Rousseau

1 minute ago, craig said:

Would be very tough on Jack to lose his spot and I would be building my team around McCrorie, despite his youth..... but I really liked the look of Goss last night - good first touch, always offering himself for the pass, head turning on a swivel, creating space for himself, and his vertical passing was very good too.

Carrick-esque! 

Jack can sit either way, but McCrorie gives more of a driving presence, while Goss is more of a deep-lying playmaker. Depends on the opposition, I suppose.

Actually, a 4-1-4-1 with McCrorie behind Goss and Jack would give us a good strong base against the 'better' teams. Maybe allows a three-at-the-back too.

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself! I'm too easily excited!

Yes, a quick check on Wikipedia suggests it wasn't Guardiola that sold him: Guardiola left in 2012/13, whereas Sanchez left in 2014.

I really can't see him choosing Utd over Guardiola and City.

1 minute ago, craig said:

Keeping an eye on the enemy

15 minutes ago, craig said:

Murphy, Candeias and Windass playing behind Morelos could be a very good combination for us.

 

Development team or not, Windass showed last night that he MUST play behind the main striker or not at all.  He is far, far more effective playing behind the striker centrally.

Absolutely.

The next issue is who is best to support them -- both offensively and defensively. Jack and McCrorie could be a good double-pivot? 

18 minutes ago, buster. said:

 

IMO they are connected.

 

The club/football operation have to decide on who they want and they'll consider both Naismith and the others. Now the club or/and football operation may discount Naismith quickly, which would be fine if they had other names and could deliver them.

 

The issue of finance presently available has to be considered when considering the above.

 

------

 

I'd welcome a fresh approach after too many expensive auld yins who haven't delivered (sometimes predictably).....but this particular auld yin wouldn't be expensive and IMO is actually more likely to deliver.

I'm complaining about the fans conclusions, not our scouting approach. We're too quick to make conclusions, when it's all based on rumour -- which is all we can do, to be fair, but I prefer to keep a more balanced view.

If they miss out on other options, I would hope they don't just go for Naismith for the sake of it! That's a bad route to go down! 

He "wouldn't be expensive and IMO is actually more likely to deliver" is pure assumption. I can only base my opinion on facts, and the only fact I am certain about is that he's not the player he was. I really couldn't say if he'd be good enough. If Hearts are going for him, perhaps not! Moreover, all the baggage that come with him (dividing support etc.) is quite a mark against the signing.

Looks very nice, but is there any income opportunity? 

Or am I being insensitive? 

9 minutes ago, buster. said:

 

I think the apparent assumptions that we'll be able to do deals for the likes of Docherty and others are far from watertight.

 

I'd welcome a new approach for fresher faces but at this point in time, only if we can actually go and get it done. If not, then Naismith IMO becomes a 'no-brainer' (if cost is as reported).

They're not connected, though. There are gambles involved in every name we've been linked with, mainly around whether they can step up. 

Like I said above, if all assumptions are correct then they're very good signings. I'm sceptical, and prefer to air on the side of caution. One bad game and we're slating them again!

My main issue is we keep calling the Naismith one a "no-brainer", when I think there are still too many assumptions and variables involved. As Craig said elsewhere: we're too keen on that silver bullet.

2 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

Absolutely!, they will have far more info than us and that is why no matter what players we post about it has no bearing on who signs!, but we are entitled to opinions and that is where it ends!.

Yes, fair enough. 

If all the assumptions are correct, then he would be a very good signing. I'm just sceptical. 

Sanchez to Man City fits in so many ways. Sanchez to Man Utd is a GIRUY!

Did Guardiola sell Sanchez, or was he at Bayern at the time?

What're you doing on "mank" forums?!

If we're in competition with Hearts for him, then I don't want him!

7 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

Sure, but what is the actual gamble?

He could be another wage, divide the support, dressing room, while being sh*te. 

I'll trust the management's decision; they'll have more information than any of us.

15 minutes ago, stewarty said:

“I maybe have a point to prove to some people, but I don’t think that in this league there’s any point there to prove for me."

 

Sorry Michael, you are only as good as your last game.  And establishing yourself as a decent performer in a poor league, is not the same as establishing yourself as a decent performer for us.   I know that these interviews are an exercise in generic platitudes, so I really hope that you didn't actually think you had made it.

When Kevin Thomson said to Walter when asked how he felt his first few months ago, when he said 'aye alright' (or similar) - he was quickly told in no uncertain terms that 'awright was not fucking good enough'.   

