der Berliner

On a related note, we neither can recall e.g. Docherty, as he has played for 2 teams already this season.

It would be a start to give people roles on the field of play and they stick to it. Far too often Arfield, Aribo and Kent are all over the place, appear here and there and no-one is actually pulling the strings or knowing where he would find these chaps. Hagi is a clever ball distributor with some attacking skill. He needs someone for protection too, but if you then have a couple of strikers and two real wingers that he can aim at, we should be getting some rewards. For Wednesday, I'd go ... McGregor Polster - Goldson - Edmundson - Barasic Jack Stewart - Hagi - Jones Kamberi - Kent ... unless SG thinks Morelos or Defoe can start straight away. Leave Kent and Hagi with some freedom to operate just behind the main striker then. The back four's main job is to keep a clean sheet and occasionally foray forward. Jack the enforcer in midfield. Once Kent and/or Hagi tire, throw on Aribo.

Kamberi ahead of Morelos? Actually no. It should be either Kamberi, Morelos, Stewart and Defoe, i.e. 2 strikers up top. It looks like these Scottish games are made for the likes of Docherty (who is seemingly doing well in the enforcer role at Hibs ... of all people), Jones, Stewart et al, even Barker if given a run in the team. Likewise, as much as opposition sides have sussed us out for a good few number of years, it should be possible to analyze each team`s style and counter that, i.e. place defenders as need be, put enforcers and DMs on "playmakers" or possible counter-attackers. At least when it looks like now that we can't impose ourselves in games and stop loosing control. All too obvious since the turn of the year. Have we got the personnell right now? Who knows ... as we play the same people all the time. Hamilton at home might be a good starting point to let Jones, Hastie et al lose and hand them a chance to impress.

At the end of the day, even though this season ain't over, it very much looks like that SG & Co. have build a good side for a "4-3-3" game against teams that play open and modern football. As we can see in our European runs this and last season. What he seemingly again has failed to build or select is a side that can cope with the dross that is hailed as "Scottish football", a game that is essentially made up of teams willing to destroy any sort of techincal football by digging in and being physically better than quality sides. Every now and then these teams acquire a decent footballer for their style (i.e. counter attacking brickwall stuff) or rear their own odd talent to sell it off at the first opportunity. One might be tempted and say that we should not lower ourselves to this kind of level, which is fair enough. But what we do need is to beat teams of that level. That is what Walter's sides did in days gone by. Don't be pretty, don't be fanciful, but get the odd goal more to beat that dross on a continual basis. The Scum are the top of that pile of dung and have a manager that goes with it. They beat the Scottish opposition and that is at the end of the day all that counts.

Regarding Morelos I just found this on FF (confirmed on SSB) Came back late from Columbia and dropped from squad. Was allowed back earlier in the week to deal with “a family issue” - turned up 24 hours late and missed all the preparation for today’s game. Gerrard interviewed on Premier Sports prematch and was quite cutting and clearly pissed off as said he only wants to talk about players who want to be here to get us through in the cup.

I`ve followed followed Rangers since the mid-80s, via BBC World Servive, BBC 2, 5 Five Live and then the internet. Being at a classic concert this evening - which might have been a blessing in disguise - I checked on the score and some comments on our German webpage. On my way back I tried hard to think back all those years and could not remember any other Rangers team of some or similar quality that managed to throw away a title challenge and a remaining cup competition like this current side has managed in a matter of 6 weeks. It has been coming and believe you me, I'm sickened more than most to be right about my previous comments regarding our tactics and sticking to certain players. We acquired a good few players to give those not performing a run for their places, yet time and again we played the "veterans". Likewise, we did not set up in different ways according to opponents, but tried Plan A time and again. And as much as it hurts, the man at the helm has to shoulder his share here. As the Anglo-Saxons said: Gæð a Wyrd swa hio scel! Fate goes always as she likes ... and who knows what happens in the next three months in the league. But right now we threw another title race and a cup competition away and leave it to a bang-average Yahoo side with an even more bang-average manager. How we managed to lose to a Hearts team scraping on the edge of relegation within a couple of weeks is way beyond me. Sickening, just sickening.

