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A very poor and overly defensive second half and we got what we deserved. Important not to over-react but that wasn't good enough right across the 90mins and whilst we can excuse rustiness, we need to find our sharpness and fast.

Skov Olsen isn't the fastest but he's quicker than Hagi and possibly a bit more direct whenever I've seen him play for Denmark. He's certainly more suited to playing wider on the right than Hagi is. I'm not sure he's worth the best part of £5m though and I think that's why we're hoping to drag the situation out and achieve a loan deal where we can try before we buy. He's had a good reputation but never really taken that extra step in his career yet - a bit like Hagi really.

As expected it's all blood and snotters for the most part with not much quality from either team in the final third. We started poorly and goal was one of the few good periods of play for us in that half. It's probably to be expected that players will be rusty but we need to look after the ball better and I don't think Hagi and Wright know when to press and when not to which is giving players like Hayes and Ferguson too much of the ball. In terms of the McGregor incident, there was very slight contact but nowhere near enough to warrant a foul so credit to Clancy for that but McGregor needs to be a lot quicker off his line.

Big big game tonight and a big test of our title credentials. Always a tough game, and we have a really bad habit (2021 apart) of falling apart immediately after the winter break, so I think we as fans have a right to be very nervous about this one. Add in injuries, our best player this season missing the game, transfer speculation for many of our players which might affect them, it is no wonder the few tims I have spoken to this week are feeling there might be a shock tonight. Any kind of win tonight will go a long way to retaining the title, a good win couple with a good performance will send a message and make us all a lot more confident and comfortable.

That sums up Scotland's journalists

Very funny from @patrick.caskie

Does rustiness only apply to Rangers? the sheep didn't look rusty! just a piss poor performance from us, aided by Clancy/Broon cheating

Garbage tonight! lucky to get a draw IMO

Ridiculous stuff from the sun.

It's never an easy game up there but at least we don't look like giving teams a goal of a start now (we gave Aberdeen a two goal lead not long ago). Three points is the main thing. Mon The Rangers! 🇬🇧

You can appeal a yellow if it's for simulation or mistaken identity I believe?

I'm stating the bloody obvious but Brown is truly a classless moron.

Who do Nigeria get in the knockout phase? We need Aribo back ASAP. For what it's worth, I thought Sands looked tidy enough considering it was a tough first game and his team mates were poor.

Combination of poor play, and conditions that we didn't handle too well,...throw in a Clancy Wasn't the first time Hayes 'Accidentally' elbowed a player either , he's a master at it .

Not managed to beat them this season. An utter woeful team with a centre defensive pairing of Bates and McCorrie and we've not managed to beat them home or away this far. The winter break was meant to give Gio and his team time with the players on the pitch, but that was up there with the worst performances of this and recent seasons. One look at our bench and the throwing of Sands straight into the game should our lack of depth and quality in midfield. Still lots of points to be won and lost, but hopefully that's a wake up call for Gio and his team as well as the players.

Seriously what is it with us at Pittodrie? Manager after manager, we get the same scrappy rubbish. Celtic go up there and canter to easy wins.

Yeah I agree, don't know how Kent can be blamed for that, just shocking refereeing.

Just waiting for Clancy to give broony the wink there, proper double act that two.

Kent was stupid fell for it hook line and sinker. Out thought by a Fuckin Lego eater

There won’t be a softer double yellow all season, no question about it.

Clancy absolutely determined to get a player suspended tonight. Absolutely ridiculous.

How the heck is that a yellow for Kent. Clancy determined to card all our players here. Absolute nonsense.

I’d consider getting Sakala on for Wright.

Hagi will be the only player booked this season for not retreating from the a kick

We’re giving crossers too much space every time.

Is it just me that thinks we are quite poor this half?

The Boss must have faith in him! tough match for a debut!

Good luck to our debutant Mr Sands

I hope Sands is ready for this. His physique does not look very robust and it would not surprise me if Aberdeen target him.

No way would I introduce Sands in a game like this.

I'd rather gnaw my thumbs off than join this deeply misguided organisation.

Truth be told, my interest in football lies with Rangers and I know a few bits about the German BL. Saint-Gilloise is the real surprise this season in Europe, well drilled and not ladden with "star"-players, I would assume. That might work well for a season or two, including the promoted team`s suprise factor. They need to keep it up and hold to their best players though. Another suprise package - on a lesser scale though - is my home town team 1. FC Union Berlin, who got promoted in 2019, endet that season in 11th position, grabbed spot 7 the season afterwards and are 5th right now. Working with a low budget*, hardly any "star"-players but are well drilled. Sometimes that works. * Last season 17th place with Euro 76m compared to Stuttgart (150m), Eintracht Frankfurt (205m), Hertha Berlin (224m), Mönchengladbach (246m), Leverkusen (395m), RB Leipzig (559m), Dortmund (593m) and Bayern Munich (830m).

Methinks the Bulgarian media actually saw that Caskie stuff, put it out as real interest (without knowing better) and the Scots media followed suit. That being said, I`ve seen the BBC gossip page using Teamtalk, HITC et al as sources too, which is beyond parody. I usually check any foreign rumour at the actual news outlet to see whether they got it from their own folk or have some "according to sources in Scotland" lines in it.

With several players likely to be missing, seems the manager has two choices this evening. Play Kamara deep on his own again with four from Wright, Bacuna, Hagi, Sakala and Kent ahead of him or partner Kamara with Lundstram or Sands with just three attacking midfielders. I suspect the latter but it will certainly be interesting to see the first XI later.

Just googled it. Pace and acceleration 12 and 13. That’s probably a closer reflection than the FIFA one but on the harsh side, he isn’t slow.

I really hope Ross Wilson and GvB aren't coming here for any tips. 🤣

looked for that first and couldn't get it. Might have called it championship manager though

Yes, promoted this year and currently 4 points clear at the top, with a game in hand. I recall Royal Antwerp too (we played them a wee while back) who seemed to come out of nowhere to do very well (currently top 4, I think?). I wonder what's causing that?

Yes. Quite a few reporting the same. Ibroxnews.com stating advanced talks with Club Brugge underway. One reason may be they are CL regulars, but they are currently 2nd behind surprise leaders Royale Union Saint -Gilloise? Who I've never heard of! Perhaps our resident Euro expert, Berliner, many know more?