Unless O'Halleron is able to adapt his game and his mindset quickly, he will fade back to being a decent SPFL performer with someone else.  And reading between the lines, I think he knows that is likely to be the case.

I said the same above: Playing for Rangers is very different to playing for any other side. 

That comment annoyed me somewhat. 

This conclusion that it's a "no brainer" is based on too many assumptions, for me. 

2 minutes ago, JohnMc said:

At 31 I doubt Naismith is past it, and even if he's lost a yard of pace Naismith's game wasn't based on speed and power. With Pena gone and Kranjcar struggling we need some guile. Naismith offers that and can play as a second striker very effectively. Indeed a busy, explosive type player like Morelos would do well paired with Naismith. Players like Tav, John, Holt and Windass would love playing with Naismith, he sees runs, he finds space and he creates openings for players like them. 

 

He also brings experience, our starting 11 against Celtic was one of the youngest and least experienced I've seen Rangers field. We need some experience in our side. 

 

I've no idea if the Hearts story has any truth in it, but he clearly wants to come 'home' and I can't think of any good reasons why Rangers wouldn't facilitate that. 

Maybe he's just not good enough anymore, or it's perhaps a gamble considering his age and injury problems? The management team will know more than any of us.

Whatever they decide to do, I'll trust their decision. 

He could well be a decent option for us, but it could also be the opposite. 

I doubt Cardoso and Alves will be going anywhere -- and hope they won't be. 

I think we ask too much of Alves. He's been pretty solid, for me; wins every header and clears his lines. We praise Bates for the exact same thing! He's always been that type of player. Perhaps we expect more because of the level he's played at?

If the management has analysed the situation and concluded that we won't make a move for Naismith, then I'm inclined to trust them -- they'll have better information that we ever will. 

It looks like an easy move, but it's still a gamble. He looks finished: 31, not played in a long time through injury, and then not been in contention even when he has been fit. We're too caught up in what he did 5 years ago. 

And, of course, we have the living meme himself, Dalcio, to play wherever he wants!

DALCIO IS LIFE!

That run from Candeias to set up the Herrera-windass one-two for the goal was superb! 

The basic shape in both halves is 4-2-3-1. We've had Cadeias-MOH in the second-half, and Murphy-Atekayi in the first-half playing wide. 

With Murphy arriving, and Candeias still our best creator -- the league's best creator -- we will maybe see more of the 4-2-3-1 when the league starts back up. With Barjonas, Halliday and Goss coming in, we have a fair few options in the middle too.

4 minutes ago, pete said:

 

This was the Brazilians Development team they never brought their first team. I woulddn't hold my breath waiting for a new manager. Unless Mutry has a mare between now and the end of the season he will be offered a new contract.

Yes, I just heard the Commentator say this was their development team, which deflates my opinion of the win somewhat. However, we've hardly got our strongest side out, with new players settling in and youngsters playing. 

Dalcio is not a Left-back, but perhaps Murty was trying him in a wing-back role: I think early on Goss dropped back to make a three-at-the-back, with Dalcio and Tavernier pushed on a little more. 

Goss can pass, but he's strong under a tackle. It may suit him to play in a team that should have the majority of the possession. He looks like another decent option from what little I've seen.

Atekayi (sp?) looks lively too, but we've not got him into the game enough. 

4 minutes ago, Gazza_8 said:

27 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

So, I take it you don't like Mourinho?  

I used to. The game is changing and his stubbornness in refusing to change his ways is costing Man Utd points. After a defeat he'll trot out some ridiculous lie to take the blame off the team. He's as obvious as Dalcio is shit.

It was a general, thread-wide 'you', not you specifically I was responding to -- seems like every post trashed him!

I like him, and I like the way he diverts attention away from players. However, I do dislike the way he seems to pick fights, but I think the media have a lot to do with stoking that particular fire. The current one with Conte is pointless!

I also agree his style is on the wain, if not finished. He'll not change now. Man Utd will be consistently top 4 under him, but I don't see them winning leagues. 

DALCIO IS LIFE!

1 minute ago, StuGers said:

 

Theway Niko has been this season, he won’t be much of a loss anyway!

Can't argue with that!

Just now, StuGers said:

 

I know it’s a friendly but that one Kranjcar shat out of the challenge from the non-existent goalie was ridiculous.

I hope every player pulls out: we don't want them injured.

Save the aggression for Aberdeen.