JFK-1

I have frequently wondered that too, all I could come up with is that the typical SPL dross are just spoilers and good at it, prevent any football breaking out. These Euro teams don't do that, it's not like trying to break down the brick wall we might see in the SPL. As for the result I think I was as relieved as I was happy about it, definitely didn't foresee such a relatively commanding performance given the patchiness of late. If Dessers could just start putting away at least some of the gilt edged chances he gets that might help immensely. Making knockout stage could conceivably come down to GD.

Pretty obvious no one is going to be paying that kind of money or anything like it. They wouldn't pay it if he were a 20 year old far less 33. But I don't see how they can keep him now either. This isn't about money on his part. He has more money than he would need to live in luxury for scores of lifetimes so they can't buy him off. He wants out and that's that. They're just going to have to accept that and work out something rational with somebody.

Kent has to move on sometime, has to be cashed in at some point. But in the meantime he appears content where he is and that's fine by me. Next Summer might be the optimum time when he still has two years on his contract. Unless of course he was offered and accepted an extension giving us another year or two before cashing in.

I suppose Leverkusen could be considered a hangover from last season. It was part of last seasons Europa league.

Be interesting to see the difference when Aribo comes back. Now that we know what it looks like without him.

Hamilton 0 - Rangers 3 FGS Roofe (Roffe?)

So do I. We need a permanent solution as quickly as possible.

Marseille allegedly pursuing a loan deal for Morelos.

Champions league is and always has been my hope for the club. I think we could be looking at a minimum £50 million plus for even a mediocre campaign in the group stage. And that wouldn't involve any detriment to the team. If we can do that while they failed again we could be back on even par at worst. While they may be hitting a stage where the wage bill is becoming a burden.

May their suspect defence live long and never prosper.

Actually is that right? Does it need to be at least 3rd qualifying round to drop into Europa?

Undoubtedly a financial blow for them. They have earned 660,000 Euros from the two ties with no gate money from either tie. And no parachute into the Europa league.

And that's probably what got Lille bidding the current reported offer. Highest scorer in the Europa league group stages is more likely to impress them than scoring goals against a massively outclassed St Johnstone in the SPL.

On the Alfie front i'm disappointed it appears to be heading towards a less then cordial exit. He was key to our European success, he's earned the club a tidy profit. And incidentally all that's an opinion not a fact in case anyone is confused. And it would have been nice for him to leave with no rumours of bad feeling around. Also an opinion.

You're not offended? LOL I've heard it all now. Because that's exactly how you come across with your complaints about your counter speculation being counter speculated. I detected no amusement. Do I need to qualify that as opinion not fact? Round and round we go, putting your own interpretation on to my commentary which I never stated as fact. It's opinion, so if you grasp that from here on in perhaps you may not be so offended. Do I need to preface every opinion with this isn't a fact? Does everybody? Do you? Do I need to post an opinion such as I don't think Kent can be adequately replaced for upcoming matches and then add but if there's a surprising turn of events he can be? I really need to do that? Do you do that? Does everybody do that when offering an opinion? Everyone is adding the opposite possibility? I don't see it. He's virtually the same player as he was when he arrived? Is that a fact? Or is it your opinion? Which by the way I don't see you offering the alternative possibility that maybe he isn't. Another question might be that if you don't need to spend 14 million on equivalent quality why are Leeds doing it? Hard to attract equivalent quality to the EPL for 50K a week? Don't have a recruitment team who know as much about football as you do? And if you're saying it COULD be done fair enough. I'm saying I don't believe that and you're providing no facts to prove otherwise. Aside from that if you find counter opinion to yours tedious I think it's a bad idea to come along directly quoting me don't you? It's pretty much inviting a response don't you think? At this point I don't want to bring in a player then potentially wait a year for him to settle as we did for Barisic. And Barisic is class. Do I need to say that's not a fact it's my opinion on Barisic? Yet couldn't immediately fit in. This isn't the time to be risking that outcome. The manager wants Kent to stay. If the manager thought he could be instantly replaced with no detriment to the team for a lot less money i'm pretty confident he wouldn't be expressing concern that it could be taken out of his hands. And I presume he offended you by not following up with but maybe he could be replaced for a lot less with no problems. But hey, he hasn't won anything right? What does he know.

