der Berliner

Maybe we try to get him the same vitamins Davie Weir got?!

Dessers doing his job, Cantwell's best performance, Butland with fine saves, and Balogun a rock. If only Lundstram would play like that every week - wouldn't mind a replacement though. Sterling solid too, Souttar with a few uncharacteristic sloppy moments. Most of the young players today far too erratic, namely Matondo and Silva, McCausland not so. Hope Sima is okay soonish.

What's all the Dessers talk? Totally hilarous criticism. He's hardly get a decent pass and if he does, his fellow attackers are all over the place or not catching up. Its him and Cantwell doing the most pressing, you wonder if we actually have "wingers", since they play so deep. Matondo is in his bad-game performance mode, far too hectic. Might score a hat-trick now, of course. BTW, I want Sakala back.

Wee check ... 4 games so far, 4 wins, goals for 11, goals against 2 MD 10 - Ibrox - 2-1 (Tavernier, pen. (Goldson); Danilo (Tavernier)) Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Davies - Ridvan Lundstram - Raskin Lammers - Cantwell - Sima Dessers Subs: HT Danilo -> Dessers 64. Wright -> Raskin 76. McCausland -> Cantwell 83. Jack -> Lammers League Cup - Semi-Final - Hampden - 3-1 (Tavernier pen. (Danilo), Wright (Danilo), Tavernier) Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Balogun - Barisic Jack - Lundstram Cantwell - Lammers - Sima Danilo Subs: HT Wright -> Cantwell 71. Lawrence -> Lammers 77. Davies -> Balogun 77. Dessers -> Danilo 90. Sterling -> Tavernier MD 16 - Tynecastle - 1-0 (Sima (Tavernier)) Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Balogun - Ridvan Lawrence - Lundstram McCausland - Cantwell - Sima Danilo Subs: 19. Cifuentes -> Lawrence 71. Sterling -> Ridvan 71. Roofe -> Danilo 88. Lammers -> Cantwell MD 27 - Ibrox - 5-0 (Diomande (Cortes), Cortes (Lawrence), Dessers (Souttar), Dessers, Silva (Lundstram) Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Souttar - Ridvan Diomande - Lundstram Sterling - Lawrence - Cortes Dessers Subs: 56. Silva -> Lawrence 56. McCausland -> Sterling 71. Raskin -> Diomande 71. Wright -> Cortes 79. Roofe -> Dessers

A lot of what happens in the summer will depend on grabbing the title and with it a guaranteed CL group income, no matter how the results will go there. Should we achive this, Sima is probably highest on the agenda. Cortes and Silva at best new loans, as their contracts are long at their parent clubs, Clement hooks Silva far too often of late and Cortes has barely set a foot on Scottish soil. We shall see. Diomande (obligation to buy) and Raskin are for the creative CM role that we have seriously been lacking, but both don't look physically made to complete a full Premiership run. Lundstram and Jack ... many thanks for the memories. Maybe Sterling can step into that enforcer role, but we do need one or two more. We need at least two more centre-halfs, since Balogun won't be here next season, Davies most likely neither. Hagi (2026), Lammers (2027), Cifuentes (2027) are out on loan and might come back for the manager "to have a look", while Devine (2025) has been playing football again with Motherwell (he was not used by them for half a season, it seems), as a left and right midfielder. Still baffled by Beale's decision to loan out Hagi ... and it backfired handsomely.

Stats wise no doubt. Those are envied by most wingers and even strikers. Performance-wise ... you are the chap with the stats, what's his cross-/pass-completion ratio? Is it wrong to wish that a defender is doing his prime job first and foremost? There are reasons why concede bad goals time and again, and since "we play as a team", we also lose as a team. Our centre-halfs are more often exposed for a reason. Hence, I suggested a 3-at-the-back and let Tavernier run his race on the right wing as per usual. We need to plug the gaps. As for the rubbish ... no-one wants to get rid of Tavernier, I would assume?

I was under the impression that Raskin was to be the ready-made replacement for Davis. that is, a C/DM that knows his job, plays in his position and took the responsibility off the centre-halfs in playing the ball out of defence and up to the front. Jack could do that too, but not at the level of Davis, but he's still IMHO the best DM that we have at the club. The use of Lawrence, Dowell and Lundstram in these roles backfired heavily on us, and while Diomande (how can a thumb injury keep a professional player from playing?) looks good, he's somewhat erratic when it comes to consistency. Having him and Raskin playing in CM might work, if these chaps finally get some playing time together. Aside from tactics, the amount of injuries to important players and some signings never really get going has seriously hampered any improvement this season. Given how tight the league is, this sort of thing can quickly break a "season's neck". Defense-wise, Ridvan, Sterling, and Souttar should stay, but we do need improvements in the summer, including back-ups. Hence, throwing away this season may set us back even more, given that automatic CL group participation is on the menu ... mainly thanks to our runs in Europe (oh the irony).

