der Berliner

Some fine ref we have tonight ... Referee – Euan Anderson Assistants – Frank Connor and David Doig Fourth Official – Alan Newlands Missing - Filip Helander, Nnamdi Ofoborh, Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe

... Andreas Skov Olsen has a contract till 2024, Bologna signed him for a mere 5.4m in 2019, has played 67 games, scored 3 goals and assisted 4 more. So essentially did not exactly followed up his stats from Denmark (51 games, 27 goals, 7 assists, his last season there 18/19 was 38 games, 23 goals, 5 assists). Maybe a loan with option to buy first ... if we are actually interested.

Some more rumours ... Bologna are willing to sell Skov Olsen, and they are also interested in signing Stryger Larsen. R. Sociedad, Rangers and Besiktas are some clubs that would potentially try and sign the young right-winger.

Tiraspol and Zenit were the only "easy" draws in this hat, since both wouldn`t have played much football during the winter. The rest are "hard to solid" ... and the German sides are generally tough. Dortmund isn`t only about Haaland, yet, I would assume we will have our people being clued up about them. Most likely a solid midfield and defense and pace to counter with Sakala, Kent, Morelos and Arfield plus Aribo behind them.

Worth remembering that Madden helped the Scum to their 3 points vs Hearts not too long ago, offside goal and handing the Scum position after their player broke down for no reason whatsoever et al ... no wonder refs are a bit up in arms.

Lived up to its top-of-the-table clash, good to see that Hearts have build a team that can compete with the Old Firm. Well taken goals at the right time, and given the chances the game might have gone either way and would have been nerve-wrecking to watch had we not got our goals early on. But hey, that was fast and furious and despite a few yellows (and bar Tav`s all deserved) a good game of Scottish (sic!) football.

Chest and head were legal AFAIK, but hey, that rule isn`t about that long (insert cheeky smilie), so I have to get used to that now.

Looks like Arfield today is being used more as the combative MF than the AM he can be. Wonder whether we bring in Bacuna and Wright as the pacy attacking options or Lundstram to solidify the MF. IMHO, a (quick) 3 goal would kill Hearts.

Wee question, before we scored our first goal, wasn`t it a clear pass-back by the Hearts defender to his goalie, not headed, but clearly intentionally ... and the latter took it up? NB So far, the ref has been good.

Fast and Furios 12 (just because of the date). That was all-action footie and I am glad that we lead by two well taken goals. With a little more precision during our counter attacks, I would still breathe a little easier.

Yeah, he played Roofe in Kent`s place or as a right-sided attacker ... every now and then. Still, Morelos got the nod whether he was in-form or not. That`s the point. As for other comments ... "unproven" is relative. If it refers to Scotland, that`s true but holds true for Defoe and Laudrup and whomever you chose who just signed up. Sakala has scored 1 goal in 3 games over in Belgium and Itten 38 in 63 in Switzerland.

You do wonder what will happen to quite a few of our fringe players under SG. Likewise, Itten is hardly getting any game time with Greuther Fürth, who are essentially punching way over their weight in the Bundesliga and having a mare. IMHO, there is sure a player in Itten, only that SG simply preferred his one-striker tactic and stuck to Morelos no matter what. Thing is, if we recall him, he can`t go out on loan to any other team, as he has played for us and Fürth this season.

Lack of consistence of and knowledge by the respective people doing this. Simples. And BTW, everyone in Britain (with a modicum of knoweldge about football) will know who Rangers, Villa Chelsea et al are, without having the name of the city added. Beyond Britain people tend to add a city ... and that holds true for most teams around the globe, be it Inter, Real, Galatasary or Benfica.

AFAIK, this has been going on for a few seasons though.

That, and that Tav wouldn`t have required 93 mins for a scary moment or two ... against one of the best teams in France.

Indeed ... right winger! IN - Francis Amuzu - RSC Anderlecht, 22, RW, Ghana, contract till 6/2024 - LINK - TM

Very good performance by our standards, and with a bit of luck, we might have done to Lyon what no other side has done so far in the EL. Let`s continue that way. NB: I for one didn`t miss Tavernier 😱😎

"Problem" is, showings like tonight from Kent and Kamara will not shorten any potential buyers list ...

Truth be told, you can see the quality in their players, but they handle the affair - and us- quite arrogantly. After Roofe`s shot, Patterson`s run that sadly found no Ranger in the box and Borna`s shot straight at the keeper, we are sure worth our lead. Need to stay concentrated though, they will probably come out steaming ...

Let`s put it this way, selling the likes of Aribo, Kamara or Kent will sure ease Gio`s chase for people he wants. And we will survive any sale in the same way we have survived before. You just hope we will have a good valuation put on any player`s head and stay strong in any dealings.

New link to an Arab midfielder added to the OP. Came via Souchaux, Alaves, Maccabi Tel Aviv to Scotland, his contract runs out next summer. IN - Jeando Fuchs - Dundee United, 24, CM, Cameroon, contract till 6/2022 - LINK - TM

Just read again. This was purely with regards to games where Tav had - by his standards - a stinker, yet produced an assist from a corner or otherwise ... which soon papered over the rest of his performance that day.

Gio`s been here for a matter of weeks. He´s won all games thus far too. No-one shall (and I doubt no-one is) getting carried away though. He will use the trusted players for the time being. I just hope that he gives other players a chance to prove themselves in competirtive action and in a system that Gio deems necessary for the game at hand. No-one is demanding Tav shall be dropped per se, but likewise it would be good to revolve people when they are not "as essential" as they are usually are, e.g. yesterday`s game at home against Dundee. I for one never missed Tav when SG was forced to play him as Tav was injured. I cannot say that I missed Kent yesterday either. As long as a manager utilizes his whole squad, no problem. NB: Again ... Tav`s stats are fine. For a winger. They hardly include his defensive abilities though.

For those who want a quick re-run of the game ...