Gribz

Id wonder if those who slate Ally would have done anything different with regards to his salary had they been in his shoes. On the football side of it his tactics was well off and the players didn't look fit. There was a spell early is his days where we did actually play well and won some good games, I recall a win at Fir Park when we were full blown attacking. But then it went out the window. His footballing side and financial side are two different things, and like I said I very much doubt those who criticise him would have not picked up the same salary had they been given it. I think the man deserves a bit more respect taking his legendary playing status into consideration.

As much good as MW has done, a change of plan B has to be up his sleeve or he wont win certain games. You cant always do Game A better. He is a very clever man and we intrust him this Saturday. Im getting a bit excited, just had a wee cheeky expensive lager already.

Senderos and Bougherra would complete the team IMO but that would be extremely unlikely as MW would see that as having a negative effect on the current defenders and he is all for harmony. But unless Clint Hill can get up to speed you have to wonder why Bougherra wasn't thought about before Hill signed.

I have never said before an OF game that id settle for a point, but it would be a good result on Saturday unless it was in a scenario where we was robbed of something. There is nothing to fear though and we have to get that belief into the squad that we can win in the East end like Walter did so well more often than not.

I know it couldn't happen but It would be great to borrow Clattenburg from the FA to ref an OF game.

If Senderos is fit its a no brainer, he has to play, the others don't look up to the task. He should be able to keep Griffiths in his back pocket.

Id take 8 points from the first 4 straight away. Lithuania is a must win already, it wont be pretty but I can see a 1-0 or a 2-0. Slovakia away is tough, they held England at the Euro's and were 1 kick away from doing so with 10 men last night. Id bite at a point now. Cant see us getting anything at Wembley but England are still a poor side with most of their players on poor form so there is a chance considering the surprises in football results in the last 12 months. Id be more worried if Allardyce actually changed things and played a team full of form and pace. If he played something like this I think it would transfer them 4-1-4-1: Forster, Walker, Stones, Dier, Rose, Drinkwater, Antonio, Ox-Chamberlain, Barkley, Sterling, Rashford. But the current crop of Henderson, Lallana, Rooney is nothing to be afraid of.

Im not from Iceland though.

McKay didn't get on which is good news, barring a training knock he has come through international break unscathed. Dodoo and Crooks must be the only ones out for sure.

Russell Martin, Robertson, Paterson, Hanley, Bannan, Ritchie, Chris Martin, Burke If any of these players from the starting line up was sitting at my table I would have no idea who they are. I might recognise Bannan but that's about it. Its scary to think these are the players who will be at Wembley in two months, 17 years after our last proper team who won there 1-0 from Don Hutch goal.

I had no idea it was another keeper. Looks a bit like Gordon also.

Rodgers is 5ft 7" Gordon must be 6ft 4. Cant see us playing any high ball stuff unless big Senderos is good at heading

Probably a good workout with no injuries, now its about a good full week of training. Our starting XI and set up next week will be intriguing with almost a full squad to choose from.

If he is going to get these tackles every week he wont be so lucky next time and it will finish his career. How can DJ say this is Scottish Football - the tackle was bordering assault. Im all for fair tackles but more should have been mentioned about that one, is was a fraction of a second to ending Bartons career. I previously mentioned he will get some tough tackles because players are inferior to him. Barton does have to get up to pace though, he hasn't done anything wrong but looks like he has aged as a player which I cant believe could happen in a few months when he was POTY in a now Premier League team.

Thanks, I will still probably watch these. Scottish football in the 80s was outstanding overall value which had 5 competitive teams on all fronts. The 90s gave me great memories as I started going to Ibrox and witnessed the class of Laudrup and Gascoigne. Even in the early 2000s we still had great entertainment on view. Its really been the last 10-12 years that the fat cat powers that be and media have steered in to a sinking ship.

This is tough as I cant include players I haven't seen yet / seen too much of yet. The opposition would also come into consideration - the XI id pick for Celtic away is different to my XI here. Id also be tempted to play Tav as a winger. XI against run of the mill SPL teams: Foderingham Tavernier Senderos Wilson Wallace Barton Forrester Rossiter Waghorn Miller McKay

Reason or optimism - We played them off the park 5 months ago with a weaker squad and couldn't even fill our bench. They will come at us which could also suit as we can be quick on the counter.

Its common for the fixture lists to throw up big matches after international break and seems to be a time where key players pick up injuries. So in this sense Im glad Wallace pulled out. As I said on another thread the position we are thin with is full backs. As such I hope he doesn't play at Linfield with the OF being next week. That goes for most of MW's intended XI for next week, they should get 45 mins at most and the squad is big enough to make changes and possibly try a 3 at the back.

Agreed its good viewing all things considered. I think many a Bear would have biting the hand off for this squad after the Cup Final in May. Extremely well done job by management and board. Now its over the playing side to get it right. It is quite top heavy and suggests 3 upfront every game where as a 4-5-1 (or 4-2-3-1 to get tactical) would suit in a lot of games. Finding the right blend is the task now. Considering we play down the flanks a lot we don't really have a natural winger - Tavernier is by far the best winger in the squad. Other than that it is still light in defence. I guess Crooks would be an emergency centre half if required but the full backs is where I see being the light area. Could that suggest a 3 at the back if required?

Luiz is an awful defender, he has a mistake in him every game. Did you see the penalty he gave away against Monaco last week. PSG have cut their losses well. He is not the type of defender Rangers need at all (I said type), although he is a decent player, just a poor defender. He will be Ok in a back 3 as the other 3 defenders plus Kante can cover him, so playing out the box he will be fine. RE unknown players - not at all, it reflects the inflated English premier league. Besides China that is the only league who are throwing obscene amounts and it shows no reflection on the player at all. The Middle East and MLS pay high wages for retiree's but English teams are throwing crazy transfer fees at average players. There will be a few more Leeds and Portsmouth situation eventually as the cycle cant continue when there is only 4 CL places up for grabs. You can see the effect it has on Liverpool - they cant attract World Class players.

David Luiz back to Chelsea. I thought they did the best transfer business ever selling him for 50M 2 years ago but to buy him back. He isn't a defender at all. Sissoko to Spurs for 30M?? Leicester also signing a striker who is barely known for 29M. Wilshire to Bournemouth is surprising, I thought he would have went to Palace to stay in London. But fair play to both player and club.

A good statement at this time just to put the message out there that the club totally disagree with it, which is all they can do before looking at it in depth. Withdrawing from the cup would probably give them an opportunity as per what Ian has just said. id imagine we have already entered it as I think all clubs have to do so before the start of the competition so pulling out may have red tape. Its certainly what I would do for starters though sighting concern of safety.

Arsenal pulled the plug on a Roma move after the way they dealt earlier in the summer with another transfer. Still surprised he went to Bournemouth though, he must have had some fallen out with Wenger as Id rather try fight for my place at Emirates than go to Bournemouth. As for Senderos, glad its over the line. I hope he is going straight into the first team in the OF game. Not sure who Id partner him with though but they have just over a week on the training field to get it right. I would originally have thought Hill for experience but looked well off the pace at Kilmarnock, so Id probably opt for Wilson.

Anyone seen Senderos arriving at Glasgow airport yet?? Id imagine MW will have something up his sleeve in the form of a loan move if Senderos doesn't join. We often do our business quietly but this is cutting it fine.

I hope he doesn't play in this one, for the fear of losing him to an injury. He is key at the moment. Our centre half issue is well known but we are also light in full backs.