der Berliner

If you care to look, modern day capitalism in all its incarnations is or can be as rubbish as most socialist "regimes" are made to look. And read the Communist Manifest to get any idea how communism shall look, no matter what incarnations have come of it.

Aribo and Morelos, for not having played much, look the most lively players up front, Kent and Lundstram hardly involved, and you always hope for that one telling cross from Tavernier to forget those half dozen plus wretched ones. Let`s see what SG makes of it, yet I wouldn`t be surprised if Arfield come on first ...

Looks like there is some agreement that McLaughlin will play games in the Premiership for his omission from the CL squad?

Clearly meant to give Aribo and Morelos much needed game time. No Roofe and Sakala, a bit strange, though the former might have been sacrificed for those eligible for next week. Speaking of which, they should have kept the subs and changes rules from last season, for that would have been a decent change, as opposed to scrapping the away goals stuff. As with previous seasons, you look at the line-up and see lots of workers, but the lethal, goalscoring bit, will again rests on the shoulders of a single striker and the hope that Aribo and Kent provide an end product to their work. There`s a reason we "only" won 11 league games by 1 goal, 6 more by 2 goals and drawing 6 more. I know it is lamenting on a high level, but the stats remain and we all remember these dire affairs of teams sitting deep and we toil along to break them up.

Maybe you try it then? And remember that in nigh each country where socialism (no country ever reached communism*, but that`s a dominant misconception in the West) developed they essentially had its own version, pending on the people** at work and the ressources they had at hand. Much like capitalism in politics ("democracy" in about 300 shades) and economics works differently in every other country too. And having lived in the naughty "SED-ruled" and "Stasi-controlled" G.D.R. a.k.a. East Germany for 20 years and knowing hundrends of people who did so too, let me tell you that the second "bold" bit is way off the mark too. But rest assured, you`re not alone, as modern day German opinion-makers like to put East Germany ever closer to Nazi Germany, using the same terminology, drawing wild (but usually not challenged) comparisons and whatnot. Sick and tired of correcting lies to people and telling them about my experience, as most are simply not interested in those days or are neck-deep in their conception of socialism and East Germany that it would be a waste excercise. And in saying the above, I don`t want to say anything was just fine ... but if you look out the window these days at the various faces of capitalism, be it the Trump-lead and CIA-war-mongering US version, that of Erdogan in Turkey, the political madness of Italy or even those sheiks of Saudi-Arabia pulling the strings world-wide, the analogy of stones and glass-houses spring to mind. When people over here point fingers at politicial and business fiascos, essential slave-labour at meat-production companies, horrendously underpaid nurses and health personal or billions of tax money wasted on airports and train stations, or Bundeswehr-drones that didn`t even get a flying licence for Germany, you will quickly find someone point out that "in East Germany, it was worse!". The level they delve down to is nearly farcical. As if something bad makes another bad thing any better. Heck, 20 mins of life-time gone for that, when I was looking forward to us chasing the Arabs. *That what happens when words are liberally used far too often by those who could know better if they actually look what those words mean in a political and real world context. Just saying. ** People like to cling to power, no matter what system they use politically or via religion. Most hard-core socialist party leaders were wanting to keep their place as long as they could, but so too do certain people in the west too. Just look how Trump got his country worked up, how Erdogan rules Turkey, Lukashenko Belorus or indeed how the Iranian religious leaders dominate politics. Not to mention half the African states or some in South and Middle America. Any better than the much maligned "communist" countries? People craving power and utilizing the political system as much as they could.

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On our list for the qualifiers (at least the first 2 legs, dunno whether that`s true for the play-offs as well) we have Balogun (suspended yesterday), Jack (who has played next to nothing for months), Kamara (who is suspended till the Group stages, IIRC) and Roofe (sure suspended till th Group stages). Rangers CL Squad

Usually someone who gets no game time and sits on the bench. You do wonder at what stage a professional footballer that is not a fan of the club (like Stewart) gets somewhat annoyed by not being picked despite those in front of him not delivering (even up to their own levels), yet are certain picks for the next game. When you look at our bench last night you do wonder why the likes of Hastie, Jones, Barker and Middleton were omitted from the squad or bench for the CL qualifiers, given how many players we missed. Hagi got injured in training and who knows what Aribo had. So we had a bench full of youngsters plus Sakala and some chaps not for attack et al.

Added to OP OUT - Jordan Jones - Wigan Athletic, season-long loan - LINK - Confirmation Can`t follow the animosity towards Jones, always found him a decent enough option to have, yet we hardly ever used him but shoe-horned other into the right-wing role. Or let Kent play full-games when he was clearly off the boil. Good luck at Wigan.

