Tannochsidebear

I agree our games should be at Auchenhowie, what was the point of all the upgrades if we don’t use it? Always loved that old trophy, puts modern ones like the SPFL trophy to shame.

Our game at Livingston will be shown live on BT Sport on Wednesday 25 September at 7.45pm. It is the only live game, the 3 other QFs are on the same night. confirmed on SPFL website.

That Cluj mob that took the tims to the cleaners lost their home leg of QR4 tonight 1-0 to Slavia Prague. Perhaps we might face them in the groups!

I think it is the same price as last year as well, maybe £1 more. It is a reciprocal agreement between the two as well, our fans get charged the same at the midden.

I thought you were not allowed to do that anymore. Something to do with the tv contract? They will need more Police to deal with the in-fighting after we pump them than we will need at Ibrox that day!

I thought the bookies would have our game in Warsaw as a tight affair. The current odds on Skybet are Legia 6/4 Draw 21/10 Rangers 13/8 I would happily accept a score draw next Thursday right now.

I went for Alfie, just ahead of Ojo. 2 goals and 1 assist for Alfie, and 1 goal and 2 assists for Ojo. Excellent work between them. Was also impressive performances from Davis, Jack, Goldson, Katic and highlight of the match was Arfield's solo to set up Ojo's goal even though Morelos gets the official assist it wa all about Arfield. Only player I thought was poor was (again) Flanagan. At fault again for the goal (not solely, but mainly), and poor distribution when I was saying for the first 15-20 mins he looked much better, that seemed to be the high point of his performance, but I am nitpicking as I thought everyone did really well and produced solid performances. Bring on Legia!!

We played Wronki a few years ago in the UEFA, I was at it and it was a very quaint wee ground. We won 5-0.

SG said yesterday at the presser that he has 5 midfield players, Jack, Davis, Aribo, Docherty & Kamara so would ideally like one more. That tells Halliday, Polster and all the youngsters trying to break through that they have absolutely no chance. Bringing King in is so utterly pointless (no resale value, big wages, not better than current players) and goes against everything SG has said about a pathway to the first team for our development squad.

Went For Defoe, its all about goals. I think this new improved Ryan Jack is looking better with each game, but I thought Davis was the standout midfielder yesterday. The instant control, run and cross for Defoe's 3rd was absolutely stunning. Jones did well and had his man in his pocket in the first half. I was moaning during the game about Ojo being completely anonymous for large parts of the game, but when you look at the final numbers he has 1 goal and 2 assists yesterday so how can you complain? What could he be like if he didnt go missing for 20 mins each half! Loved the way Morelos has come on, after Defoe has hit a hat-trick with all 3 goals laid on a plate for him, and said "hold ma coat" and within 2 mins he has destroyed their defence single-handedly after picking up a nothing ball at the half-way line and scored. As if to say "i'm still here you know and you aint getting my starting slot every week!" Great attitude! The only negative I can find - Flanagan was the undoubted (and yesterday the only) weak link, a total bombscare defensively and offers very little going forward. SG loves him somehow, but I dont see it and I predict he is going to cost us (again) just like he did last season, both in Europe and at home, if he continues to have the starting slot.

Also confirming he is an uneducated scumbag who has poor spelling and grammar and loves the IRA and all terrorists loving GB. Good riddance from this country to the horrible wee ned. i expect to see him back with his injured tail between his legs a few years down the road.

Good preview, easy to read format as well, enjoyed that. As for the team, I agree with all of the comments in this thread so far, so we need to start with 15 players! Seriously, I think Flanagan will be rested as that was a big 90 minutes for someone just back and Barasic will come back in, Davis will return to midfield in place of the injured Kamara, and I think maybe Ojo will come back in perhaps for Arfield who seemed to be not quite at the pace last night given he was still a couple of weeks behind the rest of the players. I cant see Morelos not starting after that magnificent performance last night, but I would not be the slightest concerned if Defoe gets the nod for Sunday. If Morelos plays from the start on Sunday, Defoe will probably start on Thursday. Jones performance last night got singled out by SG, so looks like he will keep his place, but he wont find it as easy against a stuffy Hibs side who wont allow him the space and will probably double up on the outsides as well, so hopefully he can continue his development by learning how to play against those types, not just his speciality of counter-attacking. After such a great result and performance, it is good the next game is only a few days away, and I am sure I am like most Bears in wishing it was today and not Sunday we were playing! Bring it on!

