buster.

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.

A lot no, the highlights of a couple of games he played in.

Various Losing possession and not great in the tackle. Mayo isn't going to make it with us. King is better and about 4 years younger

Too many unforced mistakes

After seeing him that doesn't surprise me, unfortunately.

Repeatedly subbed off suggested an issue. Last night was his first full 90 minutes since the 15th of April. Who will be next ? Tav ?? He doesn't appear to be at 100% Playing through injuries is taking its toll. Longer periods out.

We might get another 5-5 scoredraw against an on form diddy team. Rossitor played in the previous 5-5. Nothing changes!!

That backline would be the stuff of nightmares. Wouldn't be fair on King either. Saw a little of Mayo at Kilmarnock, not ready for us. Sands isn't a natural centre half. Both could be used if playing beside experience but all together, .... would work out badly.

On this form, you should ask for a game at Auchenhowie.

If that is the UB, then they'll need a brass neck to make further requests of the club regards seating.

Rumours on Daily Record say severe thigh tear / months.

Agreed, generally poor recruitment, including some of the contract renewals. What got me was recruiting an injury prone centre half. Who if @craigis correct in saying he was brought in to replace Goldson (who looked to be leaving), means they must have been hoping for a Souttar/ Helander partnership. WTAF !!

I think the board were right with the infrastructure, including Youth development but the football department haven't spent their budget well. Time to have pushed the boat out slightly IMO was after 55, ie. built on success.

We could win cups. The only way we win the league is if they come down to our level of inconsistency. That is at least looking more plausible now than it did a few weeks ago.

Napoli are soundly beating anything that moves. We haven't been ourselves and are unraveling at precisely the time we come up against the best. We can do better than we have been but the yes, CL for clubs at our level is the football equivalent of prostitution. Can we do a Brugge or Ajax? After 49 years of research I doubt it. But we have to try.