BlackSocksRedTops

Not easy but we have a great chance to get through this round. If it's Genk, we have a decent and recent track record against Belgium sides. 

I get the McCoist comparison but comparing football today with patterns from nearly 40 years ago is pointless. Players (and especially strikers) have to hit the ground running. For example, McCoist and Hatley would have been binned today if he started like they did. Even Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn't have become the legend he became at Man Utd. No Man Utd manager I'd going to 7 years without winning the title.

I'm slightly uneasy that we seem to be laying all our financial chips on strikers. Could 5.6 million and a reported 38k a week be better spent elsewhere? 

Seeing reports of a third bid of 5.2 million for Danilio plus add ons. I presume they must know others are going out the door??

1 hour ago, pete said:

Yfeko looked good for the first few minutes he came on, but then made a few poor decisions and thus mistakes. Not stopping the cross for the goal was a lethal mistake and one of the basics of football.  You have to stop crosses at source. He is young and will learn. Not ready for the first team yet, but maybe unfair to judge on the few minutes he was on. Rice is going to be a massive player. Unfortunately, the modern trend is that he will be bought away before making an impact in the Rangers team. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Lowry showed that he deserves some more game time and was unlucky not to win us the game. Raskin was the jewel on the crown, though. What a player he is. John Souttar was the other stand out for me and one of the few I would say was up at Newcastle standard in the first half. Due to a stagnant midfield, he got pulled out of position at the first goal'The midfield at the goal was shocking standing in a straight line across the pitch, giving the Newcastle players about 4 metres room and totally open for the wall pass that ensued. Ryan Jack and John Lundstram should never be the mainstay of our midfield ever again. They are metres off the pace and that is not pre-season cobwebs, that is a few years of failure. Lundstram has had a good 6-month period in 4 years at Ibrox. Just my opinion, and no doubt others will think different.🙂

Lundstram has been at Ibrox for 4 years...? This season will only be his 3rd. I think you're being a wee bit harsh on Lundstram tbh. In his first season he took time to bed in but was outstanding in our run to the Europa League final. Last season he had a dip but again finished strongly and was one of our better players in the 2nd half of the season. 

Gary Player looking good for 87. Nice to see Jukebox also. 

Could be worse...I see Brenda's Braves got 6 rattled past them by Yokohama...

42 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

 

Good luck to the young guy. Turkey has been hard trasustion for many UK players but hopefully he can buck the trend. He'll also be up against Kent which should be interesting. 

If we can navigate the early Euro qualifier and get to the first OF game with 9pts on the board I'll be happy.  How they actually do it is irrelevant at this stage. 

Just now, compo said:

Never seen the game up here in Glasgow for a week on hospital duty were there any signs of hope for the season ahead 

Based on a tribute match/friendly...all the new guys are pish and we haven't progressed at all...🤣🤣🤣

8 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Fulham have made a £15M bid for Calvin Bassey.

 

Have we got a sell-on clause attached?

Is it not a sell on fee depending on a profitable sale for Ajax? I may be wrong. 

1 hour ago, JohnMc said:

What does everyone see in Ridvan? I'm at a loss why anyone thinks he's an improvement on Barasic. Borna can't defend but at least he can cross, Yilmaz can't even do that. There are rides at the shows he can't get on, my heart sinks when I think of what we paid for him. 

 

That aside not sure there's much to take from the match. Newcastle have better players than us, perhaps not unexpected when they spent £415 million assembling them, but the gulf wasn't cavernous although it felt like they had another gear if they wanted it. With the exception of the keeper our defence is unchanged, that might be a worry. Lundstram looks like he's starting this season like last season. Hopefully someone will convince him it's actually March and he'll find some form. A bit early to judge the new guys but as I'm a Rangers fan I won't let that stop me forming hard opinions and fighting to the death for them. Butland is too handsome for a goalie, get him punted, I've taken an instant dislike to him and that's unlikely to change. A midfield of Dowell, Raskin and Rice should carry us to glory. The big Dutchman looks like a handful and Sima is certainly strong, hopefully he's got a bit more than that too. 

Big season ahead for Lowry, whether it's on loan at St Johnstone or in our first team he needs to start playing regular football or his career will be one of what might have been. 

Harsh John. Ridvan has about a dozen starts under his belt so it's early. We need to give him a chance as we need to move on from Barasic. 

It's not like Rangers fans to overreact and make rash early judgements based on a preseason testimonial kick about...

🙄

Due to a wee family emergency I unfortunately missed all the action. Sounds like a good run out against a very good team. At this stage it's about getting minutes in the legs and time together on the pitch as a new unit. Roll on the weekend. 

23 minutes ago, Bill said:

Likewise BSRT but with some caution that a squad of new players doesn't automatically turn into an effective team overnight. We may need to show some patience for a few weeks.

Agreed Bill. It will take time to gel but definitely looking for signs of change in quality and upgrades on some well kent faces from the last 3 years. Raskin and Cantwell suggest that Beale has an eye a player and has decent man management skills so hopefully that success can be replicated with the new boys. I think Lammars is going to surprise a lot of people.

Very excited about the new season and seeing all the new faces. I feel like we've added with players who could make a difference to the starting XI as opposed to getting bodies to bolster our squad. 

If we can shift Wright and Kamara for anywhere near 5.5 million that is decent business. If you factor in Colaks transfer, that would be a net profit of over 6 million on those 3 players. 

It would also mean our net spend this summer would be close to zero (so far). 

Cifuentes incoming...

According to a good source. 

Well see. 

Apologies if this has been posted but I noticed that Dessers played no part on the 2-0 win in Germany. Was any particular reason given for his absence? 

From all accounts a classy guy on all fronts. Good luck big man.

Our success this year will not revolve around Barasic staying or leaving. If Forest are giving you money for a 30 year old in the last year of his contract, I would grab it with both hands. 

If we can muster the following outgoings it will offset any additional spending we have planned for Danilio, Cifuentes etc. 

Colak 2.5

Sakala 4

Borna 1.5

Wright 1

McCrorie .5

8 minutes ago, ranger_syntax said:

Great if we can announce an improved replacement quickly.

 

If we are relying on Ridvan then we will be in a tough fight for second place.

Oh ye of little faith...

Is see there is talk of big Balogun coming back...

1 hour ago, Bluedell said:

Rate was around 1.65 back then.

Wow. Apparent it reached 1.76 that year. Hard to believe it when you see the crumbs we are offered today. 

Michael Ball and Kyle Lafferty stand out for me.