DMAA

I always say the only thing worse than Scottish referees is European referees. Every time Trincao was blown over by the wind he got a free kick. I can’t stand the way they butcher the beautiful game by making it a non-contact sport.

He was at LB but it was Aribo or Halliday. At that stage of the game it was important to bring on someone who could play at a left winger instead of a left back. You’re right about the languid style. But his quality is there for all to see.

Pedantic loyal.

I’ve watched the first half and highlights again. The signing of Hagi is a game changer. He put 3 chances on a plate for Morelos and should have come away with assists for all 3. 1 was a sitter and the other two were one on ones Morelos should be taking. Two of the assists were excellent. His creative quality is outstanding. A mention for Arfield too, he played some key passes too and Morelos missed another one on one from one of them.

You’re spot on compo. The game turned on a moment of quality from an individual. That’s what Hagi brings to the team.

It’s hardly like I was making a random dig. I said on this very thread before kick off after seeing the team “Personally I think Aribo loses out to Kent on reputation alone. Aribo has been better than Kent by a distance since the break”. I was picking up on that, I know he came on for Barisic but he showed us what we were missing and Kent did the opposite. Our strongest 11 would have Davis, Jack, Arfield with Aribo and Hagi in front of them at the moment in my opinion.

I’ve just remembered that Ryan Jack will be back for the away leg. That is huge. I would rather have Jack than Morelos i think. Kamberi looks hungry and sharp and has a bit more pace on the counter. But Jack will be great to plug some of the leaks in our midfield.

That’s quite something, and directly down to the manager imo.

Gerrard deserves credit tonight with his substitutions. Bringing on Aribo, Kamberi and Stewart was very bold and it really paid off.

What a game. Aribo showing Gerrard he should have started ahead of Kent. Aribo is technically excellent and I don’t understand why he didn’t start. Hagi’s quality made the difference and turned the game around for us, he possesses quality we simply didn’t have in our squad before. Crucially he has goalscoring quality too. Kamberi improved us hugely and actually I think he will lead he line well in Braga and hopefully Defoe will be ready for the bench by then. What a game and what a night.

As predicted, bunch of divers and the Spanish ref buys it every time.

Hagi has been trusted. I think we definitely lose out in terms of ball winning but he has the end product that we might need. Personally I think Aribo loses out to Kent on reputation alone. Aribo has been better than Kent byba distance since the break, and he hasn’t even been very good. However this is the kind of game Kent can get right up for.

Seems on the face of it another shrewd signing at this level.

Yes I meant to say that the tables have turned on our side as well of course. I amn't too worried about form personally but I am worried about Jack's absence. My prediction over the two legs is that Braga's superior quality in the final third will show. My hope is that we can rattle them at Ibrox and nick a win and then hold out in Braga.

It's incredible how the tables have turned since the draw was made. On December 16th we drew a Braga side who were toiling in mid-table and looked a clear step down from the Porto. 7 days later they appointed a rookie coach, Rúben Amorim. A familiar name due to his playing career but his only previous coaching experience was with the Braga B team. A closer look at his record and you can see why they gave him the job after only a few months of management with the B team. Before he started with the B team they had won their 3 home games but lost their 2 away games convincingly. He became their manager in September and in his 11 games in charge his record was W8 D2 L1. Since he left the B team their form has collapsed with 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. Despite not even being allowed in the dugout because he doesn't have his badges, Amorim has taken his methods to the A team and performed a miraculous turnaround. Prior to him taking over, Braga's league record was W5 D3 L6. Since he has taken over their record is W9 D1 L0. This has included 5 away wins out of 5 and wins over Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon. And the 1 draw was due to a first half red card. So in short we are facing a manager who in his very limited experience in the dugout (or in the stand!) barely knows how to lose, using an unconventional formation. At this moment in time, we are facing the best side in Portugal and we certainly aren't favourites. Here's hoping Amorim's first taste of European football is a bitter one and presents a new test to the methods he has implemented so successfully domestically.

I wish that chant would stop

Points based systems are all the rage

He has been excellent in Europe. He really seems to rise to the occasion.

I don't think Kamara can be considered a stick on when he has only played 2 minutes of our last 3 league games. He could go with Aribo alongside Davis and Arfield although I would be surprised given the stregnth of the opposition and the fact that Kamara is a more defensive player.

I’m not, my opinion on Kent has been the same since he joined. But we obviously just have a difference of opinion. I didn’t say he couldn’t do those things, just that I consider ability in those areas as indicators of “technical” ability and I don’t see him as strong in those areas.

Braga's form is incredible. Since the 18th of Decemeber they have won 9 and drawn 1. The wins included away league wins over Benfica and Porto, a semi-final win over Sporting Lisbon and a cup final win over Porto. The 1 draw was in a game they got a player sent off in after going 2-0 up in the first half. This is a team who have a winning mentality and don't concede many. On the other hand with 4 red cards in 6 games they are almost as bad as us for dicipline!

Jack will be a huge miss as you say and Barisic will be too if he doesn't make it. It will be interesting to see if Hagi starts. It would be a move away from the style we have played at home in Europe under Gerrard which places a big emphasis on attacking midfielders who are good at pressing high and winning the ball back like Kent, Candeias, Aribo and Arfield. On the flipside, Hagi brings quality that none of the above possess.

Well, if he was more technically capable he'd be very comfortable playing through the middle but he isn't. He looks very much like a winger playing in the middle. And the problems he has with his end product; whether that's a cross, pass or shot, is all to do with technical ability. More often than not, the accuracy and finesse just isn't there. As I've said above, that's not out of the ordinary for an out and out winger at all. But it is a problem when you are relied on to score and create consistently in a congested central area. Those qualities are vital to achieve that. Ianis Hagi typifies those qualities and I would expect him fulfil the role of this position very well.

That's my opinion yes and I've said that since day one. His strongest attributes are his pace, work rate, determination etc. His passing, ball control, shooting, crossing, vision etc. are all lacking for me for an attacking midfielder. They are normal enough for a winger though who traditionally doesn't need to be technically great because they are running into space rather than operating in congested areas.

Tam always comes across as more balanced with regards to us