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I don't agree with this 'we're outmatched financially, so that's that' stance. Club Brugge beat Atletico 2-0 last night, to record their third straight win in the CL (Leverkusen and Porto are the others in their group). They are not on a level financial playing field. Brugge sold £50m worth of talent (three star players) in the summer, and replaced them with 4-5 players for £4-5m each. We're not far off that. Going by the rumours, we were in the market for the same player (Skov Olsen). (They did spend £13m on one player, who didn't play last night.) Brugge didn't go into the game against Atletico thinking, 'oh - Atletico have several £50m+ players, so we've got no chance'. No. They did the basics right, they set up to nullify Atletico's strengths, and, crucially, had a tactical plan to actually cause problems and score a goal. I would - and do - blame the manager for the majority of it. However, we did beat Dortmund and Leipzig last season. They are CL teams. Frankfurt held Tottenham last night in the CL. Again, Frankfurt are not so much better than us, and have taken a point from a side with vastly more financial resources than them.

As expected, a tough night at Anfield and it's not a surprise to see our keeper, central defence and subs rate more highly than others. Only a few can say they turned up and the manager has to explain what was another tactical struggle. My player ratings are now on the main site as well as match highlights from BT. https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news/ma-category-blog/player-ratings

Sorry, Buster - I can't find any details of the bench for that 68-69 fairs Cup semi. Ferguson scored v Atheltic Bilbao early in the home first leg of the quarter and was subbed for Orjan Persson second half and that was his last playing time in Europe for Rangers. Would normally agree that, even if he wasn't on the bench, surely he would have been suited and booted and at both games v Newcastle. However, both those games were three and four weeks AFTER the 69 Scottish Cup final v Celtic, his (non-) part in which got him unceremoniously booted out the first team squad*. In which case he may have been less likely to travel or, knowing his vindictive huffiness, even want a comp ticket for either game. In a desperate attempt to compensate my lack of hard evidence re Newcastle, I confirm St Johnstone beat Motherwell 2-1 at Muirton the night we played in Wolverhampton so that might have done for his chance to have seen EVERY European game between Rangers and English opposition. He was only 20 then but was in and out the Saintees first team the whole time he was there and never stayed in Perth, still living & working in Govan so there's every chance he was at the home leg (St J first team, at least, had no game that night - as per the October and December 1962 games v Spurs in the CWC). Also Man U weren't playing the night we hosted Leeds in 1992-93, having been papped out of the UEFA Cup by Torpedo Moscow on pens in the first round. So he was definitely free to come visit. *Maybe not up there with McLean and Forrest not being available in Nuremberg as we played Roger Hynd up front, but notable that two years on we're still dropping proven strikers for a tight European epic in which we fail to score.

Exactly. A large portion of our fan base have incredibly low expectations. We should just be happy to be playing at stadiums like Anfield is the attitude of some. Not a Rangers attitude at all, there is a way to lose games that many of us wouldn’t complain about. We don’t have the ambition of clubs like Club Brugge, from the boardroom down to the fan base.

Has to be McGregor who was completely reliable as the last line of defence. In front of him King, Goldson and Davies were decent at times - no small feat given our midfield and wide men totally negated to track runners, make tackles or use the ball effectively. Thought most of the subs done well but, by that time, I think Liverpool had settled for the routine victory.

Ajax and Liverpool are there to be got at. We haven't laid a finger on either of them. Must be great when a team turn up and let you walk all over them, which is what we did in Amsterdam and Liverpool. Napoli, however, are something else.

That's not the point, we didn't even try to give it a go, we were beaten before we started. I don't mind the result but we set up wrong, we set up not to get thumped by 6 goals, and it didn't even work. McGregor was the only reason we weren't. Yes, we can't expect to get may points against these teams if that's what people mean by being unable to compete, but aren't we capable of fighting for every ball, making them work for their win, making them feel like they've been in a war? Liverpool didn't even get out of 2nd gear, the scoreline flattered us. Not the game plan I want to see. GvB needs to grow some balls because he's passing his defeatist attitude on to the players, or some of them at least. That's what I saw.

you could have bought our whole team for what celtc paid for CCV. But we are valued more than celtc lol

Don't get me wrong: I'm not expecting us to beat Liverpool - they've reached 3 CL finals in the last 6 years (I think?). But I am expecting us to come up with a tactical plan and execute it properly. At the moment we're just... blah.

