Uilleam

There are not enough serious sides in Scotland. Decimate them. 5 subs has to stop. It means that some players will be naught but benchwarmers, primarily B Teamers.

Yes, but Clarke's record over the stretch of games before the Euros was deplorable, only beating the giants of Gibraltar, if memory serves. That is indicative of something, and it ain't good. However, Clarke stuck to his guns, and to his pals, and to his 'formation', if such it was, and to his 'tactics', if such they were, and paid the, ahem, penalty. It may only be described as a failure of management. Oh, and the 'pen' v Hungary was not a pen. Hungary, in fact should have had a pen, but didn't need it. And I'd take the Argentinian ref, and his assistants, and VAR men, for the next game v the fhilth.

And I worry about flinging the bairn out with the bathwater....

If you had a decent League structure, then I could see some sense in it. (Frankly, there are too many teams in Scotland's SPFL. It should be culled.) I don't think you could have, in Scotland, two leagues, with the lower division containing, what, say up to 10, or12, (or so) B teams. Unless you were able to have a B Team league on its own. (At least that would prevent a team being relegated, and having to play its own B Team, home and away.)

Book learning. Not worth a fuck in real fitba'.

I thought that we had tried that, or something similar. You have a pretty mundane, uncompetitive, mostly, Premier League, so what level of competition, and tactical challenge, does the league structure below this provide? (The whole SPFL requires surgery, but that is a debate for elsewhere.)

Scotland was the worst team at the Euros - offishull If only Proud Edward's Army had qualified, eh?

And spend significant coin on players whose ability to withstand the 'unique' pressures, and environment, of Rangers, and to carry that heavy shirt, is untested, and thus, unknown? I have been told, many times, that all transfers are a risk. Therefore, the more players you buy, the greater the risk. It strikes me that with a youth set up, you will, inevitably, have a high 'churn rate'; this would also be the case with purchased players, who do not come up to expectations. If you have a player from say age 15/16 to, say 19/ 20, you will have a pretty clear idea of his talent, and of his personality (considered broadly), both of which you will have helped to develop. When you buy a player, at, say, 20, you will have, from observation, an idea of his talent, but less of his personality. The nub of the matter, perhaps, is that one player has the talent, and the personality, but not the experience, while the other has, as far as you can discern, the talent, and the experience, but with his personality, largely, unknown. What is needed is for the home schooled players to gain the necessary experience. This seems to be difficult, internally, and externally, and I am not sure how you solve the problem. However, despite this, it would seem logical not to commit all resources to one policy and practice.

I have it on the authority of my mate's grandson's pal, who is at Ibrox tonight for a family dinner, or something, that there is a player on the pitch with photographers, and suits. The player is wearing a strip with No 8 on it. The lad thinks that it is Kabadayi, from the pictures he has seen on line. If there are any Tory MPs, researchers, spads, etc checking this thread.....now might be the time to get a bet on.

OK - It's the Delivery Room, or tactics talks from Gareth Southgate. The choice is yours.

