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That definitely needed said. Perhaps, in the current absence of a more suitable candidate for the traditional witch hunt, it's just John Lundstram's turn. Because it's only a few weeks since he was getting MOTM votes on here and general praise across the wider support. As for the nonsense that even if Lundstram is OK, he simply doesn't fit into our team .... God help me. I think we can all agree that, if Lundstram left tomorrow, someone would immediately be targeted to take his place. What the hell is wrong with people?

Is that the bus company that discriminates against Irish kafflicks

Did you just assume his gender?!

I think Davis will be off at the end of he season. Maybe retire. Gio will be planning ahead.

Fair point. However, it's one thing to say he costs too much or there are too many other players available in his role, it's altogether a different matter to say he's not good enough when there's simply no basis for it. I've been around long enough to recognise when certain players are targeted for criticism for no good reason and before you know it half the support is parroting the same groundless guff. It's hard to believe but I actually remember when people used to criticise Josh Windass.

By all accounts Lundstram was a centre midfielder at Sheffield United, and actually the defensive side of his game was weak. Their defensive midfielder was Sander Berge. The detailed stats I saw showed very poor defensive stats but fairly impressive attacking stats, broadly similar to someone like Arfield. His highlights reel backs that up, all about doing an Arfield and arriving late in the box and getting goals. It seems to me that he has lost his engine at a young age and has had to become a sitting midfielder before his time, but he’s just not that good at the defensive side of that position because it’s never been his game. I’m keen to see Sands in there who seems to be the opposite, a reader of the game, strong defensively and an athlete.

Lundstrom has suffered from the change in formation under Gio. He can't play as an attacking midfielder. That's just not his game. I'd look on him as being cover for Kamara as the sitting midfielder, and he could do a reasonable job, but now that Sands has joined it seems as if he's fallen down the packing order, unless the club are looking at selling Kamara.

The wage stuff is conjecture yes, but we cannot afford to have a high earner not be a key player who plays every week(I'd aim the same criticism at Roofe for different reasons). I'm not questioning his quality as a player at this point. Under Gio so far he has hardly played. Things change quickly in football, he could get in the team for the next game, perform well and cement his place in the team for the rest of the reason. From what i have seen so far i doubt it. Add to the mix we have just signed a boy who can play DM.

A few "defensive" things ... - James Sands arrived in Scotland and Rangers without a fan or reporter even noticing it. (Though someone having hospitality treatment at Ibrox yesterday was adamant that he saw Sands, et even our German admin refrained from posting the info from this FB group chat.) Some feat by the club. - Helander, Balogun, Simpson ... have had their troubles this season, and Balogun`s and Goldson`s contracts end this summer. Whether the Patterson etc. money will allow us to be more flexible in the wages structure (if we actually want that to happen) remains to be seen. - Bassey has been used as a CH of late and that side of defence looks okay and will probably get better, not least with Barisic getting back to his best. - James Sands is a CH by trade and can step straight into the team (though he might get a few sub appearances to get used to the Scottish game first). - Leon King has now been promoted to the first team squad (and for a reason), again, in the CH position - Souttar would come in a low or no fee, normal wages and some good form too - the risk is limited. Thus, it might look to be the end of the road for Simpson, whereas it is anyone guess with regards to Balogun beyond the summer. Goldson is a bit of a conundrum, yet we have yet to hear of any solid interest from England et al. All in all, what matters most is that we looked decently covered in the CH positions for the rest of the season, not least when Souttar would be added to the current squad. Should Helander return and Balogun gets fit again, we`d also have cover for either fullback position with the latter and Bassey. As for Lundstram ... I would assume that his wages are pure guesswork (and even if not, was agreed to by SG and Ross Wilson) and why he gets so much IMHO unwarranted animosity is beyond me. He`s been placed alongside Kamara every now and then and IMHO he`s more the Arfield type of combative midfielder who likes to move forward every now and then. As a DM, Kamara and Jack are possibly better, but in nigh all of the games that I saw Lundstram, he did okay. Or at least not worse than anyone else on the pitch. Sometimes it is baffling how people remember all the bad stuff one player manages to do on the pitch and kind of ignore his overall play, while it is the complete opposite with others.

