Rousseau

You wont be saying that when you are trying to get the seat beside him at the next Gersnet dinner....

Probably something to do with their CL loss. They maybe have to double-down on training after a defeat like that. Friendlies are not that important.

I've mentioned on here before that my kid gets private training sessions with Kevin.

 

Having got to know him over the last few months he really is an absolute gem of a person. Very humble, down to earth, bright, intelligent, passionate about the game and the kids development.

 

Rangers could do a whole lot worse than have Kevin in the Academy as a coach. The kids absolutely love him.

Get a room...

I'm not jealous.

I thought Pena was poor; complacent on the ball and kept giving it away. In his defense tonight, though, I always thought he was having to chest it down to control it on occasion; which is difficult. Was that just me? Despite that, I think there is a player there. His positioning is excellent, he always gets into the box, links up well and he's not afraid of giving an opponent a wee dig at times!

Who was saying a "Cardiff City reject was not Rangers quality"?

regarding BT, Why don't people just unsubscribe from them. I would never pay for that unprofessional shite.

Their coverage of football in general on BT is exceptional: Many European leagues to gorge on; Premier League games; Champions League and Europa League games, and a fantastic goals as-they-happen show on CL nights with the legend James Richardson, and Hongistein, Lauren and Horcastle -- proper football journalists. I'm disappointed they got rid of the Eropean Football Show with the former as it was the best football show on TV.

It's only the Scottish games that are unprofessional shite, and that's down to the so-called 'pundits'. I mean, "Pena for [PC's] thoughts"? Jesus wept! I switch over at Half-time.

No Miller...

I can't say I'm too surprised.

 

Anyone else?

Yes, I am. I really thought he'd do well in that league. He seemed to score every time he played for us. However, it does -- as others have stated -- perhaps suggests an attitude problem, and certainly explains why he wasn't quite getting the games for us.

I'm not sure throwing money at the situation constitutes a "grand plan". We were also throwing money at the situation, and that didn't work out too well.

Ahem... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4930064/Carlo-Ancelotti-failed-deliver-goods-Bayern-Munich.html

He's still a class act, though. His record speaks for itself:

Juventus

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Milan

Serie A: 2003–04

Coppa Italia: 2002–03

Supercoppa Italiana: 2004

UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07

UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007

FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

Chelsea

Premier League: 2009–10

FA Cup: 2009–10

FA Community Shield: 2009

Paris Saint-Germain

Ligue 1: 2012–13

Real Madrid

Copa del Rey: 2013–14

UEFA Champions League: 2013–14

UEFA Super Cup: 2014

FIFA Club World Cup: 2014

Bayern Munich

Bundesliga: 2016–17

DFL-Supercup: 2016, 2017

Individual

Serie A Coach of the Year: 2001, 2004[180]

Panchina d'Oro: 2002–03, 2003–04[181]

Ligue 1 Manager of the Year: 2012–13 (tie with Christophe Galtier)

IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2007, 2014[182]

European Coach of the Year—Alf Ramsey Award: 2003

World Soccer Magazine Manager of the Year: 2003[183]

Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2014[184]

Globe Soccer Awards Best Media Attraction in Football: 2014[184]

Enzo Bearzot Award: 2014[185]

FIFA World Coach of the Year (Runner-up): 2014[186]

Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2014–15

Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015[121]

A.C. Milan Hall of Fame

A.S. Roma Hall of Fame

The sheer number and variety (leagues and counties) is second to none. Not even Guardiola, Mourinho nor Conte have won the Intertoto. I rest my case.

Although, that Bayern team was really performing poorly.

That set of Sky Sports pundits needs replaced. Merson in particular is past it with his views; Thompson, Nicholas and Le Tissier are not much better. We're not going to improve as a footballing country if these guys are the source of wisdom.

Sounds like a very Portuguese way of playing. I've not seen much of Watford, but I will look out for them from now on.

