der Berliner

75 % possession, 9 corners or the like, yet virtually end product. Because we play our football around the centre circle and hardly anyone thinking forward bar our attackers. Once Roofe is trying to get the ball 5 or so meters either side of the halfway line, you know what up. Yes, we might have expected Livingston to be far more physical and aggressive, but they offered next to nothing. One might have expected from our midfielders to go further forward then, but no. Jack stood back, Lundstram too. The front three ran their legs off, but get next to no real support. Thanks to Collum, we got a goal, which Sima took well.

Same procedure as every game ... (I just settle for a straight 4-3-3) Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Davies - Ridvan Lundstram - Cifuentes - Jack Lammers - Roofe - Sima Three workers behind a sad front-3, alas, Ridvan is back.

At least we did not sell or loan Scott Wright ...

When I say players play akin to the style of e.g. Hateley (the more direct, robust centre-forward (as opposed to e.g. McCoist or Johnston)), or Laudrup (i.e. a free roving attacker), I do not necessarily compare that player to these players' abilities. It is not that difficult to grasp, IMHO. Cantwell is having a free role behind the front line (or striker), pops up on either wing or more centrally. Same with Lammers. Hence, he is more like Laudrup than e.g. a centre forward like Dessers or Roofe.

I think it is appropriate to put you under the iron curtain from now on.

Available coaches ... at TM

Well, in the cold light of day, we managed similar dire results for decades, even with the likes of Gazza and Co.. I would assume the pubs in Scotland after the game were similarly downbeat. What I can't tell - for obvious reasons - is whether we managed to perform as dire as the results suggest, which I doubt for most cases. In that same cold light of the day after, having acquired so many IMHO quality players, it was still a crime to let both Hagi and Lowry leave on loan with but one creative player left, and most of the other attackers un-tried in the Premiership. As per usual, that one creative player got hacked down (by a Yahoo at that) and soon after, Raskin followed, who is probably the most prominent one of our midfielders who can do a part-time job in that department. Roofe has been what we expect him to be, a top penalty box predator. Let's hope he stays fit for the best part of the season. Dessers is more that Hateley type of a robust striker, and I would combine these two from now on up top. Lammers is more the Laudrup type, but like Cantwell, the "always thinks forward" and ain't shy to have a shot. He would be my central creative player behind the strikers, at least in the absence of Cantwell. Sima, Matondo, and Wright should be used as wingers (sided-attackers) and told to stay there too. For what we see is people running about with seemingly no cohesion whatsoever, flanks left unoccupied, so defenders have it not that difficult to get out of trouble that way. I was hopeful that, going back to a 3-at-the-back, we'd throw on more attackers to put the nail in Motherwell's coffin for that game. Obviously, I forgot that for one reason or another, Beale will never sub Tavernier and hardly ever Borna (unless injured), which saw us playing with de facto 5 defenders. People will argue that both are more WINGbacks than fullbacks, but TBH, while Borna whips in most crosses (unless he plays the ball back) with success, Tavernier was rather terrible yesterday. And once we switch to 3ATB, we don't need a "right midfielder" who can't do anything useful with the ball. Once people have a bad day, sub them. Not least when we needed width. Too bad we don't have a right-sided Ridvan. The ultimate shock came around the 70 min mark, as Beale decided to go into the shell and essentially defend a 1-goal lead at home. 5 defenders, 2 DMs, 1 CM and but 2 attackers. While it was brutal before, it was shocking thereafter. We are closing in on the end of September, and while MD 10 is some weeks away, this does not augur well for the next few months. I am not sure whether Beale can get his players to work in a decent manner, especially tactic- and position-wise. Well, well ...

Oh no, to the contrary. What we did is to fill those spaces freed with people incapable of playing the football required. Instead, all those DMs and the CM sat back and we played virtually on top of our defence, instead of keeping them occupied in their half - something creative/attacking players would have caused. Likewise, Borna and Tav didn't provide any attacking threat whatsoever.

