buster.

SG knows who he'd like to have playing but injuries mean he can't. Formation wise, it'll be the usual four.

The games keep coming thick and fast and the latest has Hibs visiting Ibrox on Boxing Day with a 3pm KO (UK time). Like the previous game and the one to follow, this sees another hugely important and significant 3 points at stake. After our crucial and notable late comeback at St. Johnstone, it would be typical of this December if we were to drop points in the next match because we don't seem able to do consistency. This game is where that needs to change if we want to harbour any hopes of providing a title challenge. The first half of the season has seen a gruelling but welcome non-stop timetable of games, with 3 International breaks providing some respite for some in the squad. It is now ending with a particularly heavy block of fixtures and it's therefore no surprise to see an extensive injury list going into the final two games of 2018. In short, over the next 2 games Steven Gerrard & Co need to get more out of a squad of bare bones than they previously have from a fuller squad. - Tav is looking tired but gives 100% and still provides creativity. - Central defence has become an issue and just when we seem to settle on a partnership, McAuley gets injured. - The Barisic injury is a huge blow IMO and you now have Boyle and Forrest licking their lips. The midfield and wide areas have taken a real hit. On top of the long term injuries and departures, we have at least question marks over Arfield, Jack, Kent, Rossiter, Grezda and Coulibaly for either injury, poor form or a lack of gametime. It's just as well that we have Morelos and Lafferty up front. Any debate over formation/playing them both may be decided due to lack of midfield options. For all the criticism Alfredo gets regards his discipline, you have to marvel at how over a heavy season and a half at Ibrox he doesn't seem to pick up injuries; the guy is a machine. Steven Gerrard mentioned an adaptable approach and one option is to play Lafferty and being able to switch between a deeper role and one closer to Morelos (only an option if the Ulster Gazelle is fully fit). If Jack is fit then he'll surely start and that may in turn push Halliday back to LB. McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Worral - Wallace Candeias - McCrorie - Halliday - Middleton Lafferty Morelos Hibs haven't been playing that well of late and we should have taken all 3 points from Easter Road last week. However they often raise their game at Ibrox and I'd expect them to again. Recent history has seen this fixture providing goals (except for last week) and no team with a clear upper hand regards wins. In my opinion, it's one of those games that could go any way, but if we can up our conversion rate then I think we win. Prior to the 2 goals in 25 minutes on Sunday, we'd scored 2 in 550 minutes; hopefully, we have turned a corner. Certainly Lafferty is due a goal. Am I right thinking he's started to celebrate goals in the last three matches, only to be halted by a bad offside decision at Dundee, a great save by the Hibs keeper and a somewhat unfortunate deflection and save at St. Johnstone? I call upon the footballing gods to give big Laff a deserved break!

There was nothing controversial about the red card of Simunovic. Tabloids starting the 'Long wind-up' early doors.

Good listen with the 'Sensible Dream Team' of Franklin & Fraser. You could market yourselves as the alternative FF Much appreciated for getting it out so fast, thank's !

Don't give him the clicks/views.

I'd take it back to a failure of recruitment in the summer. We knew about the middle to front issue in July. In August, Windass was sold, Murphy was badly injured and we qualified for the ELGroupStages before the window shut.

Very much so. To continue in what obviously wasn't and hasn't worked in many such games would be the equivalent of Do we start that way against Hibs if the midfield options are bereft of creativity ? Quick word on Lafferty. The footballing gods have certainly been against him getting on the scoresheet of late.

A lack of options in the middle may force us into a two up top formation for the Hibs game.

Boatrace, Docks, offering of Blues Funnily enough I read somewhere this morning that a young Billy Connolly turned down the offer of a bluenose at the shipyards in Glasgow.

Thank's Ian but I was referring to the BBC Scotland graphic. I wanted to see if the sloppiness was consistent.

Won: 4 Drawn: 4 Lost: 2 4-4-2 is in the stars !!!

A reaction for Man Utd was predictable but how does the wee laddie, Solksjear manage to fix it so City, Chelsea and now Spur are behind Miracle Man from Molde ! Edit. Spurs equalise.

Ian Was the St.Johnstone team correct ?

Less balance when there are so many injuries.

Injury situation is concerning. I think Grezda might as well be out injured because I doubt he'll be getting a start this week. All change again on the Left Flanagan & Kent Barisic & Grezda Wallace/Halliday & Middleton

IIRC Tommy Wright is one of the few, who in the past has made a point of complimenting the Rangers away support. But generally, you are right.

St.Johnstone might appreciate our fans when counting up the takings. Over 7,000 at the game today when (last w/e prior to Xmas) attendences tend to drop off. Compare that to under 6,000 when Celtic visited their ground for a Sunday league match in October.

It might be 'petty and ill-informed' but the thought of Cosgroves long boatrace when Alfredo got his second today gave me a warm glow inside ! ....

Motherwell came towards the end end of a brutal August (for games), a week prior to the Celtic match with Wallace making up until today his only (short) appearence of the season. Today comes towards the end of a brutal December, a week prior to the Celtic match with Wallace coming off the bench again. Main difference, it was us who got the late goal and went away happy.

Six points this coming week and I'll have the conversation

League stats Morelos 11 goals and 4 assists Tav 6 & 8

Feels good to come out of that with 3 points but it's fairly clear that our team won't be winning the league this season.

Grezda is going through the motions

We need tempo but haven't got the players in the midfield to do it in their half. St.Johnstone tactics are our kryptonite, more especially given lack of options.

Lack of squad depth/quality exposed along with a barren run in front of goal. I make it 2 goals in about 550 minutes. If we don't improve in the second half, we'll lose more heavily.