Joining Rangers from Glentoran is a boyhood dream come true, says teenager Mason Munn Scottish Premiership Mason Munn has left Glentoran and joined Rangers Graham Luney Sat 2 Jul 2022 at 09:00 Young goalkeeper Mason Munn says he’s living his boyhood dream after agreeing a three-year professional deal with Rangers. The Donaghadee shot-stopper savoured a little taste of the full-time environment at Glentoran and now he’s been handed a golden opportunity at the Scottish Premiership giants which he intends to grasp with both hands. Munn (16), the son of Abbey Villa legend Jon, can’t wait to go to work at Ibrox and deliver for the club he supported as a boy. “I can’t wait to get started, get in the building and get pre-season under way,” he beamed. “I’m a boyhood Rangers fan.” Dad Jon played for and captained the Amateur League side before going on to become a successful coach. “My dad was a goalkeeper and I can remember watching him and wanting to follow in his footsteps,” said Munn. “Abbey Villa have been my home club and I moved up to Ridgeway before the Glens came in. “Gary Hillis was my manager at Ridgeway. I didn’t feature in the Glens’ first team but I’ve been around training and Elliott Morris was very good that way in bringing me in. “There’s a good pathway at Glentoran, I started in the 16s in the first season, won the Super Cup and then Declan Lynch came in and I stepped up to the 18s for a season. I then joined the 20s last season and trained with the first team. “The players are training every day and working with the full-time professionals has helped prepare me for going across the water and that intense environment.” The professional game in England and Scotland is a huge attraction to promising young footballers but there is an added layer of glitter to clubs like Rangers or Celtic which have huge support in Northern Ireland. “Phil Cowan, a Rangers scout in Northern Ireland, got in contact about two years ago and got me over on trial. I loved it and although other clubs were interested, they are very nice people at Rangers and of course there’s such a strong connection with Northern Ireland,” said Munn. “I’ve had several trials and played in many games. “Family members support Rangers and they have a huge fan base here so I’m very excited. “It’s a big step up but I’m up for the challenge and will hopefully settle in well into the full-time environment. “I always wanted to play at a higher level and move through the age groups. As soon as I went up I had to get used to the pace and shooting. “I’ve seen a few Rangers players walking around the training ground and it gives you an extra buzz to know you are in that environment. It gave me added motivation to know that if I worked hard and got my head down I could be there one day.” Munn is one of the Irish FA JD Academy graduates whose career prospects have been enhanced by the right advice and coaching. He added: “The Academy has been a big help and being picked for the Victory Shield squad was important. You feel like a professional and young international. As you move through the clubs the demands increase but there are opportunities for young players. More clubs are looking at Irish League players, realising the young talent we have here. “I’ll be linking up with the U18s in my first season and I’ll try to be a regular first-choice keeper. I can hopefully push into the ‘B’ team and if I keep impressing you never know, the goal is to make the first-team squad. “At international level, I’ve been with the ClubNI set-up and we are moving into the Nordic Cup with Gerard Lyttle the manager.” Munn is following in the footsteps of 18-year-old Charlie Lindsay, who left the Glens for Rangers, and with the Gers’ ‘B’ team at the BetMcLean Oval for a friendly on July 10, the young keeper could be making a swift return. Joining Rangers from Glentoran is a boyhood dream come true, says teenager Mason Munn | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

It's only your age that saves you.

Either heading for the vanishing point?

I was sent the following, something from what I think is the Daily Bedlam, Re: Young Dessers - "23:12, 25 Jun 2024, updated 10:13, 26 Jun 2024 By Stephen Mcgowan And John Mcgarry Nigerian striker has reportedly handed in a transfer request in bid to force move Scorer of 23 goals last season, Dessers has divided opinion among Rangers fans... GREEK champions PAOK Salonika are in discussions with Rangers over a deal to sign striker Cyriel Dessers — and reports claim the Nigerian international has handed in a transfer request in a bid to force the move through." Sez I , Dessers is trying to "force" a move? First reasonable offer will secure, surely - I saw it in Exchange & Mart.

Typical of you: nae perspective

Impressive, though, how quickly, and how successfully, the Labour Party moved to save the Union. Is there a World Cup, and a Holyrood election in 2026? Starmer might want to engineer a failure to qualify.

Clarke, it may now be revealed, exclusively to Gersnet, is an agent of the Labour Party, his cunningly stage managed incompetence, and inability to rally and inspire the troops, leading, as planned, to serial failures on the pitch. These disasters for Scotland prevented the upswing of national optimism that progress in the tournament would have brought, consigned national pride to the midden, made the plain people of the country embarrassed and ashamed, and, thus, ensured that there would be no high hopes, nor springs in the steps of the electorate, on July 4th, confounding the Nationalist Party, and its knavish tricks. It may be difficult to view Steve Clarke as a latter-day Knox, but he has tied the feet of a dancing nation: and a' fur its ain guid, ken. Such sacrifice. A knighthood, surely? You're welcome.

Apparently, Ross McCausland, at a supporters' do, in NI, last night, on being asked who was the most talented player at Ibrox, responded, "Cyriell Dessers", who is, seemingly, "unbelievable" in training. He's training well, he's sparring brilliantly, the camp is confident of a result. Rsf R3.

Bookmarked.

His title with Scotland is: Assistant Coach (Failed).

Steve Clarke thought it a documentary.

So, is no-one is coaching set pieces, not even AVFC's 'set piece coach'? What does the assistant coach do: open, and regularly replenish, the mini-bar in the principal coach's room?

They are saying we should sign McLean, because he is experienced, and because he 'gets it'. I am grateful to Big Raymond for sending me this clear demonstration what that expression actually means....

This poor 'footsoldier' (and how I despise that appellation) is out 10K GBP, and angry. It would be facile to assert 'fools and their money'. Really, he did deserve more for his dough, like a bit of attacking football, which is surely not too much to ask of the National XI, and its managers and coaches... And, speaking of which, can anyone, who watched the matches, and Scotland's dire set pieces, explain what in the actual fuck the 'set-piece coach', Mr Austin McPhee, does to earn his gelt?