Rousseau

Bill. ranger_syntax. compo.

They will be available, but you'd need to pay for it.

That data is based on 606 minutes.

Right - Bill's in my bad books. I don't care...

Damn you! You know I can't resist those sweet, sweet numbers... This is data from the Champions League. I can't find the exact number you asked for, but we can work around it. His crosses attempted is 4.16 p/90, which is in the 79th percentile; quite high. And, they do go into the penalty area (0.59 p/90, which is 71th percentile; quite high). His expected assists is 0.15 p/90, which is 91st percentile; again very high. His actual assists is... 0. 11th percentile. P*sh. It looks like a combination of no one in the middle, or the forwards not taking the chances, because his expected assists is quite high and a lot are going into the penalty area. Of course, not all of those xA will come from crosses. These number actually contradict what I said about him being a runner: he's actually in the 32 percentile for progressive carries (carrying the ball over 20 metre, or something). He's not actually progressing with the ball. When I think about the Celtic game, I only remember him carrying the ball far once. He does tend to pass it. The data also shows his short passing is poor. What's also interesting is he's better defending further forward - his interceptions are far better in the final third than what they are in the defensive third. His aerial win rate is good, too.

Right--this is it. I can feel it in my waters. The mythical unanimous vote...

It's just an extra player moving to make a back-three, like a #6 dropping in-between the CBs to make it a three. It's called a situational back-three because it's not ostensibly a back-three; players are moving from their primary position to create it. Sometimes Ryan Jack spins out wide to become a right-centre-back at times. Man City keep one of their FBs back to make the back-three.

Not a defensive FB, no. I missed out wing-back, though, which is suited.

Sometimes, but in Liverpool's case they're not fixing the structure in defence; they are only using two CBs. Teams like Arsenal and Man City use situational back-threes to utilise an inverted FB. Combine that with disjointed pressing from the front players and it's a real issue. It's moot, anyway, because I don't think Tavernier has the skill-set to play in midfield; he doesn't have the close control or short passing of TAA. Tavernier's skill-set is his crossing, running and getting into the box, which is more of a winger or second-striker's skill-set, not a central midfielder.

Klopp is trying him as an inverted FB - a la Zinchenko, Cancelo, etc. His creative output is terrific, but they've still not sorted out the structure to cover him, IMO.

C o n t r a r i a n.

Two Correct Scores, but most didn't trust us to keep a clean sheet. Correct Result (1 pt): Rousseau, Lenny, Yorkie, Graeme, One, BEAR, Dado, SBG, Devil, DJ, compo, r_s, BD, TB, MacK, 26th, CammyF, buster, ian and FS. Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): Rousseau, Lenny, Graeme, BEAR, BD, MacK and FS. FGS (2 pts): Lenny and Stewarty. Correct Score (3 pts): Lenny and BD. Latest Standings:

The commentators seem a bit subdued. Strange...

I have 3-2 in the GPL, so forgive me for wanting it to remain at-- F*ck that! IN TAE 'EM, RANGERS!

Tell you what, that shot gets closer to the post every time I see it...

Sakala had a lot to do, but Cantwell made that with his pressing.

COME ON!!

With Hagi coming on for Matondo, it looks like we're moving to two #10s, with Sakala on his own.

McCrorie coming out, cutting out an attack at source. Again, McGregor would have conceded a chance.

The Referee must have taken a dizzy turn, there. He's booked one of their players.

Red Van has had a good game, too. One wayward cross I can remember, but I think he's done a lot of good things.

When I see the pace of Matondo and Sakala, I keep thinking, 'the right ball and they're away'; it seems such an easy tactic. Lovely through ball just there, from Raskin. Sakala could have dinked it, but I think he did the right thing in the moment.

I am shocked! SHOCKED!