buster.

I'd hope he'd have lost a bit of excess by now. Maybe not ideal but we haven't many options.

They aren't like European opposition. We haven't got enough creative quality middle to front.

Morales just behind Colak

We thought Feburary was bad. At this point we had a fit Ryan Jack to bring on, now he is towing the preverbial. We've learnt that this squad isn't winning the league. They are a long way in front of us, which includes 5 points plus GD and them being able to put away provincial sides, week after week.

Can't defend Can't lay a glove on them Bad mix and Gio would appear a long way from finding a solution. I don't think we have the squad to do it tbh

Had Lawrence been fit, it would have been the same line-up as PSV (A).

This is the problem in trying to contain. Walter's sides bucked that trend but the individual quality and defensive organisation we had back then was excellent.

The question is where on the park will their heat map feature ? I reckon it might begin on the deep side close to our defence.

Tillman playing right side probably means that Tav has to be more conservative with his forward forays and that reduces our creative side a lot. Again suggests we are looking to keep them out, then grow into game with the likes of Morelos, Wright and Arfield to bring on.

Celtic 3 - 1 Rangers Colak Same score as I put for PSV, so here is hoping there is a repeat and Rousseau takes a max again

Quite defensive looking, might initially get hemmed in with Colak marooned. Need to keep them out #statethebleedinobvious

Almost certainly not as simple as this, but I often think back to the sum of money the Green consortium put up to buy the club in relation to the amount (and pain) that was required to take it back. IIRC the clause to buy for CG&Co was locked in, if the CVA was voted down. Dubious value for creditors. Obvious what was going on (or at least it seemed to me). edit ps. sorry for rabbitting on but it is a way to take the mind from the pre-match butterflys.

...and performances needed from players.

He is the type of player who has the ability to unsettle them and make a difference. But there is a danger that like so many players in their first OF match, that it passes him by. It is the type of call that the manager has to get right. We can't have passengers today.

The once talked about feature film on the past decade plus just added a dead pop star to the cast. Back in 2011/12, I remember saying alongside many others, that this affair wouldn't be finished for a long time. I didn't think that it would drag on this long. The reports of a large settlement in favour of Mr.MASH and the Crown paying out huge sums of money to chancers like Green and D&P are bitter pills to swallow when they come with the truth still firmly locked away. Lord of the Rings will be seen as a 'Short' in comparison.

OF managers often take time to get a feel for this fixture and establish a way to win them. When they do, they often have a decent run of results in them. SG was a case in point. The fat Aussie was lucky in that Gerrard left just after he came in and he'd already got over his domestic teething problems with what turned out to be excellent summer recruitment after the implosion that went before him. Simply put, Gio needs to find the players/solution to what they'll throw at us, put his stamp on affairs and take the wind out of their sails. I'd suggest this needs to happen today or at the latest, the following OF League fixture at Ibrox (providing we can consistently beat provincial clubs up until that game).

Jack and Morelos should be two experienced, relative giants for us in this type of match. But they aren't. Morelos might do something off the bench but really he should be at a level where he is starting and winning these types of matches for us, he could be that good. It is a reflection of our squad that what you see or perceive looking at some of the names, isn't (in the here and now) what you'll get. Davis is another. I would be tempted into playing him but you have that nagging doubt about energy and running levels in what will be a high intensity match. I see Arfield as a starter (Gio might well not) but again he's used more as a substitute these days. We have lots of experience and ability. Perhaps, it can come to the fore today. I'd also note that leaving everything out there, emptying the tank, etc. may leave us a little exposed for Amsterdam......but then I'd be happy enough with that if we could do the business today.

A fit and up to speed Jack would be the first name on my teamsheet. Would be tempted to curveball it with McCann to inject a bit of energy. I recall Jamie Ness strolling it when Walter pitched him in.

3 League games (the only ones that really matter in these campaigns with CL automatic qualification at stake) The two that mattered: 2 defeats The draw was no good to us Tomorrow will tell us a lot about both teams.

Steven Gerrard eventually found the key and beat them for fun. Giovanni needs to discover the trick and soon.

McLaughlin Tav Goldson Sands Barisic Lundstram Davis Arfield Kent Colak Wright Only two OF virgins, Sands and Colak. I reckon the big Croat won't be phased. I wouldn't start Tillman, big risk it would pass him by. Better as an option off the bench. If we are chasing game, Morelos could come on and play just behind Colak. A fully firing Ryan Jack will be badly missed. The guy who is impersonating him is running in treacle. Shame, but he looks done. Not optimistic tbh. I think we have more chance of a decent result in Amsterdam but tomorrow is far more important. Give it your best shot lads, don't leave anything out there. I honestly don't care about Ajax if we can get win tomorrow.

Centre halves have featured prominently. Goldson with a rare brace comes to mind. Sands must be due a goal.... All the best to Big Niko

Yes, the roadmap about the modernization of the club was laid out in the spring of 2015 by Paul Murray and supported by a strategy of running at a projected and constructive loss. 3 to 5 years was the timescale and all things considered, we didn't do too badly. Along the way, there have been mistakes. 'Transfer window therapy' has been employed occasionally but we are slowly improving the quality of youngsters coming through. We now need a manager to trust them and a support to understand. The football operation continue to make mistakes but they also make good calls as well. The general direction of travel is positive within the restrictions of the market we operate in. Further ahead, unless we move somewhere else, I can envisage us (and many others) being completely marginalized from the top table/elite game.

It comes from years/decades of short term transfer window therapy that has a positive effect on mood but often doesn't last very long. As far as "rebuilding the club". This won't end, it will be constantly trying to keep up which given Increasingly disproportionate revenue streams is a thankless task. Youth is where you have to get it right. See Ajax.

More money would be great but firstly it should be and has to be about spending the money you do have in an optimal way. No football club won't make mistakes or have an injury list/players unavailable, but again you can do things to make it less probable. Examples Medical/football mgmt. You shouldn't keep Morelos on the park when it is so obvious he is playing through a muscle injury and not able to do much. Result: badly torn thigh muscle, out of cup finals/pre-season. Recruitment Trying to squeeze quality out of relatively small outlays. You shouldn't accumulate so many injury prone players. Especially when more than one player is in one area of team. I mentioned this in February, it isn't hindsight. Result: Helander, Souttar and Roofe missing for start of season Combine Morelos and Roofe. Just as well they got it right with Colak. No centre forward for Cup Finals/business end of season. Etc., Etc. We can rightly say 'but we got to a European final and the CLGS'. However, I think the biggest negative effect is on our title prospects.