I dont think Slavia are any worse than Athens, and that was a better bheast side with a far better manager, so im still hopeful of another balls up from them. The money on offer from CL group stages is obscene and will make our attempt to get back to parity with them a whole lot harder.

Absolutely not, I would put it as 50/50. We are the unseeded side so are seeded to lose but our resources dwarf that of the Danes so on that basis we should be good enough. one thing for sure, we need to up our level significantly.

I wouldn’t argue that it is a very competitive league, but if there was such a thing as a ratio between quality of football against money spent, it is probably the worst league in the world. I’m watching Hud v Derby tonight and it’s awful. Both defences are poor, midfield is a brutal battle and forwards are not worth the money paid. These are 2 of the best teams in that league as well.

Listened tonight while making my dinner and enjoyed as always. Thought there might have been a bit on our vital European game coming up on Thursday, and perhaps our Kellie game analysis could have been trimmed to fit it in. It must be really difficult to set an agenda and stick to it within an hour so please don’t take this as criticism. Just a suggestion that a decent section of the show could be on previews of the games coming up before the next podcast airs? Keep up the good work guys!

Looking at our opponents and potential opponents last seasons European results; The Danes (I’m not attempting to spell that every time!) entered the same competition in QR3 last year and comfortably saw off Welsh side New Saints 2-0 in Wales and 3-1 at home for a 5-1 aggregate victory. In QR4 they played Malmo and drew 2-2 in Sweden before losing the home tie 2-0 to lose out on group stage action. This will be their first European action this season. Legia started 18/19 in the Champions League qualifiers in QR1against Cork, winning 1-0 away and 3-0 at home, then going on to play Slovakian side Spartak Trnava, losing the home leg 2-0, winning the away leg 1-0 to go out 2-1 on aggregate and drop down into the Europa where they played Dudelange from Luxembourg, losing the home leg 2-1and drawing the away leg 2-2 to go out 4-3 on aggregate. Worth noting they got red cards in both legs of that tie. This season they started in QR1 beating Europa of Gibraltar 3-0 at home after a 0-0 first leg on the rock. In R2 they beat KuPS 1-0 at home and drew 0-0 away. Atrimitos played QR3 of Europa League last year where they lost to Dinimo Brest of Belarus 4-3 in the away leg, and drew 1-1 at home to be eliminated at the first time of asking, picking up a red card as well along the way. This season they started in R2, beating Slovak side Streda 2-1 away and 3-2 at home.

Thanks @Thinker, it must be the 16/17 run I’m thinking about. Even better draw when you take the last 2 seasons Euro results for Legia into account. Must get the job done against the Danes though or all this is pointless.

Not if they ran on the pitch it's not. Fans know fine well they are not allowed to leave the stand, there is absolutely no excuse for dozens of fans to go spilling onto the pitchside out of the stand. If some fans cant control themselves when we score a goal, they shouldnt attend.

We have really hit the jackpot here. While Legia if I recall have had some decent Euro results in the last few years, compared to who we could have got, both in rounds 3 and 4, we have a great chance to go through to the group stages again, with the financial benefits which are necessary to continue our rebuilding. I'm delighted with this draw!!

