buster.

Parents obviously liked a surname or three !!

You can argue that either way and make a case. However 90%+ of managers would have taken D&D over promising youngsters in these particular circumstances.

Will this be on camera Hopefully Kilmarnock will help the mood.

Asking more than players can collectively deliver can have a negative psychological effect that will of occasion rear it's head and be evident (resulting in a lack of consistency). I refer to winning the league rather than beating St.Johnstone. Yesterday saw the hole that no Alfredo Morelos leaves when absent and also a general lack of confidence / abdication of responsibility when it came to making things happen which reflects both on ability levels and the mental aspect. We've known since Shkupi that we've been short on creative options (SG said as much at the time) and it hasn't been effectively addressed.

Agree to a point. There is also an element of short-termism that has generally gone badly. Taking short-cuts (squeezing perceived value) can have a tendency of going wrong. There will be an increasing desperation as Celtic get closer to 10IAR and it'll be a test of the boardroom, aswell as the football staff. Medium-term, I look at the U17s, consider our finances and see more hope there than our transfer policy.

The real issue is WHEN will we be in a position to win the League ? Celtic made a pigs ear of the summer transfer window (without spending much money) and the general discontent around their camp had them dropping more points in the first half of the season than the norm. But we were unable to take advantage because we were still behind them. In other words, we have room for improvement and I think SG&Co will take us on a level, but they do as well along with more financial muscle in summer 2019. I said the other day that the only way we will significantly move forward as a club is when and if we can bring through academy players that can progress quickly to excellence in the first team environment. Both for on-field and eventually off-field benefits (financial/transfer fees via player trading).

Bottomline,.......The squad was never good enough to win the League this season (unless Celtic imploded). The financial gulf between us and them is plain to see on the balance sheet and in the respective squads. Yesterdays result and performance was a kick in the stones but we are pretty much where where our finances correspond to. Looking like finishing 2nd which would be an improvement on recent seasons and alongside an excellent and unexpected group stage appearence in the Europa League represents a good start for SG&Co. Steven Gerrard is a manager who is a natural leader and has done well in his first season at a big club but he isn't a miracle worker. ------------- Looking forward, the real problem will continue to be the financial gulf.

The season isn't over. If Alfredo can keep the heid and remain available, we can win the Cup. The summer should be about building on what SG has started and not another clear-out.

Kilmarnock win tomorrow and although highly unlikely, it isn't over. If they win then yes, it's well and truly done.

We aren't very good without Alfredo...........We are much easier to defend against. Cut off supply to Defoe and he's not in the game.

Turgid Without Morelos, we are less than half the attacking threat. Today Kent is the one player who when he gets the ball, you expect something. TBF Tav aswell, but to a lesser extent.

Dafinitley a risk but both Davis and Kamara have the ability to look after the ball. You'd imagine St.Johnstone will be out to press them given neither are match sharp. I reckon Kamara may well end up being a wise acquisition and more productive than Davis.

Interesting !!

It was a strange pleasure in that we were playing an International competition, mostly dominating the ball, taking the game to the opponent and scoring lots of goals. I say strange because generally over decades I've become used to watch Rangers often struggling to take the initiative in European competition and having to battle our way to the odd decent campaign. The Academy part of the football operation at Rangers seems to be working well and in time may well prove to be the most important foundation stone laid by the board post March 2015. Difficult as it is, we need to produce players good enough and mentally strong enough to tread an early path into the first team squad because it's of little benefit to see them come to the fore at other clubs a little further down the line.

Bigger reach than last nights Thursday Cup.............

Current champion goes by the name of Patrick IIRC

Hope we secure his signature (he will be 16 in June). The way he took his penalty suggested the Scottish Rui Costa

How good was that...........Real Madrid players sat watching Rangers win the tournament

FT: 1-1 Well played lads, brilliant tournamenr regardless of who wins the penalties !

Just as well Sadiq was at centre forward for that chance

The match was there for the winning, we had the upper hand by spades playing against 10. Now it's more complicated but we have players who can create chances,...we just need to score the next goal. I like the wide players Lyall and Kennedy. Sponge Bob looks a real prospect as well

These lads have done really well and show our academy and their new methods in a positive light. The sooner we start seeing young lads getting to a level of ability to be able to break into the first team squad, the better. It's the only way we'll progress significantly as a club.

I guess we'll just have to wait until team news filters through but I'd guess it means any thoughts of starting with 2 up front goes by the wayside. I would tend to err on the side of caution regards Defoe's hamstring. I think we are going to really need him in what is left of the season given how many games Morelos is likely to miss through suspension (nearly reached 2nd yellow card threshold and another red might see him miss 4 games). I have my doubts Dorrans will play for us again. I think it might be a bit of a frustrating struggle tomorrow.