der Berliner

Rumour regarding another South African in-form striker ... IN - Iqraam Rayners (29) - ST, South Africa - Sundowns - contract till 20XX - TM - TM stats - LINK

In the here and now, one can quickly establish the "pedigree" of a referee in terms of football loyalties. It is a small country, so the pool is indeed limited. But if it is clear that referees are either incompetent, not up to the pressure of such a game, or have certain leanings, they should not put on the black shirt in such games or sit behind the monitor. If they lack referees, go and hire some "foreigner" in advance. Maybe they'll have smarting home-bred people, but it is up to the latter to officiate a game according to the rules. In any case, they could hire people for VAR roles, put women referees in there, whatever. The status quo is not acceptable.

There's a circle since we've been back ... Refereeing, Compliance Officer, Songs. I'd wager that, given that our support belts out the "sectarian" songs for months now, someone of the you-know-who brigade will pick up on this if things go too well for us.

"It was the honestest mistake ever, we can assure you!"

In games against the sides mentioned, and most others of the low-defence teams too, we play essentially two centre-halfs at the back, two DMs who cover the territory ahead of them or the space vacated by the "wingbacks", and said wingbacks. De facto, we play with 6 defensive-minded players. People may argue that our fullbacks shall act like wingers/wingbacks, and our DMs should venture forward too. These players actually do exactly that, but in essence, in such games, we still have 2 defenders "attacking" on the wings (with a varying degree of success), and two defensive-minded midfielders trying to be positive. Barron and Diomande are more positive than most we had before, but how often do they still pass rather than shoot. Be that as it may, the opposition in such games rarely threatens our backline. So why should we keep essentially 6 defence-minded players? When we effectively need just 3, maybe 4? Hence, 3-4-3, or 3-5-2. And if I ask a fullback to play wingback (and some can do that better than others), why shouldn't I ask a winger to do some fullback work? Wright did that, McCausland does that, Cerny to a degree ... I wouldn't be so sure with Matondo and Cortes. Hence, IMHO, against Dundee and Co. play a centre-half through the middle (Souttar), and Sterling (who can play right-back) and Balogun (left- or right-back) and that's that for defensive work. Put Barron/Raskin in front of them with the task of a cleaner/destroyer, who can cover flanks too. Do we need any more "defenders" in the Premiership? Ask the two wingers on either side to do a bit of defensive work in case of need (and IMHO Jefte and Ridvan can both play winger instead of fullback too), but let them lose at the opposition in their half. We'd have 6 instead of 3 or 4 really attack-minded players. In this day and age, players are asked to be versatile and most of our chaps can do that. Sterling can play centre-half, right-defender up to right-winger. So he might even decide to go on the attack as well, if space opens up. It's no rocket science, but we try to play this wedge style that simply turns blunt in the Premiership time and again. You see that, I see that. People don't even try to think around/about the system, but rather have a go at players shoehorned into it.

I know ... but: - hardly anyone who does that plays in the Scottish league against the brick-wall brigade - most who do this play people capable of playing in this role and can perform adequately - I would only agree if we'd play Igamane on the left-attack role, Dessers through the middile and Danilo on the right ... and see how it goes. And to complete such a line up against e.g. Dundee or St. Johnstone ... Butlland Sterling - Souttar - Pröpper Cerny/Matondo - Raskin/Barron - Hagi - Jefte/Ridvan/Cortes The way we play is suitable for Europe, and in some games where the opposition is bold enough to play more open. Our plight is - and has been for years - that those meant to come up with goals from the wings are simply not up for that cause. Hence, you play with those you have in their best roles. I fear that we will start tinkering with Matondo and Cortes again on either wing, instead of unleashing our full attack potential at the opposition.

... gut feeling says that he is regarded as a high-price sellable asset. That game against Spurs might have set a few English sides on his trail. Kelly is a very able replacement.

Only watching the highlights now and IMHO, we once again handed them two bad goals, and you simply cannot do that right now. We were down to our bare bones at the back without Souttar, and we changed from our winning ways back to the one-striker trash. That said, we gave them a better fight than in years (post Gerrard), people start to get back to their best levels, yet, we have too few ready at the same time. We need to make sure that we don't put our hopes in Igamane becoming the new Morelos, but strife to get all people involved. Having 6m of our strike-force at treatment table again is simply a no-go. They will need their time to get back to full throttle and if anything these days, we haven't got time.

