Gribz

For a while now Ive been thinking Wenger wears a wig but cant find anything on the net about it. I think he has 3 sizes of the same style, 1 to make it look he has had a hair cut, a 2nd for half way stage and a 3rd thick mullet style. Ive noticed it that you see him with the short one then quite quickly then he wears the middle and all of a sudden the mullet one is back again like his hair has grown a few inches over night.

Having a wee bit of banter there to yourself mate??

I sure do, I think it stems from watching Rangers from a good era onwards in my youth and us being blessed with so many winners like Richard Gough throughout the 20 years Ive watched Gers (fook me I feel as old as Pete and Jon saying that and im only 28). Ive always known Gers teams and players to be winners and I feel we have had so many average players in the last few years and that is ONE of the reasons we went backwards and have struggled for a trophy. Obviously I accept we need to go backwards to go forwards under the financial restrictions we have / had and that things change with time but buying average players isnt forced upon us. Until the likes of Whittaker brings his game to a new level week in week out then I will continue to say he isnt good enough

Liverpool v Man Utd Arsenal v Chelsea A draw in the first then a home win would do nicely But one things is for sure I cant see me having a bet on these games. Liverpool v Man Utd is traditionally a dire game to watch so maybe we are due a classic. Both teams are going well so cant really see anything other than a draw. Arsenal have lost there way without Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini but Van Persie is back in the team. Chelsea dont have Drogba so may struggle for goals but are a much more stubborn team than Arsenal with may suit for this game and I can see them nick this by a goal.

...Stevie Lennon could also be another who gets a run behind a lone striker. Ive even suggested that role could suit Burke if he toughens up a bit.

So you dont rate England Pete? They have a cracking keeper who they dont play in Rob Green, plus Ben Foster is a good keeper but injured. I do rate their defence and Gerrard is world class but needs to find the right role in the england side. Upfront Rooney can change a game in a second but thats about it.

I never promised anything! Im always up for calling things black or white and will give praise or criticism where necessary. On a whole, Frankie is correct, compare now to this time last year and we have taken strides, we can still win the domestic treble! But last nights performance deserves criticism but I'll forget it come the next game. As for Buffel Craig, I agree he hasnt proved it yet but my point is to at least try him.

Agreed on most Craig except Id give Buffel his chance or even Young Stevie Lennon!! Thomson for me, could go on and be like Stuart McCall and as pete says it is Ferguson who upsets the set out of the team so Id be happy to see him sit out while we try the 4-4-2 (probably in a diamond) with McCulloch at one side giving us a physical strong pressance and getting forward, with a winger (preferably Nacho on the Right due to Beasley being out) and 2 strikers (JCD and Naismith/Boyd). Id give that a run. Hurlock - Hemdani to centre half - good shout mate!! Would like to see that as he can play there and he would be able to build the play from the back. Here are some line up's id like to see: __________________McGregor_________________ Hutton________Weir_________Cuellar______Smith Novo_______Hemdani_____Ferguson_____McCulloch _____________Buffel_____Darcheville____________ Or __________________McGregor_________________ Hutton________Weir_________Cuellar______Smith Novo______________Hemdani__________McCulloch ___________________Buffel____________________ _____________Boyd________Darcheville__________ The same as ^ but with Hemdani in for Weir and Thomson in for Hemdani Or __________________McGregor__________________ Hutton_______Weir____________Cuellar______Smith Novo________Hemdani_____Thomson______Beasley _______________Buffel______Darcheville__________

Cant agree mate, Hemdani had his worst game that Ive seen him play, Whittaker was out of his depth and he got very lucky with that clearance off the line - from his own mistake in the first place - the striker should have burried it. Fergusons run was good and I was kinda hoping he would go down for a penalty (with a trip of course) but thats all he did the hole game

That was going to be my answer bar the FFS bit We could have got away with playing 1 of them IMO

McGregor for me, which doesnt say much for the defence following a 3-0 defeat.

Back tracking a wee bit mate?? Maybe realising Im right??

The media are Englands biggest rival - they may force him out. Capello doesnt stick around in jobs to long since his first stint in Milan. So will he even be there in 2010? This could be good viewing. He also doesnt stand for any nonsence to Beckham probably wont win his 100 cap. He should improve them but they still wont win the WC

Another thing is, if we had got beat 3-0 while playing ok and even trying 110% then id hold back on some criticism but when almost everything was wrong on the night from tactics, formation, personnel and performances then criticism is fair. We were at Ibrox and should have had a slight advantage. We should have had an attacking line up. Lyon looked like they were going to create something on the break, we couldnt even get a shot towards the goal. Every free kick and corner we had was wasted. I hope we are much more positive on the UEFA cup.

