayed at Southampton one more season then got the Arsenal gig or even Barcelona in a few years time as I thought Everton was a slightly side ways step at the time but with their investment only a large stadium is preventing that club now from being top 4 contenders every year.

But its the timing of going on Talksport. He was asked to go and reflect and he should be doing that. By going on National Radio shows there is a disruption in the camp the night before a game - its a total knee jerk rush of blood call. He should went away, kept low key, waited until Monday after meeting with the manager then could have spoke about it on radio. On the playing side he should have been dropped anyway this weekend, he is clearly not fit. He even admitted on Talksport he didn't have a pre-season yet he was doing media enough in the summer, perhaps he should do a mini preseason now, stay off twitter and come back in 2 weeks. You don't get sent away for nothing.

Thought this would be a banker 2-2 draw. Chelsea certainly not the same team, I thought it would be a see-saw season for them but will be involved in plenty high goalscoring games. Liverpool beginning to click. It will be them Everton and Spurs going for two CL spots. I expect the Manchester clubs will ease the top two but some having doubts about Utd following 2 defeats.

Straight swap Halliday from my team. McKay could be done with a rest also, started the season bright but tailed in the last 2, time to give the team a freshen up. I forgot about MOH, he is worth a run out. But selection wise we also have a cup game ahead of a trip to Pittodrie so there will be plenty chances in the next few days including the likes of Crooks to get some game time.

You have to remember last term we had Ball sitting also. I think that has had an impact on the Midfield though.

In a strange way the Barton issue could help the playing side. He was almost starting to look un droppable but now he will have to perform if he is to continue. With the squad almost fully fit it should be a team on merit from now on and last week MW got it wrong for the first time with playing both Barton and Kranjcar plus two out and out centre forwards - its learning curve for him and time to get back to how we play best using the neat players like Forrester, Waghorn and now Windass. The players could be reminded not to put much significance on last weeks result at the moment, if we lost the next OF derby by the same then it would show a gap. But better Rangers teams have had heavy defeats also but it happens in that fixture. In the past i.e. 1988/98 we won 5-1 with Wilkins belter then they wont the next 3-1, then we followed up with a 4-1 NY game. Under Advocaat they won 6-2 then the next game was 5-1 us on Flo's debut. It happens. So it is all about reaction against Ross County and to get 3 points with a much better performance. If Rossiter and Holt are available Id go: Foderingham Tavernier Wilson Hill Wallace Rossiter Windass Forrester Holt Waghorn Miller

MW has done the right thing, he wont take any nonsense that upsets the group - remove the bad apple from the camp and come back after the next game and take the situation from there. Barton would start a fight in a phone box but I thought he would come to Ibrox and mature this season. Had this happened or not he had to sit out the Ross County match as he has been well off the pace so far. Kranjcar has been also but perhaps without Barton Kranjcars game could improve. The team needs to get back playing fluid football and while a holding midfielder is needed to protect the weak defence Barton has found the style of the league tricky to adapt to.

I think if you break it into a mini league of Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts - its a must we finish higher than them.

Great to see the New Years traditional fixture back.

Lets see our bouncebackability. It would be good to see the team being freshened up with Rossiter, Holt, Waghorn, Forrester all being back in the starting line up and Windass continuing. Also have a soft spot for the Highlanders, as said previously it is a bit of Bear country.

One of them called up Talksport and blamed the size of the pitch and the heat. He claimed the pitch looked bigger than average.

I don't know how may games Costa has got away with decisions this season, all 3 of the opening games. But I felt he was touched against Swansea and wasn't an obviously dive like previous. His goal was touch and go for dangerous play as was Koscienlys for Arsenal.

I have Man Utd to win it but seems Pep has got his number. Its still early though, City have got mistakes in them at the back.

PS there is a good game in the Championship today - Aston Villa v Notts Forest. First time two former European cup winners play outside of a top flight. That is an attractive leave and should be Premier League 2.

Bravo 15M to city?? Looks a bit scary. Liverpool looked good against Leicester who are back down to earth - they will probably get stuffed in the CL this week even at Brugge. I thought Stoke would be a good side this season, they are off to a shocker. West Ham cost me coupon yesterday, off to a great start with Payet playing a stormer. I don't think they are settling in the London Stadium. Its got a neutral feel about it. Arsenal - jammy jammy. Over to Chelsea today and Everton tomorrow.

The dust settling and I think we are still learning a lot about this new team. People have to remember we are still a new side and gelling. Our issues are obvious at the back, Senderos was brought in and had a nightmare debut but he isn't the first person to be sent off on an OF debut. The manager has to be doing some work with the defence on the training ground. Clint Hill was brought in with a wealth of experience and has to step up, the other option is Crooks and if he has an impact like his former Accrington team mate Windass then he will be a good addition. Id like to see a few changes and going 4-1-4-1 which is adaptable and see something similar to this in the next game. Kranjcar is clearly off the pace and Barton hasn't fully adapted to the league yet. Up top Dodoo's injury is unfortunate and he could be a good addition. ___________________________Foderingham_______________________ Tavenier__________Wilson______________Hill_____________Wallace ____________________________Rossiter____________________________ Waghorn__________Forrester______Holt_______________Windass _____________________________Miller_____________________________

It will be all about how we respond. Ross County at home is a good fixture to get back on track before a tricky trip to Pittodrie which will be another ugly environment.

And is it going to get any better soon? This is where I don't get coaching....Assistant manager was one of the finest centre half's this country has produced and this is the glowing area of concern. If Bougherra is a free agent he should be snapped up straight away.