not if we sell him for 3 million. etc

I had a look this morning an up until his injuries, he played a decent amount of games every season and has done so far this season. The achilles issues have a fairly low risk of reoccurring if the player had a proper recovery phase and wasn't rushed back, so I'm not sure how much of a risk he actually is given the amount of games we play each year and the expected rotation because of it. He seems to have had actual injuries and recovered from them rather than being in and out with niggling injuries regularly if that makes sense? I still think he'd be a worthwhile signing all things considered. As others have said though, its frustrating with guys like Roofe, Helander etc.

supposedly he is for DM.

Souttar on a pre-contract sounds like good business, to me. Best case scenario, he's a capable ball-playing CB that can play in our team for the next 10 years. Worse case, he plays a handful of games because of injury and we release him after his contract.

I think we could do better than Souttar, particularly in light of his injuries, although he has looked good when playing for SMNT. 😉

Played 7 times at CB for USMNT resulting in 6 clean sheets (No idea who they were up against in those 6 games).

Hope so. We should sing about our team.

Yet more dilution for those promoting fan ownership.

It was, especially watching a depleted Chelsea side put the Spuds recent league form into perspective

Maybe Jack’s finished?

I don’t think we should be pushing the boat out for Souttar given his injury record

Depends on his ambition and belief in himself. He may well only have 6 or so years left in him though so money may lead him south. If so it's not like he is irreplaceable.

Yes, but is he Quick Sands?

Positive update. Doekhi would be an excellent signing, Souttar would be good depending on a couple of things. Olsen I just can’t see happening, signing a player like that from Serie A isn’t cheap. I would have thought there were better value options out there.

It's also possible Alfredo will be with us for another season or two, especially if his contract is upgraded. This might actually be the best solution for everyone although no doubt cash will talk loudest in the end.

Where Roofe is concerned we will need good back up if we are to sell Morelos. He is a really good player but clearly is going to miss games every season. We are a bit spoiled by Morelos. He is simply never injured.

Lundstrum has had several very good games this season. He does seem out of favour right now though.

Championship competition pushes Souttar’s wage up and that’s the only concern I have. It’s risky on a moderate wage, very on a high wage. With regards to Lundstram, a decent player who can contribute but he wasn’t coming here for anything other than a very good wage and I don’t know why he was given that. I raised that concern before he signed, I’m not joining a pile on. A reliable admin on FF said it has been a major sticking point in the Goldson negotiations, who apparently has the same agent.

I called him out earlier in the season and got slated for suggesting he was a squad player at best. I still dont know what his best position is and what he brings to the team. Waste of money in my eyes. We ll see if gio rates him as highly as gerrard. My guess is hell be off in the summer.

From our favourite anagram:

Probably the end of the road for Katic as well

Course he is good enough; ball playing centre back. Shown great resilience to come back and we cannot lose on a Bosman.

I was just disappointed at the gender specific nature of the USMNT references. Gender is fluid, isn't it.

https://fourladshadadream.blog/2022/01/05/sands-is-official-so-whats-next-for-rangers-in-and-out-of-the-club/

From what i have seen he has only played CB for the USMNT

I wonder who in Bologna would deem themselves bigger than us. 🤣 Heart & Hand have since denied that we made any bid.

Interesting snippet from the article - we may be seeing more of him in the first team: “It’s important that every one of our young players at this stage has a clear plan and for Leon he will now move into the first-team group under Giovanni van Bronckhorst on a permanent basis between now and the end of the season.”

Perhaps, now, we might see rasellik fulfill its long, and eagerly awaited, contractually inescapable tour of Japan.