Foderingham 5

Tavernier 8

Cardoso 6

McCrorie 8

Hodson 4

Candeias 6

Jack 6

Dorrans 6

Windass 7

Pena 7

Morelos 7

Subs :

Miller 4

Herrera 5

Nemane 5

It would have meant buying Scottish players who know the League, likes of Moult etc. yes we would have probably finished 2nd or 3rd.

 

At the moment we are going to finish 2nd or 3rd anyway, with players from Mexico and Portugal who don't seem to be coping very well, and that's the ones that are fit.

 

I didn't fancy McInnes or Wright but it might have been safer for 2/3 years.

If that's the same results with players that aren't "coping [...] well", then we should be in for a treat when they do start coping!

I don't understand your logic.

In mitigation for Alves he really didn't have a break during the summer or a pre-season because of the Confederation's Cup and that will take a toll on any player especially one at the latter end of his career. Players who don't have a 'pre-season' often pick up little strains and can struggle for fitness later in the season. It's a concern I have for Moreloss too. He joined us straight from a summer season in Finland, I think that's one of the reasons he started the league flying but at the same time fatigue might be an issue for him in a few months time. It's something I imagine the management team are aware but he's currently un-droppable so I doubt he'll be getting a rest anytime soon. Does he play for the Columbian national side? Trips to South America during the season can be energy sapping too.

 

As for 'where we're at' I think we're at the roughly the same place we were this time last season. I think tactically you can now see what the side is trying to do, something that I couldn't discern when PC took over, and the players understand their roles now.

I don't think we bought particularly well over the summer, based on how much we spent, although I also accept it's too early judge. For the money we spent I think we could have bought more players of a similar if not better standard than we did.

 

Our squad is shallow, as we saw on Saturday if we lose a couple of players we're throwing untried teenagers in and if Moreloss gets injured we're very short of goal scorers.

 

I disagree about speed, we were a faster side last season, McKay, Waghorn and Holt were all quicker and only Moreloss brings real speed to the side.

 

When our first choice defence is fit we're stronger there, middle of the park too, but wide areas are weaker and we've fewer options up front albeit our first choice centre-forward is better than anything we've had since Jelavic. We don't play as attractive a style of football this season for a similar return results wise.

 

It might surprise some of you to know that I'm not convinced our manager, or this team, is capable of winning the league, this season or in a couple of season's time, and we'd be better off facing that now. I understand why others feel differently though. We've had an easier start to the league this season than last season but a similar set of results. I don't think Pedro is good at motivating players and the side lacks fight and character. Despite the new faces we still look leaderless on the field and that's a concern.

I agree with the majority of this, but there is no way McKay, Waghorn and Holt are quicker than Candeias, Windass and Pena. Holt, IMO, was actually quite slow; the acceleration and agility is good, but actually quite slow over any distance.

Also, I actually find the transition game much more entertaining than MW's possession-game. Personal preference at the end of the day, though.

Pena keeps getting dogs abuse, but here we see he was the main cause of most of our -- albeit limited -- counter-attacks.

Again, a real lack of quality and making wrong decisions.

Tactically, we were spot-on; hopefully the results come with repetition.

I've been watching these for a few weeks now -- I love them! The video aspect makes them much easier to digest rather than articles.

Am I the only one who thinks we should play two up front ? ( and Miller wouldn't be one of them)

 

It would probably mean going to a 3-5-2 formation.

Although it was Miller, we did play with two up front without a noticeable increase in goals -- I presume that's what you want it for?

I'd like the option of us going to a back-three, but for now I think 4-2-3-1 is the way to go, as it suits the players we have, and we have several options in this formation.

However, thinking about it, I would like to see Herrera and Morelos play together. I'm not sure how, though? I don't like 4-4-2 with two out-and-out strikers because we lose midfield control -- pretty much what happened when Pena came off against them. 3-5-2 would be a good option in that situation.

John Fleck has just scored for Utd with a wonderfully worked free-kick.

He's only 26?! I always thought he was a talented wee player.

I had the Motherwell-Aberdeen game on for 20 minutes or so today, and my words it's brutal! It's hit and rush football. There may be plenty of 'fight' in it, but that's what's wrong with Scottish football: too much emphasis placed on it; it's meaningless when we come up against any tactically proficient side.