Was his wife giving birth or the like?

Any reason whatsoever given why this Saturday game is pushed to 5.30 and the second game even later (7.20)? There is but one EPL game on right now, the rest start at 15 o'clock. Wrecked my whole Saturday ... NB: I would hope we'll give it a realy going, Morelos, Stewart and Jones all in there from the off. Back 4 will remain the same, Jack and Davis in MF. Rest Kent, Hagi the creator.

Nice. ?

Re-arranged Cup game against Queen's Park yesterday Match Day Programme: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/rwfc-v-queens-park-programme/ Report: Rangers 3-0 Queen’s Park RANGERS Women beat Queen’s Park 3-0 this evening in their opening group game of the SWPL Cup. Megan Bell opened the scoring from the penalty spot after just one minute, before Brogan Hay and Daina Bourma added to the tally late in the game. ... Rangers: Cunningham, Brownlie, Martinez, Vance, Gemmell, O’Neill, Reilly (Cornet, 62), Docherty, Hay, Bell, Devi (Bourma, 57). Subs: Fife, Girasoli, Macdonald, Mcquillan, Cornet. https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/report-rangers-3-0-queens-park/ We Showed Our Team Spirit MALKY Thomson was pleased with the patience shown by Rangers Women this evening after a 3-0 victory over Queen’s Park in the SWPL Cup. Megan Bell gave the Gers an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Light Blues had to work hard to increase their advantage with goals from Brogan Hay and Daina Bourma coming in the last 10 minutes. ... https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/we-showed-our-team-spirit/ Gallery: Rangers 3-0 Queen’s Park https://rangers.co.uk/news/galleries/galley-rangers-3-0-queens-park/

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/draws/

Given the teams we have faced thus far, it is essentially of no relevance how the teams out there perform in their leagues right now. We will have to take on what comes and as long as everyone gives 100 %, who knows where it will end.

Problem is that they get a free reign at reporting about Rangers as they see fit. Apparently their word is taken for granted by BBC London et al and reproduced, not to mention unknowing reporters from outside Scotland / Britain who view anything the BBC puts out as top notch quality. When it is in fact little more than demonization, defamation and straight blackmail on many things Rangers. This can not be tolerated and thus needs to be taken to task at any opportunity.

The (and our ) problem was that there wasn't a pyramid structure back then as it is now. The howling mob wanted to see us relegated, then realized that an assumed relegation was not possible with the SPL / SFL structure, tried to force the SFL to rethink ... which it didn't and subsequently forced the SFL out of existence. With that, nowingly or not, they prevented that something which happened to us could not happen again. As for the Scum, slimy filth as they are, I can clearly envisage that some penitence in whatever ridiculous form will be accepted by the powers in control. After all, it is their placemen at SFA / SPFL who will decide the outcome ... and I wouldn't be surprised - as there is nothing in the rulebook (as yet) - if there will be any punishment to the club at all.

Actually thought exactly how this would unfold. Main job was keeping them out. They were quite open at the back and precise passing and finishing would have seen us going home 5-2 or the like. These games are made for us ... if only we would switch tactics and personnell in the league. More money in the bank to get Hagi, who again supplied a neat assist for Kent. Hope the latter gets his act together now.

It was not deliberate, and even if, in the area it is only a yellow now, if the penalty is given. NB That English reporter there is one idiot again ...

Should be 3-1 by now, from our perspective. Such stuff - given our current "luck" - may very well come back to haunt us. Would have been the perfect game for Jones and Barker, perhaps Ojo now. So much space to run into and work with. But Kent has not found his feet AGAIN and Kamberi simply needs to watch his line. Can't for the love of the game not understand balls out of defense to guys in the MF who have people breathing down their necks. Results in balls fired back, putting the initial player under pressure and us in danger. Some well place old school kick and rush is required, as their defense is open as a barn door.

Bla bla bla ...

