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Rousseau struggling to get past Cammy's low block on this thread. It's just like Ibrox because the spectators and bored/frustrated and several are leaving early.

Handbags away, ladies. To change tack slightly, I thought Beale deserved some credit for his substitutions. Livi were leaving space in the channels and we weren’t attacking it with balls over the top or into the channel. It was evident for a good while before the subs were made so it was interesting to hear Beale say that he left things to see if the team could work it out. When he did make the changes, instantly we had more pace and width, which also then challenged some tiring Livi legs and we got the late goals. There have been hundreds of league games at ibrox that have gone in a similar fashion. A work in progress but we’re moving in the right direction.

Interesting debate on the chances created. I don't think we created enough during Livingston's low block, I watched the game and was frustrated. But, we do need to find a solution. We won comfortably in the end, but Livi came out too early in the second half, like an 800m runner sprinting ahead with 400m to go. That's unusual for Livi, especially as Martindale said he thought his team looked dangerous going forward at times. So they should have continued to frustrate us and hope they could steal a point from a counter. They will learn their lesson as will the other 8 teams that will do the same. We also need to learn to counter the low block better, it's the biggest issue we face in the league.

I'm a big fan of Tavernier, but he was rinsed a couple of times. He looks sluggish; slow in thought and action. Barisic was good.

100% agree and 100% accurate. We've been quick to criticise managers (Gio and MB in particular) for leaving it to late, or making the incorrect subs. Yesterday MB was brave introducing Matonda and Sima, two players who've been roundly lambasted by the some sections of the fanbase (two so called fans near me left the stadium in disgust when MB made the subs shouting they'd never be back). Previously, we've not had these options from the bench - a strong squad means replacing quality with players with different qualities and strengths.

That's a stat.

I think 4-0 flattered us. The switch to more of a counter-attacking style when Livingston chose to gamble was great; that got us three goals. However, the inability to break down low blocks remains: We created bugger-all for the majority of that game. Defensively we were solid - that block or interception from Souttar at the near post when it was almost a tap-in equaliser was superb - but Livingston didn't do much.

Just watched the highlights and noticed a couple of things I missed at the game; - Balogun and Souttar completely dominated the Livi striker, especially in the air. He normally bullies our CH's. - at the disallowed goal, we should have been awarded a penalty as Balogun is clearly fouled when trying to meet the corner. - when Sima had the chance in 2nd half which the keeper saved, he was to honest as he stayed on his feet when the defender attempted to tackle him. If he'd gone down it was a pen (with Robertson, you never know tho). - Butlands save from Shinnie was top class but as my old man says (he's not got any sympathy for goalies), that's his job 🙂 - Lastly, there must be 1000s of fans who were at the game who missed the 2nd, 3rd and 4th goals.

It’s ridiculous to give Martindale a 2 minute interview. He’s the most straight forward and fair assessor of all the managers in the league. Compare that to the banal “how important is the game today?”/ “how difficult has the last week been?” Questions that we get when it’s our manager. I cringe sometimes when I hear them.

That's embarrassing. I'd ban them, idiots.

Typical wee-team mentality: no style of play of their own so they resort to hammer throwing. My xG is through the roof, though...

Aye, it's wishful thinking. The whole 55 squad needs moved on in the near future, if you ask me.

Now, my old man loved Jimmy Millar. I retain the warm memory of being a Primary schoolboy at Hampden for the 1966 Scottish Cup final replay against ra Yahoos. When the Rangers team was announced and Millar was the replacement for Saturday's Watson, the old man lifted me and spun around proclaiming Millar's involvement meant the cup was won. Thankfully, King Kai did the needful from 25 yards. I think the final replay was Millar's final appearance for Rangers?

I agree that Cifu is a stick-on. I'd personally have Cantwell as the #10: Danilo - Lammers Cantwell Raskin - Dowell - Cifu Barisic - Souttar - Goldson - Tavernier Butland Jack misses out, though.

Standard procedure. If its a hand ball when a goal is scored it is automatically chalked off - no need for an "on-field" review. What was weird was that once it was established Cifu handled the ball and goal was disallowed that Robertson wasnt then asked to look at the foul on Balogun that was a definite penalty IMO.

I don't think it did - we totally dominated the game with the exception of a 5 minute spell in 2nd half. We had over 20 shots at goal and 9 of those were on target from circa 70% possession. we created a lot of chances, had a goal disallowed and could / should have had 2 penalties. I've read that because we scored 3 goals on last 15 minutes, it flattered us. Really? Doesn't matter when you score as long as you do.

He should be fine. Not only do most probably speak English, one is Canadian and at least two others are virtually English through their parents or being in English youth academies. He should be learning German, though.

