buster.

We have some decent individual midfielders but Clarke is yet to put together a collective midfield that really works well for us. The ominous lack of International class options at centre forward and the central defence make it very difficult to see any relative success in the short to medium term.

Very much so. As I said earlier, it's not rocket science to see that most of what is going on is geared towards the first team stopping 9IAR and potentially 10IAR....and the main risk that I can see is fall-out if we weren't able to achieve it......It's something that isn't being talked about at a fan level for understandable reasons but from a business POV, it's more than just an outside possibility. The bookies would probably tell you that it's probable. Beyond that, the headline issues for me are: - Player trading - Retail - European group stage reliance / what modification of tournament set-up will mean (new 3rd trophy / Euro Conference) We need to normalise retail, start making substantial profits from player trading whilst having a team that can win the title and make European group stages more regularly than we ever have......A considerable challenge to say the least. I tend to think this is the season we have to win the title and IIRC it would fit exactly with what Paul Murray said back in April 2015, that it could take up to 5 years.

Maybe Ryan Jack really wants to go but I can't help but feel that we as a club should do the same with the player as part of managing his physical well-being. We desperately need Jack fit and healthy for the fixture list we have coming up.

Ryan Jack is pretty much taking over games by himself and IMO is now our most important player. If he's not there we are not the same team and we struggle to keep Alfredo well supplied. If I were a scout for the likes of Crystal Palace at Ibrox to watch Morelos, I'd go away thinking as much or more about Ryan Jack. If he were a Celtic player, we'd have already had the 20M headlines.

Historically, you could argue that we are today, more or less where DK was expecting back in early 2015 with perhaps, the dark shadow of SDI / Mr.MASH still being here an unexpected and costly ongoing negative. Where the potential issue or risk is, at least for me, is the coming years if we don't stop 10IAR, a probable downsizing and all that will come with it. We have a very important year or two ahead of us.

I think the risk regards our finances is being generally understated by our support and overstated by others, which is predictable. Partisan viewpoints are of limited value when it's objectivity that is really needed.

QR2 opponent still up in the air......... HT: Progres 0-1 Cork City edit. Just into 2nd half and it's now 0-2 (level on aggregate)

As Bearger points out, McPake is in the squad for tomorrow. Gerrard said he pulled McPake from the development game on Tuesday because he's in his plans for todays game. There won't be a better competitive game to give him 30 minutes. Would be great if he could make a real impression. #GoodEnough=OldEnough

I'm going to revise that to 46,305

I was hoping Steve 'hair island' McLaren would be brought back with John Carver as number two in an effort to bring back the fun

@der Berliner Don't know about a 4-4-2 but my eyes are telling me that your 20-40-10 is being refused by my cerebral processing plant.

It's difficult to know how teams will perform in summer qualifiers and some of the bigger teams (in terms of budget) can be caught relatively cold. Obviously that can also work against us but with SG&Co in charge, a feature has been getting up to speed quickly. If we do get to QR3 and get a 'big team' then bring it on. It's an opportunity for the players to show how good they really are. As for juggling group stage football and the League challenge. You can only go with whatever comes along and if we were to get to the EL groups, then it'd be a very welcome financial boost. IIRC financial projections have been made presuming that we qualify for European group stage football in 3 out of 5 years. The squad is a lot stronger now and better equipped to deal with various fronts. Group qualification may mean more quality being brought in. Not to mention that being seen regularly in the group stages brings prestige and other benefits. Here is a list of the League games that would immediately follow EL group fixtures in the event of us reaching that stage. St.Johnstone (A) Hamilton (H) Motherwell (H) Livingston (A) Hearts (H) Motherwell (A)

From an ex-Para who typed the OP to an ex-bootneck who wrote a book on the above....

Four years of being told that Tierney is a wonderful player who is attracting the attention of every big club out there. BUT... from what I can see there has only been ONE club who have actually made a bid. He is a decent player but if he was as good as the usual suspects say, he would have been the subject of REAL interest and many ACTUAL bids long before now. Could he be a candidate to be a youngster who suffers a degree of burn out and serious injury issues ?

If you can't establish yourself as a first team pick at Livingston, you aren't getting anywhere close to our first team, at least anytime soon. Hope he goes on to develop into a decent player.

Chelsea: How about Next ?

Interesting post, Gaffer !! I think our chances of winning the League will come down to how well our management team are able to use the squad they now have and adapt for the various challenges that will come our way. It might be a fine balance between adapting formations/players successfully and headlines about 'tinkering' but I think it's the way we should go.

It seems to be a feature of his game,...even when taking shots on goal. Last season, I remarked on how he tends to carefully pass the ball towards goal when shooting in what looks like studied care to hit the target. His goal against St.Josephs was a side foot volley that guided the ball towards goal rather than the more conventional whack. I'm not one for stats but his ratio of shots on target to shots must be very high.

Barjonas can fair give the baw a whack. Go to 3mins 30secs for a Barjonas piledriver whilst on loan at Raith....

All round lunacy...........

Would have been better slipping on a pile of shite as you were arriving at Ayr. Have to laugh at your summing up but an injured hip can be a bastard, god knows what description it merits when it comes with a pile of shite.

They are already conditioned into accepting what they don't want.

The level and loyalty of our support has been amazing and it wouldn't be a surprise. From the 14th of July (Marseille) up until the 28th of July (Derby) we'll have been playing at Ibrox, continual Sunday, Thursday week's. Five home games IAR. Tue 09/07/19 UEL St Joseph's 0 - 4 Rangers View events More info Sun 14/07/19 CLF Rangers 4 - 0 Olympique Mars… More info Thu 18/07/19 UEL Rangers 20 : 45 St Joseph's More info Sun 21/07/19 CLF Rangers 16 : 00 Blackburn Rovers More info Sun 28/07/19 CLF Rangers 16 : 00 Derby County Add 25th July at home in QR2, most likely to Progres edit Here is the challenge. Guess the cumulative attendance for the five games ... ....155,455 #cashflow+

If you put the EPL into a 'High Street' in London. Man City would be Harrods Newcastle Utd. would literally be a Sports Direct store, cheap tat but with a decent customer base.