A winning team needs a mix of certain things and we have them but need to play to our strengths and Im not just referring to last nights game for this. Experience (Weir, Ferguson, Hemdani) Youth (Hutton, Naismith, Thomson, Smith) Talent / Ability (Hutton, Hemdani, Buffel, Cuellar) Cool Heads (Weir, Hemdani, McGregor) Determination / Grit (Ferguson, Thomson, Darcheville, McCulloch) Pace (Novo, Buffel, Beasley, Darcheville, Hutton)

I dont like harping on about it Pete, but I really feel Im right. So people think that the likes of Buffel shouldnt get a game because he doesnt have the heart Ferguson has. Our system needs totally changed, IMO we have the personnel to play a decent 4-4-2 but there must be something in the managers office at Ibrox as Smith is the 3rd manager not to play it. Its weird, yesterday morning I actually thought that it would have been better if McLeish was still in charge for this game. I just knew Smith would go with what he did last night and didnt make one attackminded move.

I dont want to compare with them but they have the bit between the teeth at the moment though. You just know they are going to score late on in a game - they are like Man U in that sense. They keep driving and at least the are creating chances - something we are not. We didnt look like scoring last night bar a 15 min spell when JCD came on. Yes they had a easier group on paper but Shaktar spent big in the summer aswell. And yes they got a late winner to beat Ac Milan but fook me id have taken that in our game against Barca - they still beat the holders. Your right they do get a bit lucky but they also create some of there luck.

For me, he got involved now and again but was way out of his depth and every final pass was cut out or he was tackled. He also made a few errors non more so than his misjudgement that should have gave Lyon a second goal just before we went up the park and Darche missed the sitter. Im not one to use the "Rangers Class" saying as the standards vary in generations and even seasons but he isnt good enough to be playing as our right midfielder - a position that HAS to offer something. I think he will be ok as a full back but thats it.

Agreed Alan, the 4-5-1 is not for us and along with playing poor players that is the reason why we have been struggling for 2-3 seasons now. Smith is the 3rd manager in a row who just wont play to our strengths. One of the reasons for me is that we play to suit Barry Ferguson. Ok on his day he is quality but on many other days he is nowhere yet blames everyone else. Id like to see him out the team and go to proper 4-4-2 with Hemdani and Thomson in midfield with Buffel and Boyd upfront or Hemdani holding, Buffel playing infront of him and Boyd/Naismith and JCD upfront. Why cant Buffel get another chance. Nobody wants to give him that chance but if everyone is satisfied with what we are getting every season (no trophies) then enjoy winning nothing for a long time. We havent had proper quality since Big Dado left and Buffel is a player who is capable of changing a game. But people would rather see Whittaker play - As i said thats the standard why we dont win anything now. How difficult is it to play 4-4-2 Ive always been critical about Boyd upfront but I firmly believe having a Buffel or Lovenkrands behind him would suit his style and he would get away with being a poacher who doesnt move much. Then he would get on the end of the creativity from one of those players.

The difference is Celtic are not scared to have a go at teams and play with attack minded players. We are so flat it is beyond belief. McCulloch after his good early start to the season looks like he needs a rest. Thomson doesnt offer anything going forward, Hemdani plays once every 3 or 4 weeks and Ferguson blows hot and cold and will never be a creative striker.

We got well and truly stuffed, Lyon deserved it. They missed a sitter in the 3rd minute, hit the bar, should have had a penaltly and Whittaker got lucky on the line after his balloon of a mistake. But all that could have changed if Darcheville's effort went in, to be fair to him it bobbled up just infront of him but even though I still cant believe it never went in. The tactics were absolute awful. We had NOTHING going forward. There keeper was a bombscare, Gary McAllister was saying we should test him and test him. But one thing that was doing my head in was everytime we got a corner in the 2nd half at the Enclosure end Barry Ferguson was running over to take it with his right foot and it was an outswinger. We should have had a left footer making a inswinger to test the keeper. But there wasnt a player who got pass marks for me. McGregor possibilly but thats it. Whittaker is another absolute panzy and it is beyond me why he gets a look in ahead of Buffel or Gow. Daniel Cousin can pack his bags, he has talent but Boyd would have given 10 times more than him last night and thats coming from me who doesnt rate Boyd. Hemdani did have a poor game but what can we expect when he is playing once every 3 or 4 weeks. I feel sorry for the guy and if he gets a move in January I couldnt blame him for going, but it will be yet 1 more of our better players leaving us.

Im still sticking with my prediction of 1-1

Naismith is on for Cousin - Im baffled but the tactical change!! Cousin was poor but surely we needed to go for it with 2 up front of put Naismith on for Whittaker

Gav is right, the team is far too negative - 5 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 1 midfielder, 1 winger who isnt a winger, a RB player at RM and a disinterested striker. No creativity at all!!! Yet Faye makes the bench ahead of Buffel! :uzi: If papac had went off injured then that would have done us a favour and forced Smith into moving Whittaker to LB and bringing on Naismith. We are missing the likes of wee Nacho tonight.

Id have him back, we could be done with a pacey player like him tonight!!