Moult's good in the air, and lays the ball off nicely, but I don't know what else he'd bring to our side? Herrera and Morelos can both do that job very well. PC doesn't play with two out-and-out forwards anyway, so I'm not sure Moult would replace Morelos; a bit like Herrera now.

McLean is anonymous. And Walker -- to carry on with the golden trio that'll "improve" our squad -- is just a better Billy King; brings nothing to the game -- all his goals were penalties.

I'd take them all, to, at the very least, weaken our opponents, but for me they only add squad depth, they do not improve our squad by any great degree.

Our football has been terrific at times. It's just that mental toughness that's lacking -- and results...

I don't remember us ever beating "SPL dross" easily with any regularity. Even with Walter (2nd spell) we may have won the majority but the games were not easy; always tight, with performances fluctuating wildly. I often recall being annoyed at performances, but saying to myself 'a win's a win'.

"Where are we at"? I'm sorry, I just can't take that question seriously, grammatically.

I agree, we do need a run of good results. Hearts was a poor one, but the Hibs one was almost outwith our control. The only result I've been particularly annoyed with -- outwith the Hearts game -- was the Partick result: we had it, comfortably, but let is slip away. Generally our performances have been good, but results not so much.

The table is always strange at this stage of the season; I don't take too much notice. Second place is the target.

Really disappointed with that, considering we were 0-0 at half time.

 

3 things I'd like to know that I couldn't see at the match;

 

1. Was it a penalty in the first half?

 

2. Was it a red card for the late one on our left back by Roberts (I think)? Not even a booking!!

 

3. Were our strikers constantly offside as the linesman seemed to think?

 

Actually I'll ad a fourth - was it just me or was the ref dying to book one of our players and gave every decision to them? I will admit that I am biaised but my voice is hoarse from shouting at his decisions.

1. Yes.

2. Meh... don't think so.

3. Pretty much, but one early on I though was onside.

4. Like I said in my post above: there were no real howlers from the Referee -- apart from the penalty I suppose -- but I was really annoyed at the amount of 50/50's that went their way; even when they clearly looked like ours - I may also be biased in that regard, though.

Agreed. But we will not challenge for the title with the likes of Hodson and Windass in the team, we are still 4/5 players short imo.

Short several, I agree, but I thought Windass was excellent today. Hodson just doesn't have the physique or pace, but we were hampered in that position - is he even our back-up LB?

I'm actually quite content with that performance - or as content as I can be with a defeat against them. They cut us open with ease the first 5 minutes, but we composed ourselves and competed well for the majority of the game - the game was lost the last 10 minutes, which explains us losing that tenacity that we'd shown throughout; a few changes too. We lost control of the middle when we went two up top, which is good that we went with a 4-2-3-1 instead of a 4-4-2.

The mistake at the goal cost us, but it was very unfortunate: Cardoso should be clearing it, and then Hodson trying to kick it when just blocking would've sufficed was silly. And then, although McCrorie was a tad flat footed, Foderingham should not be getting beat at his near post - his distribution today was poor.

McCrorie was otherwise excellent: winning challenges and generally composed on the ball. I especially liked how he tracked down Dembele to crunch him despite it being offside long past. He'll be a good player in the future.

We expected them to dominate possession, and we were content to let them have it at the back where they couldn't hurt us. We defended zonally in a mid-block, then we pressed hard when they came around the half-way line. We were dangerous on the break - decision-making again let us down.

Pena was OK, positionally, but got pushed off the ball too easily. Morelos was excellent, but too eager to get in behind, straying offside too often.

The Referee was poor. There were no bad challenges or howlers from the Referee, but those little 50/50 things seemed to just go their way; even when it was clearly ours. And, we were denied a stonewall penalty.

We're still a level below them, but there is definite progress. I thought PC got it spot-on tactically - much better than parking the bus!

Boyd thinks Miller can keep the ball in he final third????? No he can't. Nor can he hold the ball up either.

Keep the ball? He has to chase his first touch, which is invariably backwards!