Delivery from the wings was of a low quality, but we also had too few players in amongst their defenders, and bar Itten, none were very tall or known for their heading abilities. Obviously also somewhat strange that we stuck to that, when we usually try to cut teams open with quick passes et al. Let`s hope we get everyone fit in the coming days, namely Hagi and Aribo, so we have more people to chose from. Dunno whether we will throw Alfredo in the mix. We still need 2 clear goals to get past them.

Even during the game I thought that - for having played football for 13 matchdays and being Sweden`s best, they looked quite average. Lots of passes, crosses and balls up the field went astray. Cynical fouls and then falling down under slight touches, Slavia-like. In fact, we had them under control for the best part of the game. Coming to think of it, you wonder what impact a Jack or a Kamara might have had - not least during their goals. I still stick to my opinion that Itten alone up front against 3 defenders ain`t working, nor would it have been the case with Alfredo. Itten went to either side, mainly the left, to draw defeners out of the middle, yet there was too little coming from Arfield and Kent. It`s not looking for scapegoats et al, but we should have hooked either and bring on Sakala. We instantly saw what Sakala brings, but we need him and Alfredo/Itten up top. In saying that, it shows how bad a state Hagi was in when he was not considered fit enough to even come on as sub. None of the rest was required or probably able either, no disrespect to our youngsters here. Davis once again showed his worth to the team and should be a role model for younger players (so any bar McGregor or the like) in terms of ability, determination and fitness.

For once Kent`s work actually produced something. Man, he can be as frustrating as Lövenkrands. Very vital goal, even though away goals are scrapped methinks. Bar those 120 secs after the break, when our defending was somewhere between comical and farcical, we were very much in it, if not to say on top. Too little firepower up front cost us in the end, that needs to be addressed next week, when we hopefully have Hagi back as well. But we should start with Itten in the middle and Wright plus Sakala and Hagi. As much as one can admire Kent`s workrate, if the end product ain`t there, he should be hooked.

All in all, we look the more promising team out there, creating more chances and sure have greater possession. We need to tell Kent, Arfield and Co. to hit at goal when they are within range. Too often they take an unnecessary touch or make an unnecessary lay off. Itten works hard and shows his strengths, Wright is running his socks off, the defence rock solid,as is the central midfield. EDIT: Itten needs someone closer to him to work with, as it stands, he usually has 2 or 3 guys against him. Ref got stranger as the game went on, the Swedes were falling all over the place and he took nigh all of that, then ignores the blatant foul on Kent, then gives Itten a yellow for virtually nothing ...

Kelly obviously has some games under his belt, but you would hope that he get his nerves together, looked a bit shaken when been subbed on against Real. I assume we will soak up any pressure and try to hit them on the counter and press them as much as we could.

I totally forgot about Helander ... who is obviously first choice and starts.

Methinks he must have picked up an injury or the like ...

Arfield ... me becoming a prophet ?

Let`s put it this way ... SG so far has preferred Sakala instead of Itten. So I reckon Sakala will play as a the central striker. Likewise, should SG stick with Itten, he will play as the main striker and Sakala will be alongside him and Kent. If Hagi is fit, he will play, even ahead of Aribo ... and rightly so. He is a creative midfielder and should not be shifted onto the right wing. But for all we know, SG might throw on Arfield from the start ...

With Roofe out, the "front 3" are Kent-Sakala- Wright, I doubt we will have Kent-Itten-Sakala/Wright, but what do I know. IMHO, injury permitting, the team picks itself ... McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Simpson - Barisic Davis - Lundstram Wright/Sakala - Hagi/Aribo - Kent Sakala/Itten

You just hope we have a leg or two to stand on here. I reckon there is conflict of interest with cinch and Parks of Hamilton (?) and the SPFL rules have a word about that somewhere? I wouldn`t be surprised to see the tune wings towards: "because of Rangers contesting the sponsorship deal, we have to divert money due to clubs to that legal case."

Rumour that Jordan Jones is going to Wigan on loan for a season ... OUT - Jordan Jones - Wigan Athletic, season-long loan - LINK ... while Juan Alegria (19-year old Columbian striker) may finally join us soon, after red-tape prevented his arrival in January. Most likely like McCann for a time in the B-squad.

That was what I thought when reading the starting line-up.

Typical Livingston game, always tight. But still, too few attackers and those we have on don`t click or shoot as good as we would hope they do. Tyldesdley and Smith are not exactly what you want to hear either ... ... its the Sky Sport commentary ?

Speaking about falling in love ... PLAIN AND SIMPLE | The reasons why i felt in love with Rangers against Real Madrid

Hope every side of that deal is in the clear about where he will play. He talks about Ibrox, Craig Mullhoand says ... ... and I wonder what he means with "large numbers"? How many Bears will be watching Lowland League games? More than people at EPL2 games? Probably, but still ... BTW, it is quite difficult to actually find that ruling about who can play for the B-Team and whether those can also play for the first team. At least anything offical.