So it's ok for you to counter speculate, but I shouldn't rebut your counter speculation without you coming across as offended about it? You also state that the side wont necessarily be weakened if he goes. That again is pure conjecture because none of us know who would replace him. I think speculating that replacing him with significantly less money than the selling price, while getting a player who will be just as effective, is overly optimistic speculation. Aren't I supposed to be the ultimate optimist around here? Everything you're proposing regarding replacing Kent for less money is pure conjecture. It typically doesn't surprise anybody when an incomer takes time to fit in. A significant chunk of time. Barisic comes to mind as a perfect example. I suspect that Leeds have a recruitment department too. Who if they haven't found this equivalent for a lot less money should be replaced? But their priorities are likely different. They're looking for something closer to a finished product and are ready to pay the price for it. We on the other hand look to find young potential and coach it up to a valuable more polished product. And since this is such an important season for the fans, where the outcome of a single game could ultimately decide the title, I see no reason to risk it by cashing in on a key player who still has 3 years of his contract to run. I also see no reason to bring the fact Gerrad hasn't yet won anything into it. He inherited a shambles that couldn't even secure a second place in the league. Or even a second round in Euro qualifiers against minnows who had never won a Euro tie in 13 previous attempts. And was thrown up against an entity with a significant financial advantage. His work while not returning silverware has earned the club tens of millions while putting a far superior side to that he inherited on the field. Further reasonable speculation is that Kent would never have been in Scotland at all if not for Gerrard. When he signed permanently last year he was rebelling at Liverpool while indicating that Rangers were his only desired destination. I doubt that was because he was so enamoured of Rangers alone. More likely a Gerrard led Rangers. A man who was legendary at his parent club and had previously coached him there. And I doubt he's the only one who wouldn't be at Rangers if not for Gerrard. I don't think he can be effectively instantly replaced in a season where every single point may be crucial. It's not speculation that he's a key component of this side. That's a fact. Steven Gerrard comes across as concerned about the prospect of losing Kent. And since he knows a lot more about football and this team than you or I ever will, i'm concerned too. Stating Kent can be replaced for someone who will immediately be as effective for what's likely to be a lot less money in this crucial season where very point is precious is, I would argue, overly optimistic speculation. It's too much of a risk in this season of all seasons. It would appear we will have to agree to disagree, and that's fine. But i'm not going to tell you it's pointless continuing. That's your choice not mine to make for you. Such constructive debate addressing points is what it's all about it. If you want to continue it I wont get bent out of shape about it.

I think you're pretty much simply replacing my speculation with the attached non certainty with your own speculation carrying the same non certainty. Can I be guaranteed they couldn't replace him with someone of equivalent quality? Not certain but I think I have fair reason to be more confident than otherwise that they couldn't. He didn't arrive at Ibrox the player he is now. He developed into it with coaching, experience, and ongoing physical maturity. Can you guarantee that he could be replaced like for like with his current level of quality/effectiveness? I would think not. He's the product of a couple of years work. This isn't the time to be starting over with another 20/21 year old who would most likely have to be worked through the same process over a couple of years to reach the same level. Can we be guaranteed we will qualify for Euro group stages again with him in the side? It's never certain but what is certain is that it can only be more difficult to do so when the side is weakened. Which it will be if he goes and can't be replaced with equivalent quality. Which all things being equal has to more unlikely than otherwise. And with the additional problem that even if we were fantastically lucky and replaced him with equivalent quality and effectiveness for a fraction of the selling price. Because I think one thing we can be certain of is that they wouldn't be paying whatever he brings to replace him. Then even if they were that good they simply still couldn't be as fully effective at a time when every single match is crucial. He has two years experience in this team, playing with many of these players, alongside two years experience of the Scottish league. That's something that pretty much cannot be instantly replaced at all. It's simply the wrong time to be considering letting him go unless they were offering ridiculous money that simply cannot be refused. And 14 million isn't that. To maintain the model of buying young potential as cheaply as possible then coaching it to sell at a far higher price the chances of selling him while not weakening the side in this massively important season have to be considered remote. To summarise, in my view this is not the time to be weakening this side, and especially so by releasing such a key player who still has almost 3 years on his contract. As for being fans who don't have to make these decisions, I would rather be a fan than the one who had to tell Gerrard Kent was being sold. He has strongly hinted he feels pretty much as I do. And I doubt he would take such news with good grace.

