der Berliner

Well, the big problem with him was that he was asked to play in a role that was required to score and assist. His big asset is his speed. Against the packed defences in the Scottish game, who essentially sussed him out after half a year or so, he simply did not score enough from the chances he created. His tally was utterly cool for a winger, no doubt about that. Now we have an upgrade in Sima, who is doing what he is asked to do, but let's have a look: Abdallah Sima - 33 games (avg. 71 mins) - 15 goals - 3 assists Ross McCausland - 21 games (avg. 57 mins) - 3 goals -1 assists Scott Wright - 99 games (avg. 36 mins) - 9 goals - 7 assists Ryan Kent - 218 games (avg. 81 mins) - 33 goals - 56 assists* One can do the maths regarding goals and assists and the time inbetween each. Anyway, we have an overload in wingers and wing-player still. *How many of those was a foul for a penalty that was usually converted by Tavernier? Especially in Europe?

I do not forget this. Like I do not forget all those attempts where he could not hit a barn door from a reasonable free-kick position but still pushed anyone else away, bar Borna on the odd occasion. Countless games where he managed to hit the first man with 8 out of 10 attempted crosses, a neat pass-back to a Yahoo to kill any hopes of a title back in the season pre-55. He's part of every slaughtering by the Yahoos past promotion etc.. He is having a good season now, as I noted above. Stats and performance wise. He will be with us for some time still, but he, like Ridvan, is not beyond criticism. And some of the latter levelled at Ridvan (and sometimes Borna) is ridiculous, not least if compared to Tavernier's performance on those very days.

... 7,5 years ago. He's not the future, nor the messiah of all right-backs. Point regarding his contribution and the criticism on his performances remains. He's having a good season now, as he had during the 55 one. And I'll stop turning this into a Tav debate now. I see your point, know the arguments, and do not agree.

Meanwhile, Gers are checking on Bristol City left-back Cameron Pring, and considering a swoop as they look to fill their problem position. (Scottish Sun) Quick check: Cameron (lewis Moir-)Pring - 25-year-old Englishman, contract till 2026, average stats.

Former Rangers midfielder Rino Gattuso has denied the Ibrox club the services of Josh Doig after the 21-year-old left-back agreed a £4.3m transfer to Marseille from Hellas Verona. (Sunday Post, print edition) 4.3m ... we were never going to pay anything close to that. Rangers are pursuing a move to sign 26-year-old FC Twente left-back Gijs Smal, whose current contract is due to end this summer, this month after missing out on Hellas Verona's Josh Doig collapse, but the Ibrox club could opt to wait until he becomes a free agent to avoid a fee. (Football Insider) Rangers, Leeds United and Sheffield United are among the clubs keen on landing West Ham United defender Ben Johnson on loan this month, with the 23-year-old out of favour with the Premier League club and out of contract this summer. (Football Insider) I would assume, we will have to cut ties to e.g. Davies first.

Winter usually ain't a problem, as there is ice hockey in the town. The bigger problem is the Rangers-/Eisbären-less summer ... And I, for one, are not much interested in any other football event, unless there is a Rangers player involved here and there.

By scoring a penalty (that anyone else might very well have converted) or whipping in one good cross out of 15? There is no denying in Tav's worth to the side over the years, yet, the amount of criticism he escapes as opposed to Borna and Ridvan is somewhat baffling.

It looks very much no Doig now ...

Mate, you made your point, I don't agree, you can move on.

In for a laugh? Rangers want to sign Benfica ace David Jurasek as Manchester United £8.6m move opens door for transfer Rangers have seen the door opened for them to sign Benfica star David Jurasek amid an £8.6m Manchester United development, according to HITC. Writing on their website (13 January), the news outlet report that the Portuguese giants are closing in on a deal for Alvaro Fernandez on loan with an option to buy worth £8.6m. And that should see Jurasek allowed to leave Lisbon after arriving for £12m in the summer, with Rangers keen on doing a deal for the 23-year-old Czech Republic international. “Alvaro Fernandez, HITC has been informed, is close to joining Benfica from the Red Devils, cutting short his loan spell at La Liga outfit Granada in the process,” they wrote. “The Spain under 21 left-back will move to the Primeira Liga powerhouses initially on a temporary basis, albeit with an £8.6 million option-to-buy clause in his contract. “HITC also understands that Fernandez’s arrival will open the door for fellow left-back David Jurasek to leave Benfica. Rangers and Marseille are fans of the 23-year-old Czech Republic defender. But Philippe Clement is seemingly adamant on getting rid of Yilmaz and replacing him in this window, and the transfer of Josh Doig could be the first domino to fall. The Scot is heading to Marseille according to reports, and Verona want to replace him with Yilmaz. With Benfica then signing Fernandez from Manchester United, that leaves the path clear for Rangers to bring in Jurasek and give the boss what he wants. Whether it’s a loan or a cut price deal it will be interesting to keep an eye on in the coming days, but Rangers could be set for a new saga to get underway. Quick check: Jurasek has a contract till 2028 and was signed for Euro 14m this summer. these guys should sell their medicine rather than their rumours.