Queueing for the subway is far more interesting than watching Rangers, apparently. I think his game is based a lot on his fitness/physique but he's now past his best.

Newcastle and Villa surprised me. Newcastle did much better than I expected and Villa did much worse than I expected. I still think Newcastle will not make the CL spots, though. It may just be early season rustiness for Villa.

Balogun was solid today , won everything in the air and he was MOM for me.

I don't think we're playing to Dessers' strengths just yet. He's still not quite match sharp either.

We relied on a couple of good stops from Butland just after half time

Alex Lowry starting in Norway for Hearts, can't see how this loan won't do him wonders. Best of luck to the boy.

Wasn't that just a Kenny Miller suggestion in today's media?

When Rangers scored the bloke next to us let out a roar and lost his top set of his false teeth add that to all the beer cans full of urine that spilled I don't think he looked to hard .

I think it gets the best out of Chilwell and James to be fair, or at least it did under Tuchel. Might just be a man for man job, not a bad idea with how weak Liverpool were in the tackle last season.

Bold XI for Liverpool against Chelsea. Got 4+ written all over it.

Man Utd will substantially higher wages so whether he plays or sits on the bench, it doesn't matter.

I think he should play as the #6, freeing up Raskin to move forward. I think I'm alone in that thought, though. @DMAA gave me a right good scolding...

Yeah, Balogun was behind Cifu and the defender had a handful of his shirt / dragged him back. About 1min in these highlights https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12938795/rangers-4-0-livingston-scottish-premiership-highlights

I've not been impressed with Dowell but that was some strike.

People will argue with Tav it’s a case of you don’t know what you have got until it’s gone. But like many footballers and Morelos being another good example, they don’t stay the same forever.

Unfortunately Tav is a fixture in the side - Mr Rangers - and the only way we get him out the team is to sell him.

The referee put in a rather outstanding performance - the type known as 'making it up as you go along'.

I was quite surprised Livi changed it at half time. They must have smelled blood. We did well to change it and end up with the 4-0 victory. A big complaint of mine from the last season is we didn’t score enough late goals and punish teams, build up the GD, we did that today. Livi had that little period in the game where they had a couple of half chances, the game was definitely on a knife edge until we killed it. Butland made a couple of good stops. The referee also wasn’t as big a factor in the second half as he was in the first. Remarkable to think only 1 Livi player was booked. Again it looked like everything we created went through cantwell (first half v low block more specifically) and while it’s great to watch him I do wonder how we would get by without him for an extended run of games should he be injured. Cifu performed well. Tav looks tired, at one point in the first half I think it was the left back (montano?) managed to beat him for pace.. worrying as this seems to be happening more and more often. Lammers took his goal well it couldn’t really get into the game otherwise. Moving forward I’d like to see Danilo as our number one centre forward. Dessers still looks a bit away fitness wise. We will probably see Sima start on Tuesday and I wonder if Matondo has played himself into contention with that cameo yesterday. Still a long way to go for us, titles shouldn’t be lost by playing Livi at ibrox but we need to win and we did. On to Servette.

Could not pick between Souttar and Balogun, so went for Cantwell.

Beale made the right changes at the correct point of the game. Livi were opening up and leaving gaps, Sima and especially Matondo exploited these gaps with their pace and directness. Previously, Livi were sitting deep, so their pace and directness wouldn't have been as potent as it was in last 10-15 minutes.

Just need to keep it going. A win in midweek or result that puts us through will increase confidence. Souttar has been immense. Fingers crossed he stays fit. Thought Matondo did well too - No really I did

I keep writing him off and there's a lot about his game that I don't like but every time I do so he finds a way to raise his game and get back in the starting eleven. It suggests a degree of character that isn't immediately obvious. Anyway, good luck to him, he put in a decent shift today.

I really like the way both Balogun and Souttar are prepared to carry the ball out of defence when the opportunity arises. Btw you're right about Raskin. He cuts a frustrated figure these days and something about the current set up isn't working for him.

I was watching the RB Salzburg match stream (vs Inter). I was struck by the fans's mindest regarding players. Several comments were along the lines of '[player x] will be crazy in 1-2 years', or '[player y] will be worth 30 million in a couple of years'. The mindset is different from us. We're, 'if they're not the final product, then they're no good ... punt them'. They're seeing potential, and what they can become. Tillman was 'too slow on the ball and gets robbed'. But he was 20-years-old. Where will be be in a year or two when he quickens up and gets stronger on the ball? Yilmaz 'can't cross and is suspect defensively'. He's 21. He can learn to cross and work on his defensive positioning. And the 'we have to win now' excuse doesn't cut it. Salzburg need to win. They look at the attributes a player has now, whilst also acknowledging where they can improve. I really think this is a failing in our mindset.