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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.

What are your thoughts, folks? I'm hoping for a new record!

I clearly remember Davie Cooper going through the same thing and, as much as fans think he is a Rangers legend, he also took a lot of criticism for a while. Kent isn’t disinterested, he’s struggling with confidence.

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.

I wouldn't read too much into the look. He has always came across as a little distant. Last night was quite a moment for him, going back to the club he started with. Time for reflection and a realisation that he is miles off the level required for an elite club.

Very good player who has lost a degree of interest. He'll still turn it on occasionally, but his inconsistency (and lack of goals) is one of many reasons why we can't put together the winning runs that lift titles. Whether it were possible or not we don't know, but ideally, should have been moved on in the summer. Even if the fee wasn't as much as we wanted. We'll get little or nowt now.

Time to keep him on the bench this weekend and play Matondo in his preferred position.

Thanks Eck ! You take it to another level of in-depth knowledge and research in places I didn't even think to go. I did think about the 69 cup final angle but lazily presumed that it would have been played before a European semi final. I want to see you on Mastermind (SS: Rangers in European Competition). You look back and see the issues with centre forwards or lack of and 55 years on from the self inflicted wound (Bayern Munich 67), we were suffering a similar fate (Eintracht 2022) and some might argue that to a degree, it too was self inflicted (forcing Morelos to play through injury until he proper broke, thus calling upon Roofe in a way his body can't cope with. Itten wasn't in European squad due to squad management/UEFA regulations. Should be here today with 3 European trophies. Ps. Have a look how defensive the 2008 team v Zenit was and how isolated JCD was that night. Playing but not really in the game.

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

Jota bewildered at first, then a rueful wee smile. Acknowledges the calibre of the save.

He played his part, not a particularly large part. Scored 2 of our 10 goals in the 4 knockout games he played in, he was injured for the quarter final and semi final ties and we got there without him.

The auld timer in goal

The save from Salah in the first half was exceptional. When he cut in from the right and Barisic let him wander into the box and place a shot in the bottom corner. McGregor tipped it wide.

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.

It's definitely not a Rangers attitude.

Nothing for true fans... Correct Result (1 pt): BSRT, Dado, Franc, Stew, Mal, Lenny, Devil, Bill, 26th, buster, Ted and WB91. Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): Dado, Mal and buster. FGS (2 pts): - Correct Score (3 pts): - Latest Standings:

It was about damage limitation from the off. Very similar to..... Barcelona 2 Rangers 0....from 2007. Early goal 6th minute and even when it went 2-0, all we did was try not to concede more. Sir Walter didn't want to go home with a drubbing. I watched it on Spanish TV and the commentators couldn't believe that we still defended deeply at 2-0. In defence of WS, he had 2 weeks previously kept a clean sheet against Barca* at Ibrox in a goalless draw. The only other team who managed it in the CL that season(KO rounds), were Manchester United and that would probably have been partly down to a conversation between WS and Sir Alex. * starting XI included Ronaldhino, Iniesta, Touré, Xavi, Messi and Henry Slight mitigation for GvB is that player availability has been all over the place and it has been difficult to get any consistency. Neither is Goldson plus other anywhere close to Cuellar and Weir. Historically it was par for the course. In the last eleven European games against English opposition, we have failed to score in NINE of them. Leeds H & A 1992 being the exceptions. 1968 Leeds: 0-0 & 0-2 1969 Newcastle: 0-0 & 0-2 1992 Leeds: 2-1 & 2-1 2003 Man Utd: 0-1 & 0-3 2010 Man Utd: 0-1 & 0-0 2022 Liverpool: X-X & 0-2 Note I suspect Sir Alex might have played in or attended all of the above matches @gaspard @Fat Eck ??? edit Ferguson did play in both Leeds games (1968) Didn't play in Newcastle games but was at the club (in the stand?) Was at Leeds (A) in 92 MUtd x4, of course Last night, yes

King acquitted himself very well tonight. Penalty aside he had a very steady game.

Yeah you gey more MyGers points for buying a pair of slippers than you do for standing out side Alloas ground in the snow trying to punt tickets your clubs been left with because Rangers dumped them on you 2 days before the game and refusing them would impact your allocation going forward. The loyalty honoured depends on the colour of your money.

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

Really good effort against a club that gets a £130m TV handout every year plus CL money. Anyone seriously expecting us to be competing on an equal basis with Liverpool at Anfield is deluded. Win, lose or draw, the objective for me is to walk off at FT with the players feeling good about themselves and thinking about next week at Ibrox. McGregor and Goldson have been huge.

3 centre backs is a good idea but I’m unconvinced on some of the choices further forward.

Liewell was CFO at Celtic for one year in early 90’s. He returned in 2003 as chief executive taking over from Ian MacLeod. So yes he was employed by Celtc during their BC years whilst it was all going on.

Has to be on £10M+ bracket.