Leaderboard

my first real hero.

Souttar for me, immense all night. I've said before and I stick by it, there should be adult conversations about whether Goldson carries on at RCB especially if we're looking to bring in a ball playing LCB in the summer. Souttar is the best defending centre back at the club imo and is quietly a bit of a creator when he steps out and crosses too.

I have no complaints over the aggregate score over the tie, we competed and were not disgraced. Even after last week's admiral 2-2, I felt the Portuguese had too much width, pace and, guile for a leggy injury compromised Rangers at Ibrox. However, the three goals conceded were the perfect storm : 1. a VAR awarded penalty; Souttar heads the ball on to his arm and I feel the decision was contrived? 2. a Goldson own goal, cracking finish. 3. a three minute VAR check for a correctly awarded goal at Ibrox. The penalty is the only one I would take issue with but, the trio as a collective has a certain uniqueness.

We would have got a severe tonking off any of the remaining teams imo and yes I think Liverpool or Leverkusen will win it

There were a handful of corners where it looked like Benfica were going to score on the break. Definitely needs looked at.

I've been arguing for a set-piece coach for ages - and a throw-in coach.

Well, stop posting it on here then please. You're really trying my patience.

Can we take it to PM please gents...

I couldn't fault the players last night. Everyone gave everything and we can't ask for more. We were beaten by a better team. Had our injury situation been different I think we may have won it. I kept hoping right until the final whistle. The manager and players deserve enormous credit. Some were dead on their feet but the manager was constrained in what he could do because of a lack of fit players.

I dont know what we were doing at corners last night. Especially the one we lost the goal from, we seemed to push everone up? Plus the quality of the corners from both sides of the park were dreadful

Best ever Brazil team?

Only thing that will stop Liverpool winning it is if they rest players for the title run in. Even then, they'd still be favourites to win it.

There wasn't a lot between the teams over the 2 ties. The first leg is what killed us. Unlucky with the pen decision, and then Goldson putting in his own net. Last night they took their only real quality chance that was created. Hopefully, the reception the players got at the end, will give us a reaction for the Dundee game, and we get that one out the way comfortably.

Two flying Scots Clarke and Stewart

So you're saying they're spawny b@stards?

Juan Fangio posing for the camera in a F1 winning Maserati.

Third of the thirties Ms, Meiklejohn, Morton and Bob McPhail, referred to by McCoist as “Mr McPhail”. McPhail’s book is worth a look.

Was literally going to say can they not give it a rest. Its like being at fucking primary school

It was plain to see that we just don’t have the quality of players to compete at this level we’ve done well to come this far but it’s now up to the manager to take what he’s got and win the league then a clear out and the board to come up with sufficient funds to let him strengthen his squad.

Also, the sooner we get Matondo off the wage bill, the better

They will get that for the two lads the boy #4 Antonio Silva and the young boy in midfield #87 i think. Two phenomenal young players already Portuguese internationals. The boy #4 never gave us a sniff and looks top drawer.

He had a good game last night. Looked most likely to create something.

Clement isn't far from deity status with what he's achieved with this squad. It's a near miracle.

Listen, when you're gutted that Benfica have scraped past you with injuries up to your eyeballs then it probably tells you the clubs in rude health in European competition. Beat Dundee and give the lads a few days with their families because they've put in a good shift since the winter break. In Clement we trust!

I just look forward to a time when the game topic isn't reduced to this sort of petty and pointless bickering over who said what to who. I mean, it's as tedious as it's predictable.

Just my opinion but I thought Benfica got it spot on tonight. They pressed us last week and we picked them of and arguably could / should have won the game. Tonight they sat in and gave us the ball in areas they knew we couldn't hurt them, then hit us on the break. I'm sure our XG was 0.5 and there's was 1.57. The lack off creativity killed us tonight, but their number 87 was brilliant, controlled the game and snuffed out our forward players. The positives are that we've had another really good European campaign, generated much need cash but ultimately ran out of steam. We were never going to win the EL so now we can put all out energy into securing the league title. If we were offered the league Cup in the trophy cabinet, the last 16 of the EL, 2 points ahead in the league and semi-final of Scottish Cup at this stage of the season before a ball was kicked, we'd have all taken it. Also, if anyone had said we'd be in this position when PC took over, they would have been sectioned.

I don't think we need to give Benfica any credit. They are a good side but they are currently going through a bad spell. If we have our full complement of players we could have beaten them. Alas! We didn't have a full team. We played well for the most part. I felt we just lacked quality in the final third. I think Sima, Cortes and Danilo make a difference. I do think it has been another good European campaign, though: to get out of the group is a superb achievement.

David Meiklejohn, another of the great captains.

No other contenders it was a one horse race , a walkover

Win the next 4 league games before the split & we’ll go into the post-split with at least a 5 point lead. However we’ve seen one or two things of concern lately. Dessers goals seem to have dried up. He hasn’t scored since the hearts game at ibrox. Should we stick with him or try the proven Roofe? We’re short of wide players as we know due to injuries. Perhaps matondo will play on sunday( he came on against Benfica). I do feel Wright’s time is up. He has no final ball. Either play matondo & go 4-3-3 or stick with the 2 up front ( Silva & Roofe/Dessers) & go 4-4-2 Dundee are an inconsistent side who can be brilliant or dreadful especially on that pitch of theirs. Vital we start the game well & clear our lines effectively when required to do so at the back( something we don’t always do)

Benfica drew Marseille.

1 a penalty he could have headed the ball clear 2 would be great if Goldson could do that in the opposition box 3 to many defenders pushing forward a great goal

People over-analyse what managers and players say these days.

When he came on last night, I genuinely had no confidence he was going to affect the game in any way and if all players are fully fit, I don't see him being any higher than 3rd/4th pick. I've heard similar about his wage so the quicker we get shot, the better

Not sure he should be doing that publicly, feels a bit like chucking the lad under the bus for the goal and the first time I've thought hes said something he maybe shouldn't have. He did mention after it that the lad played well and he will get good experience from this and get better trying to recover. He also nearly slipped in the pre match conference when I thought he nearly said 'its tough to play a team with better players' but corrected it in time to 'a team with much more money'. Out of character for him.

Was getting frustrated with his handful of games then 2 months out injured ritual he seems to have since he joined, Joshua Barrie mentioned he has an ongoing knee issue causing this and has had for some time.. 28k per week we are paying this guy. Mental.

We punched above our weight tonight and came off second best. Injuries to McCausland, Cortes, Sima and Danilo defo had an effect on the outcome, but that said I'm proud of the Gers for their effort. Onward and upward. We still have a cup and a League to play for. C'mon The Gers

Truth is we often get our expectations out of kilter with reality. Anyone who's seriously upset at going out to Benfica by the minimum margin is expecting way too much. As we rebuild yet again, I regard our EL run as another success. So much more to look forward to. It will be interesting to hear what PC has to say tonight.

I usually detest international breaks but this one could be instrumental in winning the league title.

Eh! how can you jump from a very good performance tonight to giving you the fear v's them?

A lot of effort and some good defensive work in that game but ultimately we come up well short in attacking/creative quality with a wastefulness that was incredibly frustrating. Fine margins in the end but our season goes on. A trip to Dundee now suddenly as big as they come. Three points on Sunday now essential to take us into a well earned international break and allow rest and recovery for a squad that has put in a fantastic effort since the new year. Reinforcements would be very welcome indeed for the final two months of the campaign!