Maybe he wants to go? Maybe he is the only sellable asset that brings money and wants to or is willing go? Borna has six months left and no indication that he won't do a Morelos, Kent etc..

Same again on Tuesday and we'll get horsed hands down. The ability NOT to score from decent chances is incredible. One aspect of the game we do not need to improve.

Like every injury is the same. No argument really. And I, for one, won't derail the thread any further.

While I agree, the whole set up first half gave me the creeps, while the second half is as disjointed as you can expect with half the team being youngsters.

I accept your opinion and disagree. He's shown what he can do this and late last month. He wasn't given an opportunity to do anything. Hence the stats at 22.

Dunno what people want to see here? All about opinions, but the constant Ridvan bashing is rather strange, given that he is more skilled and forward minded than Borna, always brings a new spark into his side's attack. His height is barely important. On the other hand, no word must be uttered about our dear captain Tavernier, who drags himself out of so many mediocre performances with the odd cross or penalty goal.

Have only watched 20odd minutes of both halves thus far. This looks very much like a fitness session than anything else. Starting with three DMs who hardly press or go into the attacking area tells its own story. Second half is more or less experimental and game time again.

Yep.

Rangers were never working on a deal to sign Hellas Verona defender Josh Doig in the January transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. https://www.ibroxnews.com/2024/01/13/rangers-transfer-update-emerges-on-josh-doig-as-fabrizio-romano-shares-news/ Going by what I see today (again), I'd keep Ridvan ahead of many other players.

Yes, but these guys, be it Jack, Lundstram, Raskin et al usually have no record of scoring goals. In games against the "lesser" teams, I'd rather have a second striker converting some more of all these 15 to 30 chances we create.

Marko Bulat is a 22-year-old Croat with a contract till 2027. I assume he will cost quite a bit. Sidenote: Sterling did rather well in this DM role, even ventured forward every now and then. That said, I am still of the opinion that we do not need 2 DMs in every game we play ...

Herr Wagner has signed a new deal in Philadelphia. Sima has shown what Kent lacked. A direct drive to goal and the ability to score with most of his chances. He's a better all round left sided attacker. Whether we can afford him will probably hinge upon us snatching the title and securing the CL group slot and automatic cash. As of now, we have 6 (SIX) players who can play on the left wing. We might talk endlessly about quality, but that position is covert. I, for one, would rather play Ridvan there ahead of Kent 😱. Dunno what to make of the Ridvan talk. He's been playing, is contributing and doing well. Why on earth would he want to go to Italy's bottom side, unless there are off-field issues or something.

Today's transfer talk is rather stale ... Rangers are poised to move for Vitesse winger Million Manhoef, with Leicester City also interested in the 22-year-old winger. (Teamtalk) Rangers look set to back away from a possible deal for Belgium international Michy Batshuayi, with tentative fact-finding talks already hitting a wall for the £60,000-week Fenerbahce striker. (Scottish Sun) Galatasaray are showing interest in a loan move 😂 for Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz. (Ajansspor - via Daily Record) Torino continue negotiations with Hellas Verona for Scotland U21 defender Josh Doig, but Marseille reportedly enter the fray too. (Foot Mercato in French) We are not even mentioned anymore. Rangers, Bournemouth and Norwich City are all interested in Motherwell youngster Max Willoughby. The teenage defender is the grandson of the former Ibrox player Alex Willoughby. (Daily Record) But hey, here's something to light up spirits ... Scottish Giants Keen On South African Forward We are linked with Tashreeq Matthews of IK Sirius ... a South African left-winger! Allround attacker aged 23, contracted till 2026 in Sweden.

Jon McLaughlin too ...

Saturday's closed-door match against Hertha Berlin will be available to watch for free on our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/rangersfc