buster.

Gio has been looking at my line up in the OP again. Only difference is he went for Jack, I went only 1 defensive mid.

Ridvan is on the bench

More than anything, I really hope McCann and King do well and stake a claim for a starting jersey, going forward. Energy, freshness and the only way we get high value players in the side is by developing them into such

Rangers 3 Dundee United 0 Colak

ITK poster on FF posted "Matondo has major issues with his punctuality" This came after someone else had posted that Matondo and Kamara have been left out of the squad today. Not looking great for our new winger. Inconsistencies on the field are one thing, not bothering your arse off it is quite another.

I am looking forward to this match albeit at distance/TV, more than I was for Napoli. The CL has turned into the equivalent of whoring yourself for a wedge.

Their team that should have won the league in 86 benefited greatly from the wonderful Sandy Jardine, who won that years Scottish football writers player of the year award, at 38 years of age. Eleven years after winning it with Rangers. Not to mention, Kenny Black, Sandy Clark and of course, Alex MacDonald, the manager.

We got away with it for now but thinking about it, UEFA may look to get their own back if/when the opportunity presents itself.

When I read your posts on here a few years ago I used to think of Godfrey (Dads Army). Now, its a combination of Fraser and Walker. 😄

Yes, our team is good enough to beat anything in Scotland and within reason, abroad. The problem is that we aren't consistent enough and this group of players have proved repeatedly that they struggle to do so. Hence, Cups every chance. League, not happening. We can and will say it is still up for grabs, but.... We've approached two summer windows expecting a relatively major squad overhaul. We have reached the point where there is no real option than to do it next summer. Until then, this squad is generally, on the way down. With occasional bright spots.

Aye, it'll come down to self interest (PR). Well played the Rangers board.

Agree with most of that but I think the issues involving or/and between a generally stale squad and (Dutch) mgmt/coaching will mean inevitable dropped domestic points, second place in League and a change in mgmt sometime in late winter/early spring. Cups are very much in range and could (League Cup) end up saving or prolonging the stay of GVB. However, if we can't or doubt see him winning the title 23/24, he should be gone regardless. If In the future we can become a better version of ourselves and get more fortune in the group draw, I think we could pick up points in the CL (but yes EL is where we can do damage). This year our squad isn't as strong and we have the toughest group we have ever been in. Agree with most of what you say about upstairs but I wouldn't absolve Ross Wilson of all blame regards squad mgmt and where that has taken on field results. Nor forget the appointment of GVB, which the jury obviously has more evidence to see unfold before a verdict is reached.

Yes ! We need to bring through or poach real quality. Not forgetting to push the physical aspect as much as possible (not a coincidence that Bassey and Paterson were big and fast). That at least would give them a chance.

For a player trading model to work well, it needs young players with obvious potential to come in and perform well at first team level. That can be through your own programme (Paterson) or poaching them from others (Bassey). Young players with their career in front of them. King has already been on the radar of big clubs and doesn't seem to be phased by Queen of the South or Napoli. A good season or so and he would bring in a decent wedge, if we manage his contract well. King strikes me as solid and assured way above the level of eg. a David Bates

You have got me there, I don't know. I saw his assist in the penalty area against QotSth and thought he could get further up the park.

Craig (on here) said that he had heard that Souttar had been signed to replace Goldson. Think about that....... That would mean the ideal partnership to be Souttar and Helander. What happens next ? Balogun is let go Goldson extends his deal Fast forward:........Surprise, Souttar and Helander are unavailable and we sign Davies. Who, as DMAA pointed out, has had personal issues at Sheffield Utd. Fast Forward again: No sign of S or H and now Davies seems to have been either or both, injured and personal issues have unfortunately resurfaced. Bit of a clusterfcuk !! Positive is emergence of Leon King To do asap: Reduce non productive wage bill of central defence and #Ajax model, please

That crossfield pass on the run for Morelos to score in Porto comes to mind. Makes me think of the McSwegan header against Marseille. Huge part of our gameplan and Bassey was providing something similar, when he took that position. His assist for Tav in the Dortmund 2-2 game was amazing and I'm sure helped bring him to the attention of a wider audience.

So if you add the injury prone Souttar signing and the injury prone Helander .....we were inviting central defensive issues. I thought and said at the time, it was bad enough with both Souttar and Helander. Then you look at the midfield age and lack of mobility. Awful squad managment.

We talk a lot about youth development, pathways, Ajax model, energy, etc. Get McCann and King into the starting XI this weekend. If Tav dosn't make it, I guess King will play right back but would prefer if we used the actual RB back-up, Devine....and played King in the centre, beside Goldson. Attacking line up please, Gio. You changed the approach for Ross County and it worked, more of the same please The following will not be the starting XI for tomorrow but hey ho.... McGregor Tav/Devine..............Goldson.........King...................Barisic ......Lundstram ..............Arfield...........................McCann........ .......Morelos................................................Kent ...Colak If things are going well, I'd look to bring Sands on for Lundstram after 60 minutes*. HT, if we were comfortable. The American needs to show what he can or can't do in midfield. *Same goes for Ridvan for Barisic. There is a case for starting Wright or Matondo but I think Morelos adds more if he is on his game (hook him at HT if not) and I want Colak between the posts to score goals. Since shipping 23 goals in 4 games and sacking Jack Ross, Dundee United have only lost one goal in 180 minutes, away to Livingston and Motherwell. The caretaker boss has went back to the old crew of Mulgrew, Watt and Fletcher and it seems evident that Jack Ross had as they call it, lost (part of) the dressing room. In other words, Dundee United aren't a very good team, but they are better than their form in August. Perhaps not as straightforward as some think it will be, but no excuses and no reason why we shouldn't go out there and make it straightforward.

Was struggling to recall those games, before realising that it was slightly before the Souness years 😄

Common sense kicks in at UEFA, who'd have thunk it !! Surprising, given they'd previously seem to specifically rule against it, only a couple of days earlier.

You could level that comment at just about everyone on here, at one stage or another. Let the guy post how he likes. It's a little different in style to the norm on here, but different isn't wrong. Everyone has differing levels of expertise, regards the topics that arise on here but perhaps it would be better described as a talking shop of varying levels of inexpertise.

Last night, Hearts became the first Scottish side to win a European group stage match in 2022 and although the level (Riga) was poor, it will provide them with 0.5M Euros in extra prize money and an outside chance of qualification. It also gave the somewhat stagnant co-efficient of 22/23 a much needed boost, even if it is now floundering in 27th place for this season (still 8th overall). They entertain Fiorentina a few days after our visit to Auld Reekie. It will be unusual for a diddy club fanbase to be more excited and up for a midweek fixture, than our visit. Should be quite an atmosphere under the floodlights, if they can make a game of it.

😄 How do you see things turning out regards the question asked in OP ?

Done Good luck !