Rousseau

That's the way it's going at the moment: every little lucky bounce goes against us. They've done nothing, yet score. Having said that, Goldson is an idiot for dithering on the ball, there.

Kamberi continues to do well. Davis is playing well, too.

We've played well, but lacking a bit of quality on the finish. I'm not displeased.

I'm firmly in the 'formation-isn't-the-issue' camp. I think it started with a lack of intensity after the break, and then when the results suffered our confidence plummeted; and now we're stuck in this mire of impotence. Davis was superb during the first half of the season, dictating the play and tempo, and couldn't do anything wrong. Now, he can barely make a 5 yard pass without giving it away. That's not down to the formation. We do have an issue of not getting options off the bench: we stick with the same line-ups through the bad form. They deserved to be dropped but I sort of understand why he doesn't change too often: I don't think we have the options off the bench -- at least not in the same system. Polster could come in for Tavernier, but he's generally not as good and Tavernier's the captain: you very rarely drop your captain. A change in Captaincy would be best, IMO: I think Jack, Goldson or even McGregor have better leadership qualities than Tavernier. Tavernier's captaincy was based on his exceptional injury record and good form. I would like to see a different formation. Gerrard has used 3-4-1-2 at Liverpool Youths. To be honest, I don't see it happening and even if it did, we would still have the same issues if our players can't get up for it. One tactical change I'd like to see is a better use of one of our #8s (Jack and Arfield most recently). Gerrard does like the 5-5 structure (5 defending, 5 attacking), which is standard across Europe, so it's not too much of an issue. However, domestically, I think one of our #8s should occupy higher positions. I think leaving 4 back is enough to pass around any press and defend the counter. A more advanced #8 between the lines would give more passing options.

Gilmour absolutely bossed that midfield. Superb.

Of course, these changes count for nothing if the players don't pull their finger out!

With the injuries it's a good opportunity to try something different. I think Kamara will be drafted in -- He's had a wee break, anyway. Davis needs a break. I'd like to see a front two. Gerrard was known for a 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 with the Liverpool Youths, so: Kamberi - Morelos Hagi Barisic - Kamara - Aribo - Tavernier Edmundson - Katic - Goldson McGregor

What are you expecting? The player from 10 years ago that played with Suarez and Stirling and scored goals for fun, or the recent journeyman that can't play for more than 90 minutes without getting injured? Kenny Miller is available - he scored a lot of goals 10 years ago.

Rangers 5 - 0 Hamilton FGS Morelos

Naismith over Jelavic!? No! Papac was class, but do you think he's a better all-round player than Barisic?

Where's all this coming from? His post match interview?

I wouldn't say he's finished, just yet. But, he has been absolutely awful in recent months.

Davis has been tremendous, but has fallen off a cliff since the break. I don't understand it? Defoe and McAuley were from last season - the post I responded to specifically said this season's transfers.

Found this interesting question on Reddit. It's a bit of deflection from recent woes, but also compares how far off we may be to a title winning XI. Pick your starting XI from a mix of players from the 2010/11 title winning side and our current squad, based on raw ability. 2010/11 Squad: McGregor; Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Davis, Edu, Wylde; Lafferty, Jelavic, Naismith; McCulloch, Weiss, Miller, Broadfoot. 2019/20 Squad: McGregor; Tavernier, Edmundson, Goldson, Barisic; Arfield, Davis, Jack; Hagi, Morelos, Kent; Aribo, Kamara, Katic, Kamberi. Based on raw ability, and their age at the time. Mine would be (4-3-3): McGregor (2010/11) Tavernier - Weir - Bougherra - Barisic Davis (2010/11) - Jack - Aribo Naismith - Jelavic - Morelos Feel free to add any players I might have missed.

There's never a bad time to think about Josh Windass...

Eh?

They are not mistakes -- other than Barker, I'd say, and the [early] loanees. The profiles are good: youngsters with potential; solid, experienced Premier League players. Where I agree, is that we've got our priorities wrong: squad players instead of quality first team players.

Of course, but that's where Wilson comes in. We're just shooting ourselves in the foot if we start selling first team players but retain the dross. I don't see how we improve. Our first XI may improve, but we've still got to fall back on the dross.

I have a problem when we start saying, ' we need to get rid of X, Y and Z first team players', and almost hoping you get someone better. That's not the way you improve, IMO. We should be retaining these first team players, and then replacing the poorer squad players with better quality first-team players. So, it's like a conveyor belt: for example, Polster gets sold, Tavernier goes from being a first team player to a squad player, and then we sign someone better than Tavernier for the first-choice RB. You don't get rid of the first team players and leave the dross squad players behind.

I don't think it was poor, per se, but the focus was on depth, rather than first-team players. They're not, and were never meant to be, first team players, so not having an impact is irrelevant, IMO. What we were looking for, is for them to play a few games here and there, put in solid performances and/or develop their game. Jones and Stewart are solid Premier League players, who wouldn't have cost too much. They have each contributed a little: Stewart's came off the bench to grab a decent number of goals for someone that doesn't play much; and Jones grabbed important assists in EU qualifying, but then has been injured for the majority of the time. Hastie and Edmundson are youngsters with promising futures. Edmundson looks good at times, but make the odd mistake; that's not unusual for a youngster. Hastie has not done much, but he's only 20; he was one of the best youngsters in the League. Ojo is a loan that showed early promise but has disappointed. Barker was just an opportunity to add to the squad depth, IMO. He's not good enough. I don't think the profile of player we went for is wrong: they are youngsters with promise, or solid premier league players that can add to the squad. What I agree with, from those above posts, is that we have focused, wrongly, on squad players to add depth. What we needed was more first-team players. Hagi, Kamberi, Aribo and Helander are good signings, in that regard. (I think only Hagi and Kamberi are Wilson signings, I think? I might be wrong.)

Nae points. I didn't even have to leave my phone. I'll post the table tomorrow.

There's no point blaming individuals - it's all of them. But they're not bad players.

I'm as angry as the next guy, but I'm also quite confused - how can go from being the best team in the country, blowingvaway top European sides, to this gutless, impotent performance? It's inexplicable. I would like some answers from SG.

I can't help but feel we need a complete rebuild, or reset, but that's simply not true: this squad is capable of playing some great stuff. Where is it?

It's inexplicable how bad we are.