No, not really. They were playing up to their capabilities, and fair enough. We seemingly are looking to find our capabilities and for weeks run about blindfolded. I do not know what Beale's plan with the substitutions were. Either they were rubbish or the players simply didn't comply, maybe a mixture of both. This sort of stuff doesn't do anything for our confidence, and the confidence of the players in their manager. It was really, really grim to watch. If we manage to get kicked out of the cup by Livingston, this might be it for Beale ... Best player (and so far acquisition of this transfer window): Jack Butland ... closely followed by Lundstrum and Lammers. Good to see Wright back, he was again shifted all across the pitch).

We're just begging them to grab that point. Honestly, this is so so dire.

Tavernier is having a stinker today ...

Indeed, Lundstrum & Jack are the DMs, Cifuentes the CM.

... yes, true enough. But on the face of what we see, Borna only reaches his standards today. Given the defenders we have, we might just as well sent real wingers out there and kept the strikers.

So, nominally, we have 5 defenders on, 2 DMs and 1 CM ... and try to grab another goal. Or rather do the obvious and defend a 1-goal lead at home. I'm bound to call that pathetic.

Those unique Scottish refs, going from Aussie Rules style refereeing to that of an Iberian Don. Amazing. Cifuentes needs to be replaced.

... and we need to leave Cifuentes on the bench now. No two CM/DMs needed, with Cifuentes not really coming to terms with people harassing you all the time. I'd throw Sima on to one wing and play Lammers and Wright more through the middle. What generally bothers me is that in the day and age of 4G and 5G, some of our play is more like telegraph- and carrier pigeon-speed in terms of thinking. Same with expecting a ball.

Like Thursday, identity issues. Matondo shoots and Dessers claims it. Grab it and run!

Not unexpected ... "Making Plan A better, Part 247". So far, failure No 247. Meanwhile, the ref is a total clown again.

Some additional info via TM: Steven Davis (Knee) - return October 25 Todd Cantwell (Knee) - return October 2 Kieran Dowell (Knee) - return ... bah, he just simulates! Danilo Pereira (broken cheekbone) - return October 28 Nico Raskin (calf) - return October 18

Referee - Alan Muir Assistants - Daniel McFarlane and Douglas Ross Fourth Official - Stewart Luke Video Assistant Referee - Andrew Dallas Assistant Video Assistant Referee - John McCrossan Missing - Steven Davis (Knee), Todd Cantwell (Knee), Kieran Dowell (Knee), Danilo Pereira (broken cheekbone), Nico Raskin (calf), Todd Lawrence (calf) Ridvan and Balogun back from EL exile, Lawrence added to the injured. Motherwell ahead of us by a point, so they seemingly have a decent start to the season (TBH, I don't watch any of the other highlights or read any reports on them these days). Still, I'd through anything including the kitchen sink at them from the off and turn to a more usual pick-them-off counter style later, once they are forced to open up. Thus ... Butland Tavernier - Goldson/Davies - Souttar - Ridvan Lundstram/Jack Sima - Lammers - Matondo Dessers - Roofe

Lammers impact was visible, if anything, he's an all action player who is not hiding. Over the course we deserved the three points, but Betis dropped in quality quite a bit. Still, Butland sure earned his corn tonight and has all that is needed to become another Rangers goalie. Three points, now we sail out for more ...

I'd get Scott Wright on for the second half. He would at least try to rip himself a new one for the Gersey. 47 mins game time, of which we "played" about 5 mins of football. And that is - just to make sure of that - the fault of the lot out there, not Beale.

It looks like our players are much more intimidated by the occasion than the opposition. Hardly a sign of Lawrence (wait for the 2nd half!), Cifuentes and Lundstram all over the place, Matondo a bag of nerves and Sima has the lead-boots on. Tav caught out about 5 times by now, the rest their usual self. Roofe as isolated as it can be. I want Hagi and Sakala back, please.

So that is going to be ... Butland Tavernier - Goldson - Davies -Barisic Cifuentes - Lundstram Sima - Lawrence - Matondo Roofe

Forget the midfield, we'll play the Bealenaccio with 6 "forwards".