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The evidence that I can see thus far suggests that we are going out tonight. To go through, I think we'd need to click into top gear for periods of this match and defend well throughout. Not impossible, but unlikely. I can't see us suddenly clicking with high tempo, slick football but we could end up replacing it with a high energy approach/less precise. The danger with the latter is that after about half an hour, we drop off it and that we could easily be counter-attacked from the word go, if not precise. The other approach is to be patient. Start fast but not in a sustained way and look to conserve energy, thinking about the 90 minutes. Against Malmo last year, it was the former. We got the goal we needed to level the tie after 18 minutes but we were knackered after about 35 minutes and never really recovered, even against 10 men. Maybe Gio will be slightly more conservative and think about the 90 minutes but at the same time, he will have to be more direct from the word go than of late.....It was Cedric Itten and Alex Lowry who scored our last First Half goals in a competitive match (Hearts, Away in League last season). We have scored 4 goals in our last 5 competitive matches (90 minutes), plus 2 in Extra Time. Fingers crossed but with no real expectation.

He looks like he also needs to shift a few pounds IMO.

Well, we tried our best to let USG into the game at times but thankfully it was their mistakes that allow through. Only one team in it really but our lack of creative quality remains a concern. Hopefully more games should mean more sharpness and understanding. Well done, Rangers!

Keep that JuJu coming!

nothing to loose here. It's either a glorious win or an expected defeat.

I'm going for the following:

Easy. Long way to go.

First 30mins or so was reasonable enough but, as is often the case, we started to struggle and then tried our best to give the ball away far too often leaving ourselves open to the counter. Fortunately, Anton Rogan has allowed us a route back into the tie but we need a lot more imagination from our attackers. Kent doesn't look fit, Lawrence is perhaps a bit too deep and Tillman still only capable of the odd flash. Hopefully the game will open up and that might allow a Morelos, Wright or Matondo the space to get us a second. However, we simply must keep the door closed and stop causing our own problems.

And now sands rescues tav.

Very attacking team. That’s how we should line up at ibrox v killie and away to livi. Good to see. Let’s go.

https://twitter.com/RangersFC/status/1557049099060494345?s=20&t=d_wxDtKap0iVGH62je-RGw Jack Simpson gone to Cardiff Permanent

Great to hear phrases like 'inside right' and 'right wing.'

The match, tonight, is more worrying than it ought to be. This is due, firstly, to the lousy performance and result in Brussels, a game where everything that could go wrong -from pre-match preparation to events on the pitch- did go wrong, including (Holy Mother of God!) that panjandrum and supposedly infallible panacea, VAR. So bad was the whole affair that that there are either no lessons, or a libary-full, to be taken. I think that, on balance,we have to ignore last Tuesday, as a never to be repeated one-off. We are all aware of the full horror, the potential damage, and we have all had our say. Does it get any worse than that? Really, it can't. Can it? Thus, at least arguably, we have to look at the two SPL games we have played for any pointers, and a second, although not necessarily secondary, concern emerges. In both these games we had more possession than in an Exorcist remake, and did, ultimately, little with it. This must not be an Omen for tonight. The team needs to start with energy, and keep up a quick tempo, with a high press, and smart passing, keeping these smug bastards on the back foot. An evening of slow and lumbering trundle ball in front of a drilled defence will lead, only, to the Europa League. It is doable, of course it is, provided the manager does not err on the side of caution, deploy two sitters, and ignore genuine pace, until it is too late. A little bit of boldness, please Gio, in formation and game plan. Rattle the Belgians early, and they will fold. I wonder if we might see Fashion Sakala. I kinda hope so: he is fast, unpredictable, can lift the crowd, and, of course, he came from the Jupiler League. It could, and, really, it should, be a(nother) famous night down Govan way. If the goals flow for The Famous, the mainstream media will be swallowing each other's tongues. Our cause is just. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours.

Totally agree Gonzo. Even though we played really bad last week they are not a good side and we are only in a bigger predicament due to an atrocious referee decision. I am not 100% confident but confident enough to have stuck £50 on us qualifying at 13/5.

USG are rubbish. If we go out, it's entirely our own fault due to the terrible performance over there.

Unfortunately, I agree. We have started slowly this season so it would be improbable that we can suddenly attain the levels we know we can. Morelos will be given minutes late on when we are still chasing a result, I suspect, and I dont see Colak getting the service or chances as Union pack their defence tonight.

They sorted themselves out quickly last week and adopted a near perfect tactical approach. ....Our lack of 'everything' on the night, made it look masterful. ie. I think they'll get their tactical approach right and it is about us throwing a spanner in its works to see how they react to the occasion.

Not forced per se but if you want a ticket for a big game and/or a season ticket then you have to join. My pal and his son had to spend £90 last month just to get on the waiting list and it's unlikely they'll get one for at least a few seasons unless, of course, they spend a lot of money to increase their points tally. It's not a good look to be honest.

Team prediction: GK - McLaughlin DL - Yilmaz DC - Sands DC - Goldson DR - Tav CM - Lundstram CM - Kamara AMR - Wright AML - Kent if fit (Lawrence if not) AMC - Lawrence if Kent is fit (Tillman if not) CF - Colak (Morelos cant be fit enough IMO)

Agree with all this. It's a near impossible task unless this lot are somehow awful and we just made them look good. I don't think that's the case their defenders looked good as did their keeper. They also looked very dangerous on the break.

