buster.

Only 14 weeks then....🙃

I think the main problem for Ross Wilson is that he doesn't have a big enough budget to do what he'd like to do or what we as fans, would like him to. The area that seems to have been improved and is doing well is youth development/academy. This was always going to be a hugely important area going forward and the board did well to recognise this and allocate resources accordingly. The signing of so many injury prone footballers is a tell tale sign of trying to squeeze as much quality out of a limited budget. This increases the odds on what is always a gamble. To compound that gamble in the same area of the pitch (central defence) made IMO, what was an acceptable gamble (Souttar on a free) into a long odds bet that predictably went badly. Spending a significant part of a relatively limited budget on what was or became a project (Ridvan Yilmaz) should be judged at the end of the season. The positive is that it pushed Barisic into some form. To judge Wilson on transfers, you have to look at several windows and on balance it hasn't been good. Mitigation is the size of the budget he has to work with but the decision to go with so many injury prone players, eg. Ramsey or those once wonderkids who have lost their way, Diallo, Matondo to squeeze value isn't working and is on him. Saying all that, by far the worst area for me is the squad management going into this season. It was basically set-up so as something like the current mess would happen (too many injury prone or older players whose gametime needed managed / lack of freshness and energy) and it doesn't look like the manager has got what it takes or the authority to change it. Our hopes ly with a similar inconsistency creeping in on the other side of the city. The bulk of the squad peaked 2 seasons ago. Goldson's rant post League Cup semi-final applied after Gio's honeymoon period and it applies today. Bring another manager in with the same squad and they'd take him to the same place they eventually took Gerrard and now GvB. Two different management syles but the same squad. Regards fitness. I have often seen teams where a fair number of plyers aren't really on the same wavelength as the manager/coaching team and despite what would seem to be the same amount of fitness work as ever, they appear off it in games. More especially the games that don't go to plan. Too many players have been here too long, IMO. Many look stale, (haven't got the legs, chronicly injured/old legs) and provide little energy (see our midfield). Problem is we haven't got the money to get player with the same ability and look to squeeze every last drop out of them.

Aye, IIRC Ryan Jack had surgery that was going to sort his calf issue, once and for all. I think I heard the same for Roofe this summer.

What is it with people and mobile phones ? It is as if there is some electro magnetic wave that removes their common sense and ability to think things through.

Cannae promise you, I like a good analytical moan. Edit Not forgetting a regular bit of trumpet blowing.

Ajax always beat us, we were fcuked at the draw. Just like we never get beat at PSV, always going through.

History intervened. We beat Portuguese teams, period !!

Of course, the harsh nature of the scoreline was a surprise. The reaction, like Ajax, generally takes into account the gulf but rightly doesn't like it when we seem to be folding without much of a fight.

Yes, results are everything regards where our focus tends to be directed and mood. However, the underlying positives/negatives will tend to indicate overall direction of travel beyond the short term. I have been going on about the squad for months, it isn't hindsight or off the back of a few results. The questions around the manager are something that has come up of late due to results. Limited availability within player squad feeds into that and makes it more difficult. The answer IMO is to change management and allow whoever that is, to start a rebuild. Probably, next summer.

Interesting to see what were superior teams in the recent past take such a dip in fortunes. Leverkusen (15th bundesliga/ 4th CL gp) and Slavia Prague (well behind V.Plzen in league/ 4pts after 4 games in Europe Conference)

Agreed Looking at the starting XI and the whole squad, there are various issues.

Let's be serious. Your younger team was IMO, the stuff of nightmares. Just because they are young doesn't mean you have to embrace it. Any rational person will take other things into account, not just age. Things like ability. The team against Liverpool was of an advanced average footballing age which has repercussions when it comes to squad management, recruitment and often medical issues. So away and smell shite somewhere else #lol

Aye, and what are you hmmming at Inspector #LoL

Aye. AC Milan used to collect an over age defence but were very successful. Obviously the players were of an excellent level but the clubs approach was interesting.

You look through the squad and nothing stands out. Hagi is a possibility but he has to get fit again and his contract is running down. It is the likes of King, Lowry and other youngsters that we need to hope get a chance, take it and attract interest. Although, we also need to build a team and losing your better prospects before they can do much in a blue shirt won't be good for results. Football no more It is all about money Sad

Average age of starting XI on Wednesday against Liverpool was 29.54 It is young players who take their chance, who can quickly become valuable.