Since we had the NHL in Berlin, I skipped this game ... and truth be told, you have to have some sort of sado-masochistic streak watching us getting hammered by the elite teams of Europe. On bare facts, we keep even this sort of opposition at bay for most of our games, very few goals came from open play. None yesterday either. While people might say that they all hammered us so far, chances created and shots at goal don't win you games. Goals do. Kamara essentially gave two goals away against Napoli, Jack and McLaughlin managed that too, Sands deflected a shot into the net. That's not going to change the fact that we are totally out of our depth in the CL and we will sure need a few years to get anywhere close to mediocre CL standards. You have to commend Gio for adopting a different tactic, though you would have to scold him for not trial-ing that earlier. After all, why introduce this for de facto the first time with these players AWAY TO LIVERPOOL? People, experienced or not, need to adopt to that and see how their fellow defenders work. IMHO, last night, effort, grit and determination were needed, and IMHO it should have been Arfield and Colak from the start. Likewise, it gets beyond farcical that Kent gets every game, full 90 mins, 365 per year, and everyone who usually plays on his side is shifted elsewhere. Be it Wright, Sakala and a host of other left-sided attackers before them. From what I heard so far, the game by-passed our wing-attackers again, which is no wonder in Kent's regard, but why on earth we put Tillman on the right is anyone's guess. Furthermore, that chap played 5th tier German footie not so long ago and now we send him out onto Anfield ... Onwards we soldier, the gold is in the bag. Just make sure that come the end of the season, we get direct entry into that hoard, even if it will again most likely mean less European games next winter.

Morelos is paid far too much to be kept, we don’t get anything like value for money. He’s had pay rise after pay rise while his performance has declined. Colak will be on significantly less and has been a significant improvement. I’ve said for years a natural goalscorer scores for fun in this team, and we’ve finally got one starting and he is scoring for fun, despite the fact that we aren’t even creating much for him.

Can't make honey out of cats shite we are what we are .

Given the extent of our scare resources when it comes to a rebuild, sanctioning most of the cash on Sands and Tillman would be a huge mistake, IMO. Haven't seen nearly enough to justify the potential outlay. Still got time, but I doubt they'll get to a level to justify such fees.

I keep going back to GvB's post-match interview in Amsterdam. That was it for me. We need a new manager.

Napoli are very good. However, we actually held our ground until the penalty debacle and subsequent red card.

Moreover, Liverpool are rubbish this year. They've conceded against every side, except Bournemouth and a 0-0 Merseyside derby. Just ping the ball over Trent and it's a free shot on goal! I'm exaggerating, but still...

I hope we're a bit more ambitious at Ibrox.

Still not sure how to process last night. No disgrace to lose to team like Liverpool but I just wish we were slightly more ambitious.

If someone had offered me 2-0 at kick off, I'd probably have taken it. A bit embarrassing but that's where modern football has got us.

Ultimately well beaten as Liverpool eased off in the 2nd half. The usual caveats over resources aside, we didn't really offer any decent quality on the ball until far too late in the game. You can play better teams but you can't afford to be so poor on the ball. Not good enough. Obviously there were a few exceptions to that. McGregor was excellent, Goldson was largely solid whilst Matondo and Sakala provided a work-rate and threat that was missing previously. However, we're clearly well short overall and that goes further than a few bad passes. Before bed, our season won't be defined by dropping out the CL group stage. However, the manager really needs to find a system and an XI that provides a lot more consistency and quality domestically and in Europe. As it stands I'm not seeing much progress but no white flag yet.

He's never a Rangers fan. Not in a million years.