From Bisgrove's desk, it looks just dandy.

Amazing firepower. When did Jim Forest enter the fray? His records are also outstanding. Did he not score 58 goals in one season (64-65 I think?)

'chipped in' with 19 goals 🤣🤣🤣

I'll be at the B Team games, first team fixtures permitting.

I reckon Tillman will be up all night, adrenalin pumping. Such a clever footballer ... you really think ahead if he plays alongside Hagi. As Frankie said, we lacked some co-ordination for large parts of the first half, maybe for the time being, we look no farther than Davis. Arfield and Lawrence made up the numbers in attack and kept them well occupied in their half. Colak is a threat. Makes all the right runs, takes good shots and headers. I might be wrong here, but IMHO, he would have put two of the three chances Alfredo had away. You do wonder whether these tow will be played alongside one another, as it would multiply our goal threat by quite a margin. Kent was a bit like Sands, in so far that he had some great spells and touches, then gave possession away in rather inopportune moments. Sands looks good, gets in the right positions, gets most of his blocks right and passes as one would expect for a centre-half. But aged 22, he will improve still and become an asset. One does wonder how we will incorporate him and Davies, since Goldson, like Kent, seems to have an auto starting place. There will probably some "test-games" till we get an idea how best we utilize Lawrence, Matondo, Sakala, Wright, Roofe and Co. once they are all fit. Hope Gio finally goes away from Plan A. Early days still.

I would suggest a vote to play any European final in a 2-game version, so we get a home game 😎

lawrence the pick so far.

If I was to hazard a guess: it's not happening, is it?

By the very knowledgeable poster, Mo_txTruBlu on FF: ”Rangers opened the 1959-60 season with the Millar Brand pairing as a No.9 and No.10 for the first time. Jimmy Millar a Wing Half/Inside Forward, who had made only 9 appearances in the previous season, had been forced to play Centre Forward in place of the injured Max Murray in an end of season Friendly a few months earlier and scored all 4 second half goals in a 4-0 win. Despite Max Murray being our top goalscorer in each of the previous three seasons (99 Goals in 123 Games) this prompted Scot Symon to start the 59-60 season with Millar as his Center Forward, and Ralph Brand at Inside Left. Rangers thrashed Hibs 6-1 at Easter Rd, with Ralph Brand scoring 4 goals, and Millar netting one on his first official stint as Rangers Centre Forward. The headline on that Saturday's Evening Times front page was "A 'BRAND' NEW FITBA' SEASON". The promise of this MB partnership looked good, but they only got the first four games under their belt, before Symon opted to bring back Sammy Baird at Inside Left. Surprisingly, Brand, who had scored a very impressive 29 Goals in 35 Games over the past 12 months, would only get 11 more starts that season, whilst the more experienced Sammy Baird was preferred in 38 games, with a return of 15 goals, as Rangers marched all the way to the Semi Finals of the European Cup, and collected the Scottish Cup. Jimmy Millar ended the season as top scorer with 40 Goals in 52 Games. Other players who impressed that season, was the versatile forward Davy Wilson who scored 22 Goals/50 Games, and that wonderful Inside Right (8), Ian McMillan who weighed in with 20 goals. Alex Scott on the right wing chipped in with 19 goals. The next four seasons, 1960-64 would see the Millar Brand partnership combine to score 254 Goals between the pair.”

Strong bench, too.

We can dislike it as much as we like, and it may indeed leave a bad taste in the mouth - but 46,000 at 50 quid a pop is 2.3 million per year pumped into the club. Again, like it or not, it is much-needed revenue to the club in a time when we all want the club to be self-sustaining. As Bill says, nobody is forced to join - it is an opportunity cost for anyone joining - how much is it worth to be on that waiting list, for example ? IN years gone by we would still have had a waiting list but the club got nothing for it. Now the club gets revenue for it - and those joining MyGers so they can be on the waiting list is clearly a price they feel willing to pay.

I'd love to see morelos and colak on the same pitch tonight but I dont see it happening. It's all about us tonight. We have to put in a shift like we did against Dortmund, taking the game to the opposition and showing no fear. If continue with the slow build up and the meaningless passes at the back we will struggle. My starting line up McGregor Tav Goldson Sands Barasic Tillman Lundstrom Matundo kent Lawrence Colak

They got pumped 3-0 to the team that are 8th in the Belgian league at the weekend. I think it is a mixture of them not being that bad but we also made them look good. I would like to think their antics post-game have put fire in our players bellies. I am strangely confident we will pump them tonight.

Actually, really lookin forward to this one. We need a knockout...gonna be a chase.

I'd have Matondo starting, he's the most likely to create opportunities for Colak on the right, and gives us another dimension over and above what Tav already brings.

My line-up didn't come with such a snazzy graphic but i wouldn't be unhappy with this team either. Only reason I left out Matondo is I think they have him sussed.

Some of his signings have been odd. Malacia is an average left back. Martinez is a decent centre back but very small in stature for the EPL. They are now after Marko Arnautovic from Bologna, a stereotypical journeyman. Not a good outlook.

I hope they make it through, we need that coefficient raised no matter what. We cant keep performing in Europe the way we have and are due a bad year or two so other clubs need to help out.

The more I hear about MyGers, the more I dislike it. There has to be a way to reward loyal fans without monetising absolutely everything as well as reducing the chance of attending games for fans that can't afford to buy every small item.

I would deffo be interested mate