The Football Operation at Rangers is a mess and the current situation is very much a result of it. You could argue that Youth Development is one positive area and it is just as well, given how the future is shaping up First Team Mgmt It just isn't working, is it ? The manager seems unable to motivate, organise or show leadership. It seems to be the players that choose their games or moments to perform (or not). It wasn't that different at the end of Gerrard's time, so as Goldson tried to articulate post League Cup semi-final defeat (between SG and Gio), there is some kind of faultline in the squad. Gio enjoyed a honeymoon period up to the end of 2021. Thereafter it has been a rollercoaster. Squad Mgmt Frankly awful. A willingness to collect older and/or chronically injured (CI) players whose gametime needs to be managed. Morelos, playing him whilst injured = worse injury, out for months. Back up to Morelos, was a CI player (Roofe) who couldn't play two games a week for very long. Further back-up (Itten)wasn't in UEFA sqaud because of lack of home(grown) based players. Result was Roofe got injured, we pushed him out of necessity, haven't seen him since (apart from 2 minutes at EL Final). The centre half debacle. Souttar signing on top of Helander status. @craig ITK(?) tells us Souttar signed to replace outgoing (at the time pre extension) Goldson. Was the plan to have a Souttar/Helander partnership ? WTAF We let Balogun go (another one who neede managed) We saw the problem late and bring Davies in.....that goes wrong early doors for either one thing or another (?) The goalkeeping situation It wasn't joined up thinking and has us between a rock and a hard place. It looks reactionary. McGregor is going, no he isn't. Looking less than good, lets give McCrorie an extension. The Midfield High average age, CI players and a predictable energy shortfall. Recruitment Mixed bag and in part, reactionary. To be fair, that often happens. But the short term balance is poor with Colak the notable exception. I would highlight the fact that when the balance is poor for several consectutive windows and it has been, then problems will follow. Medical There just seems to be too many unfortunate things going on for it to be coincdental. @forlanssister has already suggested that the medical department may not be all that they should be. That is a lot of problems to solve and we'll see shortly how the accounts are looking. Talking accountability, somebody (persons), needs to be held to account for the above.

Like everyone, I wanted CL football this season. Going forward, I ain't so sure but whilst it is guarranteed for SPFL winners, we very much have to go for it. The gulf in prizemoney between CL and EL won't be that great whilst our 10 year co-efficent is relatively low and we lose all our games. Nor will our 10 year co-efficent improve much when we get beat every match day. The other proviso being that we do fairly well in the EL. Hearts..................... 2 x (4-0 defeats) Motherwell............. 2 defeats to Sligo Rovers Dundee United...... 7-0 defeat Rangers.................. 7-1, 4-0, 3-0, 2-0 Celtic...................... No wins Games Played : 22 (8) Goals For : 14 (7) Goals Against : 54 (20) (Rangers numbers in brackets)

Rushed ? He is the only fit centre back we have. Not having an experienced operator beside him makes it much more difficult and almost certainly some harsh lessons will follow. However, he is a solid young player and has a rare opportunity in front of him. Davies has looked ok when he has played but you have to wonder about his medical condition and how he has been used. Week after week we wondered why he was sat on the bench and then when he did play, why he was alway substituted. The Liverpool game was his first 90 minutes for 6 months. Maybe this current injury was inevitable. Is a bad injury for Tav inevitable, it was for Morelos last season. Do we look to collect crooked centre backs to play alongside Goldson ? Now that Goldson has a bad injury, we are badly exposed.

It was a joke, he is pretty much the last person I'd want anywhere near Auchenhowie. Back in the day on FF and we are talking about a decade ago, I remember saying that we'll know the game is a complete bogey when Ferguson comes back as manager. Hopefully, his managerial level has already been exposed and we never consider going there. Keith Jackson (DR) may drop his name into the media mix next time it comes around but that will be as far as it gets, whilst the current board are in charge.

Barry Ferguson is the obvious candidate !

Drubbing was 5-1 Updated numbers Scotland v Europe This Week : 2 - 14 All group games: 6 - 37 Qualifiers : 8 - 17 Total : 14 - 54

Jambos are next up for a European drubbing. Early KO in Italy against Fiorentina. Scotland v Europe Week so far: 1 - 9 All group games: 5 - 32 Qualifiers : 8 - 17 Total : 13 - 49

A Sunday lunchtime at Fir Park 50 months ago saw Steven Gerrard's first (and possibly last ?) dabble at the 3-5-2 formation. Motherwell took 3 minutes to take the lead and regained it in 18 minutes after Lafferty had equalised (SG wanted to try with both Lafferty and Morelos). We rallied and a quick double before the break made the ropey start feel less painful. Poor defending from a corner would allow Motherwell to get a point in the 94th minute. As well as giving Morelos a partner up front, I think he fancied the idea of Tav and Barisic at wingback. Goldson, Katic and Flanagan were the centre halves. Ryan Kent was on the bench. Some things sound familar

What would that look like,....only a four goal defeat ? Our main hope centres around the fact that Napoli have already qualified and field their under 19s.