Well, you wouldn't want to hand the Scum the Double, and it is another major trophy for the Ibrox Treasure Vault. As for the last few games: we've had our fair share of injuries, especially to players that you hoped would improve us, even change the course of how we play, namely Danilo, Cantwell, Sima, and now Cortes and Ridvan. What irks me most - and has for about 5 years now - is that we simply fail to learn that the way we play (better players or not) against Scottish opposition is simply not working. While it is totally fine for Europe or against teams that play more open (Dundee did, but we never got our act together), time and again we are a blunt force that hammers at the door, yet fails to get in. The last game against Ross County at Ibrox we chad 40+ shots, 23 on target, but scraped through 2-1. By now, the alarm signals are as loud as a Kinzhal homing in on its target. Yet, we stubbornly soldier on and on and on.

😱😝 ...

Find another Gersnetter to pester ...

Funny how most people want us to stick with this garbage 4-2-3-1 or laugh at suggestions of utilizing the squad properly ...

We have managed to go down to the levels of Ross County and Dundee within a week, the manager has IMHO fully lost the plot with his selections and substitutions. Goldson and Souttar "playing" the creative part, Lundstram and the aforementioned playing triangles in our half, and Silva and Cantwell getting hooked for the Dowells and Lawrences, while Tavernier is playing in the middle of the park, or wherever he likes. There is every chance Hearts will send us packing at the weekend, if we play anywhere near like today. Season blown within a week. Some feet.

So what do we require then? Today gang was shocking bar Butland, including Clement.

We played better loosing 4 or 5 against the Scum. This 2nd half was atrocious, no matter if we grab a winner. Same trash SG's side served up after the turn of the year quite a few times.

Now, if you go back and do check his stats, why another mistake? BTW, this was not about goal and assist contribution, but the spark and energy he brings to the game, and his physicality. If you want Borna's instead, so be it. I wouldn't put out as many defenders against Dundee.

Dundee is playing rather open, which should suit us. But, aside from Butland, Goldson, Souttar, Sima and Roofe, you have to guess where anyone is playing. What we end up is no cohesion as anyone else is running about (has Tavernier actually been on his wing for more than 5 mins?) and we wait for something coming off somehow. Dundee's players going down like flies and Robertson playing a Robertson blinder ain't helping either. I'm pretty sure we will only change in position ... hoping for the best.

Wrong, my dear friend.

And at the chap you quoted. Go check the stats of Wright. He has almost played as many games as left-winger like he did on the right (only due to lack of options thanks to our previous managers). The line-up is called 3-4-3 and if you'd rather want Borna in left midfield, so be it.

It is Dundee, away or not, we should stop being conservative, not least if players chosen do not contribute to the team (like Dowell and Lundstram) in a way you would expect. We're stuck with Goldson and Souttar for tonight, Tavernier is seemingly undroppable, and the left flank will be Borna's again - as we will have a 4-man defence. I'd send Sterling out as DM (and nothing else, unless opportunity arrives. Raskin in front of him, so we have some creative player in a deeper role. One who is forward thinking, and willing to have a shot. Cantwell, Silva and Sima behind Dessers, to complete the typical 4-2-3-1. I'd rather test a more attack-minded line up, with a sort of three-man main defence. Sterling playing the cleaner in front of the centre-halfs, covering either side if necessary. Wright instead of Borna, as a left midfielder with the job to track back (which he does anyway), Tavernier (for lack of options and his status) doing the same on the right. Raskin and Cantwell the creative department (with order to track back if need be), Silva, Dessers and Sima as a front three. Butland Goldson - Souttar Sterling Tavernier - Raskin - Cantwell - Wright Sima - Dessers - Silva

Sorry, but that argument falls flat on its face if one checks e.g. Ridvan's stats ... aside from what I said elsewhere: getting a dead leg is somewhat different to having your ankle broken, ligaments torn, or hamstring strain (which alone can have various implications and levels of seriousness).

Top of the table win ...

Much like Helander is Swedish is for Prodan? Really, these silly remarks about people being unfortunate with illness and injury are utterly sad.

My cynical self just noted that Tav contributed to us conceding 6 goals in the last two games, Ridvan to none. As for injuries and games missed, such a lame and heinous argument. Like every injury is the same. Starting slots ... is it up to the player alone to be selected? Borna had decent runs while Ridvan was fit, whereas Tavernier never had one player to challenge him for his slot. We were lucky that he never had his ankle twisted, knee ligaments torn etc.. It is you who don't give Jack and Roofe no leniency, it seems. For some players, your blame game looks rather simple, for others, you restrain yourself quite a bit. Obviously, I suspect you will get the mirror out rather quickly ...

I want a defender to defend. Everything else is a bonus, but his job remains the same. If that job is not up to scratch, he will be questioned, be it Tav, or Borna, or your prime target Ridvan. Which is ridiculous, IMHO, saying his not up for it because he is injured. Tav's better because he played through most of the dross we've been served then? Ach well. I can't see Clement changing the formation or some players ... so we can but hope that those given the jersey will pull us through.