While I agree 14 million is an interesting sum there are many more factors to be considered. First are Leeds likely to offer what he's really worth? Hardly, no one does. They try to get a bargain price and that's fair enough. We would too. And presuming these reports are accurate, the fact they have jumped from 10 million all the way to 14 million in just a week demonstrates perfectly they're playing that game. They're trying to get a young player who still hasn't reached peak potential, and who they obviously regard as EPL standard, for a relative pittance in EPL transfer fee terms. Further factors. The club earned an estimated £18 million in Europe last season. What would be of more value? Keeping Kent to help achieve that Euro money again? Or selling him off which could be detrimental to achieving that aim again? And of course we're at the beginning of a key SPL season. I don't need to go into the details of what's at stake, everybody knows them. The fact the manager himself has publicly indicated he is more than keen to keep Kent, while simultaneously bemoaning the fact it could be taken out of his hands, indicates to me he sees Kent as crucial to the league campaign and more. And let's put aside the well known stakes of the season ahead. And further presume that Kent is crucial to winning the league which may be supported by the managers view of it. Aside from all the well known factors at stake this season, what else may be at stake? Well what may be at stake is a crack at the Champions League and a potential 50 to £60 million windfall. A sum that could put us on a level financial field with them for the first time in years. If Kent goes we're not replacing him with equivalent quality. The team is weakened in this crucial season. And with all that in mind and taking into consideration at least as much and potentially even more could be realised for him next year, my view is why do it now. when he's contracted till 2023.

Even if there were a release clause which were matched it would still come down to Kent himself. He's a young guy, still only 23, he has years ahead to make the big money and I suspect he is in the meantime coping perfectly well on 25K a week. It can't be all about money for someone who is already wealthy and has so much time to become even wealthier. Does he want to be playing in a side competing in Europe and challenging for honours? Or a side who are as likely as not to be in a relegation dogfight challenging for nothing but a spot outside the bottom 3? He was not just happy but determined to be at Rangers a year ago when he had the chance to be at Leeds. Leeds will not be challenging for titles, cups, or a place in Europe. And Kent will have ample opportunity to make a big money move a year or two down the line. Perhaps even to a side a rank above Leeds if he continues his early season form and carries it into Europe.

I would be unhappy if they let him go for anything less than funny money. And 14 mill doesn't amuse me. He's a crucial component we would be unlikely to be capable of replacing with equivalent quality. He's contracted till 2023, there is no urgency to cash in during this important season.

Who knows. But i'm sure Mr Smith could provide sound advice on the tactical use of F bombing and arse kicking.

Have to be content with it overall despite the first half struggle to break down the now standard human walls of Scottish football. I was happy to see what looked like a lot more urgency right from the off when they came out after halftime. Instead of waiting till the final 5 minutes like they did last week. In Gerrard's post match interview he said "I had a little small pop at them at halftime", said with a little smile on his face. If that's what it takes then that's what it takes. I'm just happy he can get another gear out of them in any manner. In the Roofe post match interview he was asked "what was the managers message at halfime", to which he replied with "erm, I can't go into detail", which had me thinking yeah I bet you can't, because it was littered with F bombs. Roofe can become a goal machine when he gets up to speed. Itten needs one to get the confidence levels up. Not that I actually want to but it looks like we can live without Alfie. And if he stays he now knows he can be entirely dropped from the team sheet on match day. If he wants to get his big move he needs to start producing the goods as consistently as we know he can. Nothing more need be said about the defence, They're looking impenetrable and the squad is littered with quality reliable options for the crucial central pairing. Barisic is superb in his attacking mode. Still missing Aribo. With Kent coming on to a game a fit Aribo/Kent duo can shred any opposition. I'm hopeful. I saw the yahoo v DU game. They're no better than us at best.