Kent will end up at club like Leeds, Southampton or Leicester City. If he does, surrounded by better players, he may then get a move to top 6 club if he performs. I get the feeling that Kent will be one of those players we don't realise what we had until he's gone.

Anytime, sir - I've just got a pile of auld books kicking about and some of them come in handy. I'd have trouble sneaking them onto the black chair with me!😆 Aye, it was the first thing many of us thought about last May, wasn't it - so many strikers on the books but none on that Seville pitch until it was just... JUST... too late. While the defensive thing was such a massive part of us getting to Manchester, we really needed and used our spearheads on last season's run. Penalties, man... one penalty... still haven't got over it. Probably never will.

It’s McLaughlin. Who didn’t play last weekend, didn’t play at Anfield and won’t play against St Mirren.

Brugge have had a number of years in the CL recently and a much longer established player trading model. We can be like them but it will take time. I don't think they have to spend money on roof repairs, Edmiston house, Mike Ashley etc

You have to get out of the group before you get into the knock out rounds.

I see what you mean. I always think evolution is best. A rebuild, to me, sounds like all the players are rubbish, which I disagree with. I would be taking up the options on Sands and Tillman. McGregor, Davis and Arfield should not have been resigned last summer. McGregor will be a big loss, but we do need to move on to a more modern 'keeper. That should have been done in the summer. Davis and Arfield are just squad player, to me. McCann should be ahead of them, IMO. I feel like Kent and Morelos will sign new deals. I would like to keep Morelos, but wouldn't mind seeing the back of Kent. I like Kamara, and he's got several years left on his contract. Helander and Roofe and go. They never play. It's not a loss. Jack should re-sign too. He's a good player, good presence around the place, albeit injury prone. I do think he plays enough - he certainly plays more than Helander and Roofe, for example. I don't think we need 5 first-team players. Three certainly: GK, #8 and a RW. Maybe a CB, but I'm happy with King and Sands, to be honest.

Aye. Hopefully we're a bit more of a problem for the Dutch and Scousers at Ibrox. We can't be any less of a problem, that's for sure.

Relatively, so are we. Too many of this team peaked a year or two ago. I will repeat it..... When a poor version of us meets our toughest group ever... relative carnage was always likely. We need to rebuild with a new manager. This season will be generally 'difficult'.

When the ball did come to him though he was wasteful or easily dispossessed. The midfield was poor but our front three were also definitely part of the problem, offered nothing.

Diaz was looking for the penalty. He got in front and basically spread his legs to make sure any challenge was going to bring him down. Excellent experience for King and a few clubs will have added him to their 'to watch' list. Value on his 'potential' will have increased by a decent percentage. GvB should be considering him for a starting berth. He is the one, IMO, who will relatively quickly grow into a player who is better than Davies ever was.

Not too bad really. They could'nt score from open play. The young lad King did not look out of place. Colak, Kamara, Jack, Matondo & Sakala were good subs and made an impact. Not happy to be beaten, but not embaressed either. Onwards and Upwards. WATP

Haha - 5 months ago (hardly harking back to 1966 here). What manager could get us to a Europa League Final then get us qualification for the Champions League whilst be unable to spend any money? The list of alternatives will be a short one, but please feel free to make some suggestions

Totally agree. We aren’t using the squad we’ve got. A front three of Matondo, Colak and Sakala could do some damage domestically, with Tillman centrally behind them and Lundstram and Jack centre mid. We aren’t using our players and when we do the positions and system is wrong (Tillman wide). Champions League is very tricky to get right but we showed no ambition until the 80th minute.

One positive. We have an 18 year old defender who didn’t look out of place in this company.

I agree with everything you just said, we have simply not strengthened in midfield for years now , free transfers , loans etc etc , you simply can't compete at this level with that type of player. However you can press , tackle , pass , none of which we did tonight .

Matondo deserves far more game time than he’s getting.

We can’t pass , can’t control the ball , we are miles off it . Yes this is a good team , but they have been in a very poor run of form .