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I suspect Neil knows the semi-final Scottish Cup draw will pair Aberdeen with Rangers? Thus, Neil would rather watch the game wearing his scarf from within the Dunoon Rangers supporters club.

Don't play Raskin from the start , that cost us last week against Motherwell.

Roofe is certainly one that would be higher up the list, but I thought Lundstram would provide a better subject for discussion.

We have a lot of cover in that position, including Diomande, Raskin, and Sterling, with Jack on the same boat as Lundstram. Dowell hasn't played much due to fitness and injury, Lowry being a dark horse due to - of late - commitment and lack of game time. Given that Jack, whom I place as one of our best DMs when fit, is becoming ever more injure prone, I'd suggest giving Lundstram a one-year deal and an option for another. He's been our most reliable DM/CM this season, yet all depends of what he plans for himself in what might be one of his last contracts in the game.

Hibs midfielder, Joe Newell is in today's Herald expressing his hopes that, "Rangers are knackered from Thursday night's Euro exploits". We left the Lisbon pitch after ten O'Clock, rehydration and sleep would ensue then a mid morning flight return to Glasgow. Today will be a loosener and discovering of the extent of injuries and further injuries. Tomorrow will be an Easter Road challenge from a well rested and prepared Hibs. I suspect Newell will get his wish. The Gaffer should pin his wish list on the dressing room wall as a reminder; the team will have to up for it from the off.

Auld age doesn’t come with any favors

I'm confident we will bring back the points

There's clearly still some development to be found (he can take unnecessary risks and choose the wrong pass at times) but he's also clearly a very talented player. He's certainly an all-round midfielder as he's physical enough and mobile enough to get around the pitch but has that bit more creative guile than someone like Sterling. I do think he'll be better in a less advanced role but happy enough to see him play there when it's required.

I love how Diomande has just instantly become an important first-team player. It's been far too long since that's happened.

Wonder if PC knows about this topic?

He did indeed but the Gunners go top. A draw at Anfield tomorrow and they’ll stay there.

If and it's a huge if, Roofe could stay fit, it would a consideration, bit given his apparent fragility, I can't see us even considering renewing his contract. My hope for Roofe is for him to stay fit enough to positively impact the remainder of the season which should result in trophies us, medals for Roofe and a good way for us to part company.

This is the squad management argument. I think it's a good opportunity to free up high wages and reduce what is still a bloated squad.

Just turned 30 in February. We have a bad habit of holding on to players on the downward trajectory of their careers. I'd hope we're looking at other options.

You could set your watch by it. The top two lost last week as well.

How fit is Balogun? McCausland? Full 90? Does Roofe have a full half in him? Mother Hubbard's cupboard is lookin bare.

Mon the gers

This puts last nights game into perspective. Rest easy fellow Bear.

I'm expecting a tougher game than we got on our last visit to Easter Road, due to their slight upturn in form and our decimated squad. Any win will do and please, no more injuries.

Absolutely, it's nothing like being near to celebrating failure.

I'm not seeing much celebrating about last night's result. Most of us are just pleased the tie is still in the balance and happy to be competing with teams of that standard.

Pretty much everything that's wrong with Scottish football coverage is this legacy red top media. The sooner the all go out of business the better. Parasites that add no value. I feel for the genuine ones that do a good job but unfortunately they are few and far between, eclipsed by the likes of Leckie, Jackson, Spiers et al.

I think we could have won; I think we should have won. A minority opinion, perhaps. When you celebrate draws, you are only a short step away from "hailing" 'brave defeats', and that should never do.

Reading The Sun is a bit like staring at the sun. Only an idiot would do it.

Off course, liability is harsh, outwith the OG Goldson had a good game but some fans will continue to berate certain players - that's football. Last night, Lundstram played well in patches and not so well in other patches. However, it looked more like fatigue. He has been one of our most consistent performers this season and has shown he can play and excel at this level. We are suffering from lack of options due to either players coming back from injury, or still out injured. I'd like to hope this will ease over the coming weeks and we also have an international break which will also help.

You have to remember that they managed to strike the woodwork at home against Real, that in itself makes them a CL superpower 😀 I think their £70M in the bank masks a lot of their failures in Europe where they have been an unmitigated disaster for years now. I'm happy it doesn't get the spotlight it deserves, more than happy for us to continue to defy the odds and punch way above our weight knowing that it rankles with them. However, if you search outside of this parochial shit hole we reside in, Rangers get plenty of recognition. Funnily enough, as do players who regularly get written off by us Rangers fans.

I think liability is a tad harsh, but his deficiencies have been more and more obvious as the months go by, and we still have 2 years of this left at 38k p/w.. Its definitely an issue and something to be cognizant of when thinking of throwing money at Lundstram who is 30 for a new deal.

The ref was kind to Benfica last night. The penalty aside if you look at where the freekick they scored their second was taken from, compared to where the foul was, that's poor refereeing. Di Maira simply can't play that cross from where the freekick was made and that shouldn't be a hard thing to enforce.

In 2008 we were ranked joint 262 in Europe's rankings, we are now ranked 25th - a truly meteoric rise.

Undoubtedly so. Despite the excellent result today there's still a gulf in class between the two teams.

Really proud of the team, result and performance but how much longer must we put up with the £38kpw liability that has just cost us, again, another famous result? I can hardly believe we got a result like that with the players missing that we have. I had this tie at 40/60 before the game but now it’s probably 52/48 if we can get the place rocking despite the early ko.

Good to watch a game without the tone deaf drummer

It was good when Roofe came on and we had a forward who looked like he wanted the ball. Just saying.