der Berliner

Everything we gain from the game is a bonus. If we don't get anything point-wise, at least the new players have had some more game time to play alongside one another.

Rio Hardy and Brogan Hay on target as we beat Hearts 2-0 away ...

Three points, good first half, mediocre second half. The old problem of converting chances hasn't changed. Igamane looks good, let him AND Dessers loose at the opposition and themtwo will have fun. The Don got card-happy late on, almost farcical.

All in all, well deserved lead. Should be 3 or 4 though. Not wanting to tempt Fate, so no comment on the Arabs. Last minute chance was so typical ... quick ball to Dessers, who is a little too far wide, and cannot pass inside, as there's no-one anywhere near. Might have shot first time, but that's not his way. A bit unlucky earlier in the half. Lawrence and Dowell are essentially Rolls-Royce style footballers, great technique if they have time and space (they actually have that today), but also the acceleration of such a car. I'd assume that we'll see Bajrami soonish. Diomande can play a little further up too.

So ... Cortes will be doing the Kent job of getting free-kicks and penalties, so the burden of scoring with nigh every chance he gets is lifted from Dessers shoulders. There's a surprise. If you don't press teams like these, they will try to go physical, drag you down to their level, push you back and ... ... ach well, Rangers will surprise us, nae problem!

Sometimes you wonder how many jobs are up there at the club. When Gerrard arrived, we "suddenly" had half a dozen roles no-one ever heard of (well, maybe I was just a little ignorant), at least not in the days of Sir Walter. As I stated recently, there will be people pulling the strings no matter what I think or know of it, so I leave this debate and topic for people more ITK. There is enough to worry about on the pitch and next to the sideline.

REPORT: ATLETICO MADRID 3-0 RANGERS EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE WILL HELP US THIS SEASON RANGERS CONFIRM SIGNING OF CHARLIE DEVLIN LAURA BERRY JOINS MOTHERWELL ON LOAN ... a bit strange, as he was doing well with goals and assists. Then again, the opposition wasn't great.

Anyone knows the score of the Motherwell bounce game? EDIT: via FF 4-1. Balogun, Cortes, Lovelace and McKinnon scorers. Nsiala hopeless and Jefte impressed

When you see signing news, and then it all goes up in smoke ... for the men's team. RANGERS CONFIRM SIGNING OF CHARLIE DEVLIN

Sunday - 15. September 2024 - 12.00 Scottish Premiership Tannadice Park v Referee - Don Robertson Assistants - David Roome and Ross Macleod Video Assistant Referee - Greg Aitken Assistant Video Assistant Referee - Andrew McWilliam Missing - Zak Lovelace, Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo, Danilo Pereira, Ross McCausland Doubtful - Nedim Bajrami, Óscar Cortés, Hamza Igamane Live on - Sky Sports Football and Rangers TV

Well, we actually have Sterling, Devine, and now even Neraysho Kasanwirjo, who can all play at RB. I see no real need to sign one more RB, he'd only be a squad player. And TBH, I'd rather see one more striker arrive right now, even as back-back up.

James Tavernier Rangers transfer exit looks OFF as Turkish ruling frustrates duo Besiktas and Trabzonspor were both keen on the Gers captain ahead of their window closing Two Turkish sides have been frustrated in their attempts to sign James Tavernier from Rangers, thanks to a decision on a rule change. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Besiktas and Trabzonspor were both keen to land the Gers skipper before the transfer deadline in their country, which is tomorrow. But they have been dealt a blow with the Turkish Football Federation deciding to stick with their current ruling on foreign players. Clubs, including the duo interested in Tavernier, had been lobbying for a change to allow the foreign quota for the Super Lig to be increased to 14. However, that has been decided against with a league statement saying they will "continue the practice of including 12 players who are not eligible for the Turkish national team in their squad list." Besiktas have recently removed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Amartey from their registered list but still have no space and would need to free one up if they were to make a late move for the 32-year-old. It is a similar story for Trabzon who recently signed Simon Banza on loan from Braga but have not yet added him to their list. It means Tavernier looks likely to stay at Ibrox until January. Trabzonspor had an offer rejected in January, while ex-Gers boss van Bronckhorst was keen on a reunion. The player was determined to stay and have one final title tilt but his position may have changed after being singled out for abuse by supporters following defeat to Celtic. https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/james-tavernier-rangers-transfer-exit-29917471

There is very little information, but much conjecture. I have decided long ago that I have enough headaches with the team and the manager, so I leave this side of the club to others.