Play two strikers, have them all geared up like Thursday, and we might be in with a chance. I'll be off working ... with the Eisbären. When I booked that date we were dire and they were flying, so not only do I want to give them any more of my lifetime in the here and now, I was expecting another doing. Tide has turned somewhat, maybe this month can see a change in fortunes. If everyone performs at his best level, we may snatch some silverware after all ...

For those home late from Ibrox ... Igamane's goal

Can't be anything else but be proud of the lads. Gave all 100 % that they have, a touch unlucky with the result. But we'll take it.

It is utterly frustrating that we cannot play with two strikers .... Igamane is too often far to the left, and those in the middle don't have the prowess. We carry some great belief from the previous games, we need to profit from Spurs' apparent lack in form. Let's hope this doesn't come back at us, for we don't deserve it.

Line-up reads like a 4-3-3, but who knows. No idea how good or bad Spurs are at the moment, so ... let's see.

Chief Commercial Officer? Is there another Commercial Officer aside from the Chief? Like Senior, Junior, whatever?

Cup game at the weekend ... turned out to be a rout of the girls from West Dyke (SWF Championship, 3rd tier)

Motherwell's Scottish midfielder Lennon Miller, 18, is a target for Liverpool and could be available for £8m (Caught Offside) 🤡 Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt is keen on a January move to Rangers as the 22-year-old eyes the opportunity to play more regular football. (Football Insider) Rangers are unlikely to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window as the out-of-favour 21-year-old will attract Premier League interest and the huge financial package involved in any move for the midfielder has limited the Glasgow club's chances of a deal. (Football Insider) Croatian under-21s midfielder Marko Soldo who currently plies his trade with NK Osijek. The 21-year-old, Rangers News understands, is of interest to Koppen and the rest of the scouting team who continue to do their due diligence on the playmaker. It is understood Soldo could be available for between €2-3million.

While not that many clubs will hare after them in January, we should keep fasteners on Jefte, Butland, and dare I say it, Igamane. The Englishman steady as ever, the other two start to show their talent ...

Sluggish admin today 😱 ... 3 goals, 3 points, nothing special, but rather solid. Good game for Igamane (and you wonder whether he was really not "up to speed" earlier), who has a bit of the Morelos flair about him. Not afraid to have a shot, always in there, head doesn't go down either. Let's see how this new partnership develops. A touch disappointed with Cerny, and you do wonder why McCausland doesn't get any minutes.

All a bit disjointed, but we took our chances well enough. Cerny somewhat off the boil to day, three chances and a pass straight to an opponent ... maybe today is the day of the left flank? The danger we pose with two strikers is obvious, although Hagi is somewhat wasted on the left wing. We need to keep Souttar and Balogun fit for next week. Seeing the Berliner doing his last gasp excellent tackles always gives me the fear about an incoming strain ... Dunno who's Sky's co-commentator today (McCann?), and there are worse, but somehow I think he's watching a different game. Started off with "a comfortable safe" for the Stag's goalie at Igamane's goal "bar that slight touch" (which I almost didn't see), to commentating the game essentially at a level comparable to the play before him. A bit strange, if it really is McCann.

Central defence ..... IMHO, we again field our best partnership today (don't disappoint me now, guy!). I would have liked to see Ridvan and McCausland play today, they both can play on Thursday and need game time. Hopefully a lengthy sub appearance, maybe for Dowell too, who is also in the EL squad, not Hagi.

Snapped up from FF ...

NB: Should dynamo_rosco of FF happens by again and snaps up the transfer OP, be so kind and note the creator 😎

TM says that we received ... - Euro 2m for Lammers - Euro 590k for Cantwell - Euro 360k for Wright ... and I have no reason to doubt them. What might be the case is that we receive some money in instalments (Lammers, most likely). For decades, the Scum has been able to buy low and sell extremely high, especially to the EPL (namely Southampton).

Almost as funny as the Daily Mail claims about North Korean women soldiers in Ukraine ...

Play two real strikers, and a decent creative midfielder ... no rocket since ... outside Ibrox, at least. Hope we now pick up from this. Very enjoyable to watch.