buster.

Finance and UEFA regulations on academy players/squads are I think, the two main drivers with this contract extension. A Porteous Bosman was rumoured last week, McCrorie signed an extension today. The rumour may well be unfounded but with the other UEFA regulation on FFP approaching rapidly and our need to become a sustainably run club, I think it inevitable that we are going to have to spread less money over our transfer and salary outgoings. The days of signing the likes of Chris Woods or Stefan Klos have been gone for a while. In terms of approach to the transfer market, relatively, it is going to be like going backwards from the Souness time to the early 80's. Next summer will surely see a squad rebuild and to get the right players in for the money we have avaialable will be very difficult. We are going to have to incorporate more academy players to the first team squad and McCrorie has signed up today. It actually fits in with what the club having been putting in place. Although it will be a bumpy road, it is the only way that gives us a chance to move forward IMO.

Happy to hear Lowry is back in full training. Circumstances look like presenting the lad a chance. Lawrence and Hagi injuries Tillman isn't doing enough to start games

Sorry to hear of the personal circumstances but it is a timely opportunity for the club to appoint a better PR man/women.

He has been reading Gersnet match threads apparently !!

Interesting and refreshing to see that Gio has changed his mind on Morelos/Colak both starting.

Will be interesting to see who is played in goal for the Dundee League Cup tie.

Half way through the group campaign, the Scottish Co-efficent hasn't moved much and the automatic CL spot for Scottish title winners won't be a thing for much longer (It already is secured for CL 23/24). 3 Teams 9 Games 1 Win 1 Draw 7 Defeats 4 Goals Scored 23 Conceded If you take our co-efficient points for games only (no bonus for group qualification) then for this season, we would be in 44th place within a list of 55 countries. 43 North Macedonia 44. Scotland 45. Northern Ireland 46. Wales 47. Estonia Our actual place including bonus points is 31st 29. Iceland 30. Azerbaijan 31. Scotland 32. Kosovo 33. Latvia 34. Moldova 35. Malta 36. Finland 37. Armenia 38. Faroe Islands

Get the feeling that for Gio, it is about self preservation. The CL is now about damage limitation. First priority is to avoid heavy defeats. The way he setup against Dundee United showed how the three consecutive heavy defeats had got to him and despite a successful trial of a more adventrous setup against Ross County, it was back to type for the Arabs. Hearts game was an outlier in the sense that Hearts set-up in a way that suited us. Tomorrow it is back to the low block.

All about getting the first goal and as early as possible. An early goal could see this being another routine home win. No goal by HT and it becomes one of those tricky and nervous games. To get that goal we have to show real attacking intent from the word go, rather than repeated Horseshoe passing movements I agree with Frankie that we need to freshen up the side with Sakala and Matondo but I would start Arfield instead of Tillman. I don't think the Bayern youngster is up for a fight against a physical opponent at a moment of low level/ confidence. Can't afford passengers for this one. At least Arfield gives you a real goal threat from midfield. Less said about the midfield the better, it is a bit of a disaster area at the moment Defence, King or Davies ? Ridvan has a case but if you drop Kent, that would give you a experimental left side of pitch for opposition to target. So unless the Turk has been doing exceptional things in training, no reason to drop Barisic. That said, we have to look to start giving Yilmaz minutes as a sub. Last week against the 3rd placed team. Hearts tactis suited us, we started well and it was relatively easy. St.Mirren, the latest 3rd placed team will probably be more difficult to play against #LowBlock

- Very young lad at Easter Road in 1975: Hibs 1 Rangers 1 (title clincher) - Still young lad at Hampden SCF replay in 1981: Rangers 4 Dundee Utd 1 Had been at Saturday game 0-0 (we missed a last minute penalty) - Long way away but huge celebration : Fiorentina 0 Rangers 0 Sometimes a draw can go a long way

I know this is everyone's personal thoughts but I can't comprehend the Ramsdens Cup being number one let down. Eintracht for me. Edit. 2022 before anybody asks @Gonzo79 I went to quite a few games on the Union Jack bus back in mid to late 70's. Was a hoot !! Me and a mate would go (started on UJ at 12 years old / cost us 50p each).

Rangers 2 St.Mirren 0 Colak

Can I add that we are now in a situation where we need a new manager but those in charge are probably going to try and ride things out, cross fingers and hope that Celtic falter. Obvious problems with changing manager are finance and getting someone good enough who will accept the job with current squad. So unless Gio absolutely bombs he's probably safe for the time being. But that means we are treading water, going pretty much nowhere, hoping Celtic falter. Next summer is when there will almost have to be a squad rebuild and that may be the time we have to wait for a new manager and the start of something fresh.

Losing in Sevilla was the most difficult defeat to get over in 49 years of being a fan.

Odd, no ! Exceptional circumstances were the reason for the anthem being sung at the (new) Labour conference. Besides, much of the reaction was down to the respect people had for the person Elizabeth and her dedication, rather than the monarchy as an institution. I would put myself in that bracket. The circumstances behind the Liverpool fans reaction go back a while.

I wouldn't read too much into the look. He has always came across as a little distant. Last night was quite a moment for him, going back to the club he started with. Time for reflection and a realisation that he is miles off the level required for an elite club.

GvB and Wilson is where the buck stops. Awful misjudgement to go into this season with a squad with so many issues. Made worse by recruiting more predictable issues. Not hindsight, said it in late June/ early July.

Very good player who has lost a degree of interest. He'll still turn it on occasionally, but his inconsistency (and lack of goals) is one of many reasons why we can't put together the winning runs that lift titles. Whether it were possible or not we don't know, but ideally, should have been moved on in the summer. Even if the fee wasn't as much as we wanted. We'll get little or nowt now.

Time to keep him on the bench this weekend and play Matondo in his preferred position.

Thanks Eck ! You take it to another level of in-depth knowledge and research in places I didn't even think to go. I did think about the 69 cup final angle but lazily presumed that it would have been played before a European semi final. I want to see you on Mastermind (SS: Rangers in European Competition). You look back and see the issues with centre forwards or lack of and 55 years on from the self inflicted wound (Bayern Munich 67), we were suffering a similar fate (Eintracht 2022) and some might argue that to a degree, it too was self inflicted (forcing Morelos to play through injury until he proper broke, thus calling upon Roofe in a way his body can't cope with. Itten wasn't in European squad due to squad management/UEFA regulations. Should be here today with 3 European trophies. Ps. Have a look how defensive the 2008 team v Zenit was and how isolated JCD was that night. Playing but not really in the game.

2+2= 1-0 You can look back in match thread for my hopes/comments on King

Fair enough, I had forgotten about that one.

Given the extent of our scare resources when it comes to a rebuild, sanctioning most of the cash on Sands and Tillman would be a huge mistake, IMO. Haven't seen nearly enough to justify the potential outlay. Still got time, but I doubt they'll get to a level to justify such fees.

Giving my vote to King. He did well in very difficult circumstances. McGregor played as he usually does in these types of games but was aided by Nuñez firing too many of his shots close to him. For me, his one outstanding save was the Diaz shot in the second half. Although the one with his right hand /Nuñez/1st half was excellent.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gio repeats his Feyenoord CL results pattern, LLLLLW