buster.

Did they mention (no) interest ? At this rate, the transfer thread is going to explode soon. All a bit close to CL qualifiers but if you don't qualify directly, this is what can happen. Gio is going to have to be more a magician than a manager for it all to be up to speed on time.

It is mostly about us. We are behind them in terms of preperation and the next couple of weeks need to see us start to pick up some real momentum. The tie is worth a minimum of 7M euros.

If you look back at our record against clubs from Belguim in European competition, it is excellent and whisper it, but I've found these trends tends to continue. Example We tend to stroll by Danish teams, 8 wins, 2 drwaws and 0 defeats...... ...but cross the border(or bridge) and Swedish clubs send us packing, 0 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. We give a good account of ourselves against the Germans but can't do diddly squat against the Spanish. Anyway, back to the Belguims 8 wins 1 draw 1 defeat A couple from the distant past when Compo was a mere lad 59/60 Home and away victories against Anderlecht, 7-2 on aggregate The defeat came with a 4-1 reverse against Standard Liege in a 1962 European Cup quarter Final which put us out 3-4 on aggregate. Fast forward 30 years...... 92/93 Club Brugge (First ever CL Group Stage) Legendary 2-1 comeback at home with 10 men #Nisbetstunner Frustrating draw in Belguim that we should have won. Another nearly 30 years and the other end of the book shelf is 4 wins from 4 in the Steven Gerrard European Wonder years, in 2020/21... Standard Liege revenge 3-2 at Ibrox 0-2 win #Roofestunner Then it was the Antwerp goalfest H: 5-2 A: 3-4 Aggregate: An historic 9-5 I make that 27 goals scored by Rangers in 10 matches

A difference is that they are a couple of weeks ahead of us. Have played 6 friendlies. We are at 2 and a half. They start competitive competition this weekend, with a league game.

What would a para know about the old double paddle approach? Been reading up on your Cockleshell Heroes again ? Huistra was our only successful thruster that night. We really should have won the game.

Will Audrey be at the game ? I'd have to make the effort. Apparently she was desperate to attend our CL game in Bruges back in March 93, but palmed it in the January.

They have since edited it. We'll get a better idea of what shape we are in and if we are firing up front against Spurs and West Ham.

Yes, just looked at UEFA rules and that is it. Don't know how the beeb can get that wrong 😉 Even if it were for seeding, we would have played in Glasgow, second leg. Edit BBC have edited mistake

Other ties in our qualifying path Monaco v PSV Benfica v Midtjylland Kiev v Sturm Graz

Lots saying Belgium. BBC say Ibrox https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62204153 BBC have edited their mistake

Union Saint-Gilloise Don't have a clue what they are like. I am sure someone on here does.....

I don't think it is a good idea to post a pic of yourself on here tbh.

Looks like I fudged identity sometime last week, when I said he would add to the Welsh contingent. I should leave the Transfer thread for you hipsters.

I saw 500k Is the official figure 1.6M ? Most transfers tend to be undisclosed and circulating numbers vary.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0276-154cc72f6335-4042bdd5ec00-1000--watch-live-draw-from-12-00-cet/ 12 noon CET So that will be 11am for the UK. You'll be able to watch it live on the link above

Turns out more an investment than emergency signing. - Emergency but not used - Good business #profit Bought for 500K Sold for 3M, potentially rising to 4M I hope that CLGS qualification and League title figure highly within add-on triggers (obviously if he plays his part in them)

With Davis on the cusp of a move, it looks like we will need two players to replace Bassey. Rampaging left back required or is there a youth good enough to cover/replace Borna ?

Today is the day we find out who we will play in the CLQ3. Monaco Sturm Graz Midtjylland o AEK Larnaca Union St.Gilloise Difficult to know exactly what shape the above are in, just as we don't really know what shape we ourselves are in. No preference, it is us that need to get up to speed, very quickly.

I'd along with most would rather we sold, but there won't be a queue. That Derby are the club involved, says a lot in itself. If we were to go ahead with this, then I would imagine Derby would be paying a substantial part of his wage. If they weren't, the deal wouldn't make sense from our perspective.

I'll drive the ambulance down for him !! Reinvesting his wage in a striker more likely to be fit would be a plus.

Have we given Ramsey a scouting job as our 'man in Wales' ? We did the Belgium League, then it was Scousers, now it is the Welsh.... 😄

Signing well wrt replacements is very much part of the economic effects, as well as on the pitch. It isn't easy trying to replace an over 20M pound player on a relative shoestring. If you struggle to replace him, then you are effectively burning part of the incoming cash. Best example is another left back, Tierney, going for a similar fee to Bassey. Three years after leaving they've still not properly replaced him and burnt the best part of a third of the transfer fee received for him in trying to do so. Off the top of my head (feel free to add if I have forgotten any) Taylor Bolingoli 😃 New Argentinian The advantage that we have, is that we already have (if we can get him to show his good side) an excellent player in the building. A year ago, Patterson and Bassey were established on our subs bench and their then cumulative 40 years (same as Allan McGregor years just now) may if things were to go well wrt to add-ons, become worth close to 40 million sterling too the club. Fantastic from a balance sheet POV and a tribute to the football operation. The big money paid out for players in the Scottish league, tends to be for this age group and level, where real potential is valued highly. The valuable signings may often turn out to be some of these low key B teamers, if they can time their run well.

Now you can say we have an up and running player trading model, rather than just talking about one. This is the type of cash injection that will allow directors and investors to sleep easier, at least for a few months. Looking ahead, the pathway for our younger players needs to be real, not talk. Some of our youngsters need to look at the likes of Patterson, Bassey and see the importance of adding physicallity to talent. I appreciate Big Calvin was quite exceptional in the latter. Lowry is quite slight, but he may just have enough talent to get started and grow along the way.

Not a whole season, but you don't have to go far back to see a poorish pre-season extend into the start of the season. Last season, we were poor in all games, other than the Real Madrid friendly where players were well up for it. Fast forward a week or so and 3 competitive defeats on the bounce, Malmo x2 and our fist league defeat for 17 months. The same soft centre would return regularly throughout the season and cost us the league. One other that vaguely sticks in the mind was McCoist's first season as manager. Poor pre season (started in Germany IIRC) extended into competitive games. Drew first league game at home to Hearts then went out to Malmo (CL) and Maribor (EL) without winning a game. The important thing about hitting the ground running is obviously CL qualifying, the land of milk and honey. The poor starts above hurt the club's finances in a big way.

If Borna was to play somewhere near the top of his game, it'd go a long way to sorting out the gap on the left. But the IF is a big one given his inconsistency. We definately need to recruit a solid centre half who isn't injury prone.