As the song goes ... The next best superstar! Truth be told, the decades should have taught us that a player, no matter his pedigree, needs to pull on our jersey and has to perform in it. Some boys have risen to the challenge and became legends, some "stars" never made it even into living memory (aside from being a failure for some). Should Igamane and Bajrami manage to bring 56, no-one will ask where they came from.

Rangers ready to turn to ex-Hull City star to replace James Tavernier Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers are reportedly ready to offer former Hull City defender Cyrus Christie a deal, should they lose James Tavernier in the coming days. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rangers-ready-turn-ex-hull-9537448

Same ith Tav, or Goldson. At the end of the day, all contributed to our journey (including Windass), and should be and have been thanked for that. Yet, it is results that matter, not availability. In the here and now, we need better, like we needed better after promotion.

At the end of the day, we started this and last season with neither of our three most creative people available or even at the club. To say it cost us dearly is probably a neat understatement. This season, we had a couple of new "alternatives", but the end result was the same ... We've been through far worse situations, of course, but for some reason, this summer transfer window and early season feels more ... stale than many before.

... no, now that you say it, it might be a good idea!

Tavernier is a right-back, that he roves about the centre circle or elsewhere is just testimony that he does not play his assigned role, even less so than before. He is not exactly helping in the middle, nor his fellow defenders, for everytime he is found elsewhere, you can expect the opposition to lob a ball into the area vacated by him. I need no fluidity charts or US-style stats to see that our system has been failing for years. I quick look at the players we play and where says it all.

... there are very few teams - not just in Scotland - which are run as professionals. As soon as the "parent" clubs or good sponsors steep into this, there is a stark contrast in performance and results. The Yahoos have stepped up their investment and interest in women (😱), while Glasgow City is trying its best. Some other teams can grab the odd point against the "big teams" if they have a good day, but generally, it is damage limitation for them. The same gulf in class is visible in other leagues too, and in Europe. We are about half an astronomical unit away from the likes of Bayern, Lyon, Barcelona and Co. who can spend nearly as much money on their women teams as we can spend on our men's side. Since there is no transfer market, any good talent will simply leave for clubs who pay the best wages ... and this ruined many a traditionally good women team (work on and off the field) not backed by clubs or investors.

As i said before, play 3-4-3 or whatever and make Tav the right-sided midfielder (who may look at the right defensive side as well). He can weave his "magic" there and no-one gets a stroke if he's caught up-field. Sample "Defensive" line-up ... Sterling - Souttar - Pröpper Tavernier - Barron - Diomande - Jefte Cerny - Dessers - Matondo/Danilo ... with Barron the DM and Diomande the creative bit. You have 4 defensive players, there rest can still work back, but has freedom to work in front of the defenders as they see fit. Sample "Offensive" line-up ... Sterling - Souttar - Pröpper McCausland - Barron - Lawrence - Cortes Cerny - Dessers - Danilo ... Barron (or Diomande) the DM, to screen the defenders should they go forward and cover the flanks. The wide players need to track back, should we lose the ball, but can play in front of the defence as they see fit. This should suffice against every team below 4th place.

You can spare any low-key remarks for the Ukraine thread. We may run rings about your statement above, but that is how we line up in terms of playing personnel. And have done for ages. That we effectively play the fullbacks as auxiliary wingers does not make them any less defensive players. That our DMs are primarily defence-minded players is plain to see ... and quite often these last few years they didn't know whether to stick or twist, leaving our centre-halfs with all the build up work, as the DMs were all over the place. So we set up play with 6 defensive-minded players, who may or may not join the attack with the capabilities they have. IF the fullbacks deliver a winger's job, fair enough. The deficiencies of that system has been outline above and has cost us for years. Alas, it is Clement's job to change things and we'll have to wait and see whether he wants to do Plan A better or finally see's sense, something most of his predecessors did not - and that cost them their job.

There's a scape-goat or bashing-boy every season. The main problem with Dessers lies not in the fact that he misses chances like all strikers do - and no-one should remind us of Morelos' last season - but that we lack other players to score a similar amount of goals. So any of his misses become more costly. IMHO, he's sure not a or the problem.

I'm not getting sucked into anything, I look at what players we use in games and where ... and all becomes very obvious. It's not like we have seen and tried this since a couple of months.