SG couldnt have been that raging with his players, he has given them all today off. He said in after-match interview he would start to focus on the Danes when they all come back to work on Tuesday. I would have hoped that after such an incompetent second half performance that he would have them all in watching the video, highlighting the many areas where we went wrong, and then out on the training ground working on how to break down a parked bus defence. But no, its a day off so all must be fine. I had no problem with him sinking into his seat at the equaliser, I did the same! He isnt one for doing much touchline coaching anyway, you rarely see him pointing and shouting. He prefers to call someone over during a break in play to discuss one to one in a whisper what he wants from them. I dont mind how a manager coaches from the sidelines as long as he has the knowledge and tactical awareness to make tactical changes during the game to improve the chances of victory, and this is one area I think SG can improve on, and I have no doubt he will as the season and his career progresses.

There shouldnt need to be a fragile roof warning, any human being with even a little common sense should know better than to leave their seat and jump on a roof at a football match. There is a growing ned element within our away support, which is going to become a significant problem if not dealt with soon. I'm not blaming the UB members who I was quite close to yesterday and while I personally want that drum shoved somewhere the sun doesnt shine, they did nothing wrong themselves, unless of course it was one of them that let of the disgusting smoke bombs at the goals, I am not sure exactly where that came from. But the Union Bears hangers-oners are simply wee bucky-ed up arseholes intent on trying to be more hardcore than the guy next to them. They are the ones always trying to start songs which will get us into trouble, always the ones looking to cause it with stewards/police, and of course the pitch invasion. There is absolutely no excuse to try to run on the pitch. No good can ever come of it. I have been to thousands of games and never felt the need to run on, I just stand where I am and celebrate with those around me. Of course back in the old days of terracing a goal celebration could see you moved about 20 yards from where you started, but with the seats there I rarely get more than a couple of yards. If they cannot help themselves but run on the pitch when we score, the please please dont come to the games. I hope Rangers can identify everyone who encroached onto the pitch, and those on the disabled shelter roof, and life ban every single one of them. I was absolutely disgusted at the scenes at the goal yesterday, albeit most of which I only seen when I got home and watched the goals and analysis back, as I was too busy jumping up and down like a nutter when we scored to notice too much at the time.

Very difficult one today with no stand out performances. I see Tav & Barasic getting peters on here but I thought both were decent enough, the 2 CBs were involved in both our goals and not at fault for their goal so have both done their job. Davis had a decent first half, Jack same, but both were poor in 2nd half. Aribo & Ojo were the 2 poorest today for me, Arfield made tons of good runs, got a goal but found it hard to really get on the ball in good areas (11 man defence has a lot to do with that) and Morelos was a threat when he wasn’t getting booted, shoved, elbowed etc all over the park. Subs were ineffective but didn’t have much game time. Probably give it to Goldson just for the attitude to get to that ball for the winner despite being fouled.

It’s only incompetence if both sides are recipients of errors. When it is as one-sided as what we see from Callum, it’s cheating. Let’s not fanny about and call it out for what it is.

Despite the roadworks and the predicted stormy weather, really looking forward to the first of 38 instalments in the story of our journey towards “55”. Of course it may end up a damp squib which sees our rivals claim a 51st title instead, but if we can get a win today against a team we couldn’t beat in the league last season, we are already ahead of last season where we played well but poor refereeing cost us 2 points with a disgraceful red card which was rescinded after the points were lost. I expect Goldson & Katic to play with Tav & Barasic as full backs, with McGregor shouting at them from the goalmouth. In midfield and most will expect us to stay with the 4321 shape, however I don’t see Davis being risked on that pitch with Denmark in mind, so it could be Jack, Aribo and Kamara in the deeper line, with Arfield and Ojo trying to link up with Morelos. Other possible starters could be Docherty for Kamara, Jones at his former ground may get the nod ahead of Ojo, and it is possible that Defoe may start ahead of Morelos but I doubt it. Halliday could play at left back if Barasic isn’t to be backed on the awful surface. Kilmarnock have not had a great start under the new manager with Euro humiliation and some uninspiring friendly results and performances, so this game should come at a good time for us and I hope we push on to get a convincing victory.