Line-up: McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Edmundson - Barisic Jack - Davis Arfield - Hagi - Kent Kamberi Subs: Foderingham, Katic, Halliday, Kamara, Aribo, Stewart, Ojo. Welcome return for Barisic, hope he is fully fit. Substitutions likely going to be Aribo, Stewart, Ojo ... Jones, Barker and Polster played in that 1-2 friendly defeat to Partick yesterday(?).

Won't change my opinion. SG selects tactics and players ... that bucket stops with him.

Just make a certain number of those spouting anti Rangers bile every other day persona non grata at Ibrox. And let the reasons be known to the public. I haven't read any statement from Rangers on their website.

I'm afraid I do not buy this "defending the manager" stuff. There is hardly any dispute of what he has done to the team and what achievements we have reached under him. It might be lamenting on a high level, but when it comes to Rangers, what matters to the rank and file is putting up a challenge to the Scum ... or to turn that on its head, challenge for trophies. And for the best part of 3 months we have lamented the Plan A selections and tacitcs employed by the manager and his staff. And it simply does not sit right with me when he comes out going after Jones and others after this or that game ... when these same players have got us and him where we are AS WELL AS being picked by him. Week in and week out. No matter how they perform. Rangers have never been a rehab institution or testing ground, as it seems to be the case since the turn of the year. Yet we had that last season and have it this year again. In an objective review this simply has to be taken into account too.

I am astonished that this cretin is still able to walk upright through any Scottish street ...

As I said on the day, he probably got caught by th Sun and was kicking the ball a bit aimlessly because of that. After that he slipped, which could have happened to all and everyone. Haven't seen the 2nd goal back, but am under the impression that it was Goldson who simply didn't kick for touch. As could have a few others still. When teams do press hard and fast, our CDs and DMs seem to develop problems kicking the ball away. They generally take too many steps in such case or try to be more clever. Cost us a few times ... but should have been rooted out since last season. As Frankie said above, our main problem is that goals are not distributed along the attack line and MF, it is one or 2 who do the job, the rest does not. Despite having Stewart, Jones and now Kamberi, all rather direct and willing to shoot.

As I said for ages, we far too stubbornly play the same system no matter what. For a time, we got the results, even though the performances were not great. I don't think too much individual finger-pointing is required, especially not from the manager. The big problem for defenders is that their errors might have dire consequences, as it proved yesterday. But that happens to all defenders and teams every now and then, else there wouldn't be goals. Be that as it may, we do carry a number of people for weeks now who fail to reach their own standards. Likewise, we hardly ever change personnell when required. Games like yesterday, where fighting is required alongside "guile", the scene was set for Stewart, Kamberi, Jones and even Edmundson. People raring to go and challenge for a place, as well as being able to wear and tear teams like St. Johnstone down. Why do we need to give the likes of Kent (to lesser extend than the others), Tavernier and even Morelos more and more time to get out of their troubles? When it is clear to see for weeks that it just ain't happening? I said a wee while ago that unless we win all games up to the OF one, the title challenge is over for another season. And mainly not down to the Scum do what they have to do, but us not fulfilling our potential and utilizing our options. Again. When SG took over, people said that he needs at least a certain number of transfer windows to rebuild the team to a title challenger. IMHO, we had a solid side last season and were pecked back by the same frailities that come to the fore now (tactic- / selection-wise), as well as some heinous COing and refereeing. The refreeing remains a problem, not least when you see what the Scum gets away with. But there still is too much self-inflicted damage ... and SG should not start pointing at the players. Regarding the transfer windows ... we collected a few gems by now, Aribo, Kent (when on top of his game) and now Hagi and probably Kamberi are a real step up in quality. Maybe we need another good summer window to get us over the title line ... and in saying that, I simple can't see any great quality over in their camp. TLB has collected a bunch capable of beating anything in the SPFL and that's essentially it. We seem to collect people for "the better of our game", but they can't show the required consistency against the brickwall and hammerthrowing brigades in Scotland. Strangely enough, as I said, I really thought that we got Polster, Jones, Kamberi, Barker and Co. for exactly that reason.