der Berliner

You can watch the whole of last week's game on Amazon Prime, tonight it will be Galatsaray vs Molde. Dunno whether they have another game tomorrow.

I'd send Lammars packing too, whoever this chap is. Hagi's under contract till 2026, so he was sent out to a decent league for game time. If that develops into something more is up in the air. IMHO, relying only on Cantwell (who is bound to miss some games) is somewhat "dangerous", but Lawrence can play there too, as can Lammers and Raskin.

Not in the line-up today, I expect freebie Hazard as a "straight" replacement. 😎

Very much so. A fresh spark these last few games. He and Cantwell are the driving creative players we must keep for this season. Lawrence needs some time still, and Dowell so far is not on the same creative level of Cantwell and Hagi. And Cantwell is that sort of all-action player that will always get the odd yellow card and attention of these "powerhouse" defenders and midfield brawlers of lesser Scottish teams. He's bound to miss a fair few games.

Leicester signed him for 15m or the like in January, he's got a contract till 2028. I have my doubts that the likes of Harry Souttar will be anything but a loan-player for us for years to come. NB: Only now noted that our Souttar has actually a Scottish-Australian dual-citizenship.

So, in essence, we have another Bear involved at the highest level of the club, who, if I am reading it correctly, is much more well-off than even King? Meaning that the club is essentially on an even better safe footing, if that is the right word? Maybe "fan-ownership" isn't that bad an idea after all.

Tough choice, gave it to Cantwell, but Goldson had probably his best game this year, while Butland also looked like a Rangers keeper. Raskin also worked his socks off, some of the others might need to get used to the Ibrox roar on nights like these.

I'm getting too old for this!

If you refer to Inspector Barnaby, occasionally yes. We defended reasonably well, lived on their defensive lapses and the quick thinking of Raskin and Cantwell. Butland rather steady so far, Goldson with one of his better games. Cifuentes and Jack looks a bit lost every now and then, but thats probably down to the quick movement of the Dutch. Sima every now and then somewhat awestruck, but what can you say about that goal and the previous work by Dessers. IMHO, we need to press them higher and was about to suggest Lammers instead of Sima for the second half. We shall see.

It's more like questioning what you have done to these so-called "reporters".

Dear me, the squad list on the screen said 4-3-1-2 ... make a cross on the calender, Rousseau!

Dowell on till the end "confirms to me" that he played to get up to his full fitness levels, more than anything. He looks better as a deep playing midfielder to pick some passes. But we need something more Hagi or Cantwell in the attacking department. Tuesday, I'd play Danilo, Sima, and Dessers, Hagi and Cantwell behind them, the rest shall defend.

Hagi so close ... and before that were inventive and aggressive. Hagimania on the horizon!

The PSV coach is sure having mares about the upcoming fixture!

See above, Gonzo beat you to that!

Yes, left winger, your eyesight is spot on in this case. 😱

How much did you pay him? Admin, please check their PM chat-log!

A back-4 with Sterling and Yfeko very much the fullbacks we know from days of old, Stuart Munro springs to mind. every now and then, they get forward, but not much. Lundstram and Cifuentes are the "central" midfielders, Matondo the left winger, no-one on the right, Lammers and Dessers the centre fowards and Dowell sort of roving about like Laudrup, but with little effect. In short, a 4-4-2 with no true right winger, but a AM who moves about. We can easily take off Yefko, go to a true 3 at the back with Sterling, Goldson, and Balogun, and bring on Sima for the right-wing role.

We may very well hammer them 5-0, yet so far, Matondo and Butland aside, the pass marks are hard to find.

No disrespect, but it seems you truly believe this?

Early days, but IMHO, Devine showed up better than Sterling and Yfeko so far. There's nothing from Dowell that suggest he's a starter. And Morton aren't exactly over-stretching themselves.

Truth be told, a few late appearances aside, Dowell is no-where near a creative influence of a Cantwell or indeed Hagi - right now. (I was almost tempted to write: even when looking from the bench). Most creative stuff needs to be done by our front line or even Cifuentes.

His and Roofe's omission today is pretty strange, but Beale probably wants to give his CL conquerors more game time to get up to their best form. Hope to see both before the game's finished.

I read as far as "Gers were desperate ..."