Pre-Season Friendlies

[Uilleam 5,937]

Just now, CammyF said:

That's a great quote from a great man, maybe even the greatest of all Ranger men, but I can't see where we've emerged stronger from the bleakest of bleak periods (footballing wise) over the last decade. 

We haven't yet emerged. 

But if you don't think that we will emerge......

[der Berliner 3,744]

20 minutes ago, CammyF said:

Is it doom-mongering or simple reality of where we are?

 

It's very hard to see any positives, any light at the end of the tunnel or any hope really. 😕 

It is pre-season, no more, no less.

 

Hearts won't be Manu or even ManU reserves. We will play rather differently against them and against essentially any other Scottish team bar one. That's our bread and butter, not some fancy European sides. 

[yuddie 1,693]

Anyone successful for the Birmingham ballot btw?

 

I wasn't but I'll head into Digbeth anyway.

[compo 7,042]

1 hour ago, CammyF said:

Can't believe we are 7/15! What's the draw as a matter of interest? 

16/5

[buster. 5,193]

The second main root cause that comes alongside and in the main, thanks to Sir Duped, is our consistent habit of spending more money than we generate. Again, going back decades.....

 

....but despite plans to change for the better, we can't shake the habit and are still on the same path.

 

 

[compo 7,042]

38 minutes ago, Scott7 said:

You’re perfectly entitled to tell me that. For years I was perfectly happy with Murray despite the warnings from FF’s Grand Old Man. It was near the end before I saw he was right.

 

Does the current board not have some hotshot US management and investment expert advising them? There was a great announcement about a year ago but nothing since.

 

Lack of money is crippling. All the more reason not to waste it. The biggest recruitment error was Pedro followed by Beale. There are excuses in the latter case but none in the former. 
 

If Bennet wants my advice -  and he still hasn’t been in touch -  it’s quite simple. Forget performance in Europe. Recruit a team to beat celtic. It shouldn’t be that hard. Defenders who can defend will do for a start. Then a couple of athletic guys up front who can put their weight about, a poacher to play alongside them and a couple of footballers. Getting the last two will be the hard part.

It won’t be pretty but it will solve the immediate problem of winning the league and from that small beginning ….

 

One thing I got fed up with when the lot before King took over was that mystical word transparency fans clamored for it but no board tells their customers anything and quite rightly but wouldn’t it be great to have been a fly on the wall to hear who told Bisgrove and Wilson it was okay to hand Beale a good amount of money for a club who didn’t have much cash at hand who gave that permission probably someone who has no idea of running a football club.

money has been wasted big time but no one at the top table seems to be responsible .

[buster. 5,193]

23 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

It is pre-season, no more, no less.

 

Hearts won't be Manu or even ManU reserves. We will play rather differently against them and against essentially any other Scottish team bar one. That's our bread and butter, not some fancy European sides. 

We should still beat Hearts. The most important matches on the horizon are the CL qualifiers. 

 

If we were to go out at the first hurdle, there would be another financial hole to fill.

 

As I understand it, it would mean the loss of one European home gate plus the potential financial safeguard of around 5M€ for CL play off losers / chance to get into CL proper.

 

Would be interesting to know what we have budgeted for.

 

 

Edited July 21 by buster.

[yuddie 1,693]

39 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

I wonder, if PC did not give Lawrence, Wright, and anybody else we don't fancy, significant run-outs, pre-season, and is forced to select, any, or all, of them, for competitive matches, in a couple of weeks, what opprobrium we would heap upon his head. 

 

 

 

 

That's true enough but no start for McCausland in the last two with Wright in his place suggests it's more a gameplan than readiness. Idk many who'd have him over the young man.

 

Lawrence is because his hand is forced but I'd still rather see Lowry get a chance. If something isn't working don't double down, find a solution - like the manager says he does.

 

The game wasn't too bad tbf, we created decent chances it's just the lack of quality we have in the final third is crippling us.

 

That could be mitigated a wee bit with better selection is what I'm saying, although not solved by any stretch. We need good recruitment.

[buster. 5,193]

54 minutes ago, Scott7 said:

 

....If Bennet wants my advice -  and he still hasn’t been in touch -  it’s quite simple. Forget performance in Europe. Recruit a team to beat celtic. It shouldn’t be that hard. Defenders who can defend will do for a start. ....

 

 

Without Europe, we'd be proper financially fucked and miserable. Since Gerrard arrived, we have performed very well in the  Europa League. 

 

Dave King said his financial forecast was based on reaching group stage matches 3 out of every 5 seasons. Since Gerrard, we haven't missed a year.

 

The national co-efficient (mainly thanks to us) has helped ensure group stage football. That will soon change and we will revert to playing July qualifiers.

 

[buster. 5,193]

14 minutes ago, yuddie said:

That's true enough but no start for McCausland in the last two with Wright in his place suggests it's more a gameplan than readiness. Idk many who'd have him over the young man.

 

Will it be Birmingham on Wednesday for Scott Wright or Sheffield?

 

Last summer it was Turkey.

 

McCausland will get most of the match in Birmingham. But as it stands Clement has Wright in his current starting XI.

 

McCausland needs to play very well on Wednesday and make the most of his chance.

Edited July 21 by buster.