der Berliner

Rightio ... last day of the window, after that, only freebies. We might expect quite a handful of people leaving today on loan ... or otherwise. Despite SG saying that any arrival "would surprise" him, some murmurs from the better informed guys over on FF, namely DocStone, hinted that we might actually see some movement still. He won't be around there for the next 10 hours though, so don't hit the F5 key all too often.

Much of "what TLB does" happens because he has a 30m team of half-decent to quality players that know how to play the game. We can dislike them all we want, but e.g. Christie, McGregor, Forrest and even the racist are well and truly a cut above the rest of non OF teams. Sadly enough, we have played them when our form has dipped and despite not exactly showing any class either, they took their chances. That can and has made the difference in OF games, no matter the form book, BTW. I wouldn't read too much into this. As for TLB ... IMHO, the sale of Tierney for silly money spared him an early castigation from the high-ups ... for failing to reach the CL group stages.

Strap yourself in for action from the Compliance Officer ... https://streamable.com/vv68t ... and it wasn't Madden who looked straight on that, just a guy with SPECSAVERS ads on his jersey.

As I said above, it's been coming. While the defense usually is solid and held well today (yep, a stray pass can hurt you badly, but overall they weren't all over us or we panicked ... for an OF game that is). But whatever happened after Hibs is still bugging us up to now. 13 days to get this out of the system and hammer Livingston. Wee sidnote / observation ... while you can blame it on slack passes, on Thursday as well as today the surface seemed to be somewhat sluggish, like balls were getting slower every now and then, even stopped? As if there was too much water on it.

Bad day at the office, from top to bottom. No more, no less. We know we can do better and have a Helander, Polster, King, and Barker to come. Amongst others. It was Match Day 4. As much as I am frustrated, I'd accept losing 4 times to the Rhats if we lift 55. Preferrably, I'd like to win the other three league derbies ... and any in the cups. Battle lost, war certainly not. Shall they enjoy their spoils for the time being.

Kent never really got going up until after x-mas. Spending 5 or 7m on him is based on his last three months and one hopes he never loses that form again. Candeias is indeed a big loss for Tavernier, but in saying that, we brought in Ojo and Hastie even before Candeias went. Both raw and in the same state as Kent was at the same state last season. IMHO, too raw for an Old Firm game. Jones is a threat down the left wing, but only if we play him. As soon as Arfield was back, Jones dropped to the bench. Perhaps he is more of an impact player, but against the Yahoos, whom he knows, he would have been a good starting choice. Stewart is primarily a back-up striker for Defoe and Morelos. One that can be played on the wings. Yet, as with Jones, he needs to be on the pitch to be counted. And Ojo probably has that "if fit he must play" clause in his loan deal?! Remember that Kent could do no wrong for long spells at the start of last season too. Today was match day 4, there is a long way to go yet. You would hope today was a learning experience and SG and Co. take note.

Never noted that many Yahoo players laying about on the grass for virtually nothing. Must have been 5 or 6 in total. Alas, Madden gave enough extra-time.

BTW ... line up at home against Hibs ... McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Katic - Flanagan Jack - Davis Ojo - Aribo - Jones Defoe S - Morelos -> Defoe 76 S - Stewart -> Jones 76 S - Halliday -> Flanagan 80 Defoe (8 - Ojo) Defoe (15 - Ojo) Defoe (75 - Davis) Morelos (77) Morelos (81 - Stewart) Ojo (92 - Tavernier) ... from then on, Arfield was shoe-horned into the side. Hm. On hindsight, he doesn't look - at this moment in time - look as sharp as last season.

Essentially the same line-up that was sinking the Yahoos last May, with only Aribo instead of Kent.

Ach come on ... Aribo didn't cost but was one of those 10 new signings who started. And he has been rather good thus far. In essence, the main starting line-up changes would have been Jones or Ojo, neither cost a penny either. It is a learning curve for SG too ... though after the last few games, you would have thought he learns faster. Three months before the game at the Scumhut.

No, but IMHO, he had too few options up ahead of him and too many Yahoos haring after him, in his left / right wingish role. He won a few tackles and his stlye, a bit like Ojo's makes him look a bit sluggish, even though he isn't. He's now tasted his first bit of Old Firm bedlam and knows the score. I wouldn't want to single anyone out today, quite a few simply played below standard or not up to the occasion. No that the Yahoos were brilliant either.

He had 3 or 4 blunders on Thursday which might have cost us the group stages. Not wanting to single him out, but if his defending in big games continues, he might be used as a right winger instead. Generally below standard though, hardly a good cross, free-kick and corner either.

Now, how about getting back from orbit and into the real world again?

Have to see it back, but the way I saw it, Tav wanted to play an audacious pass along the far touch line, through a line of players. Be that as it may, a gift.

Sidenote ... unless you play them, no matter where, you have no clue how your players or theirs shape up for this game. IMHO, Aribo is a good one, even won the ball regularly, but did not produce that much. Arfield was there, all over the place, but with only Defoe to play with, the options were limited. As was said before the game, their defence line was there for the taking, but we ... i.e. SG chose to pack the midfield. That was never the area where the game was won. Essentially, a typical Old Firm game. Make mistakes, suffer the consequences. Do not take your chances, suffer the consequences. They are not better than us and IMHO we have every chance of getting three points at the Scumhut.

Jones got a late Red, I hear? Were they at the wind-up again, classless tossers that they are?

IMHO wrong game plan from the off. But what can you do if Tav hands them another goal? Or fate has it that the ball springs back perfectly to Hayes. Next time with Jones from the start ...

Tav gifted them the opener, after that it was waiting to happen. Fortune kissed them twice today, they were hardly unbeatable, but the form book went according to plan. Make no mistake, ever since we hammered Hibs at home, we have been far from convincing in the final third. And if you don't take your chances, better teams will punish you. Had hoped we start far more positive, even though we contained them well enough. In the end it did not need Madden.

You though the Poles were bad at cheating and diving ... wow, think again.

BTW, what a tosser Madden is. Arfield floored twice, nothing. Forrest blocks Flanagan, cries foul and gets it. If only Jon had fouled him.

Too many "players" in the midfield, no-one is really taking responsibility and marches onto goal and thus we get crowded out. Their backline is for the tacking, but now they can sit back and try to hit on the counter. That should be hammered into the players. Jones at HT for Kamara please, we need a more direct approach.

Thanks, Tav ...

Could be anything, really ... option might be McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Katic - Flanagan Jack - Kamara Aribo - Davis - Arfield Defoe ... I actually wouldn't be surprised if we go 3 at the back when we have the ball, Tav going into a winger slot so we have a 4-man line behind Defoe up front.

I for one would have liked Jones on the left wing and leave Kamara on the bench. Ojo's got a knock AFAIK, so he wasn't a starter. Jack has been rather offensive of late, so he may have a free'er role than usual. We shall see ...

So a 4-3-3 line up - for a change. McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Katic - Flanagan Kamara - Davis - Jack Aribo - Defoe - Arfield ... or perhaps a midfield diamond. IMHO a bit thin up front, where we supposed to hit them best.