der Berliner

Nope. We play some sort of 4-3-3 and no real wingers for ages. We usually line this 4-3-3 up (natural position-wise) as a 4-2-3-1 which is de facto inadequate against Scottish brickwall teams, as we rely on one striker to score most of the goals and people contributing from the other attacking slots (i.e. left and right attack slots in a 4-3-3 or however you line that up). Kent does not fulfill this role properly, and Sakala only grew into that role of late. Morelos has time and again drifted out of this central role and thus created space for others to run into, with not many bar Arfield able and/or willing to do so. Back in the day of Gerrard (the player), you had e.g. Bayern playing with three attackers from Ribery, Mandzukic, Pizarro, Müller, and/or Robben and they all contributed like hell. That was deemed modern football and all that is fine and well. Yet, as we have seen, against the brickwall teams, our current crop is not and has not come up with the goods. We still create 20 to 35 chances per game, and still rely far too much on our defense not concede from the 5 chances the opposition creates. Find the fault. Hence we look at players can play across the front line and contribute. Roofe can easily play on either side of a central striker, as can Sakala. In his current form, I wouldn't play Morelos ahead of Colak, but he is sure able to move to either side of a central striker and play there. Obviously, in a game, positions can change dynamically between the players. The main point remains that we need players in those front three (or however one might want to call them) who contribute to the scoreline, not the game stats. We have found one in Sakala. Now we need to find one for the left, hence my suggestion above.

I want us to buy someone for the left-attacking slot currently occupied by someone who doesn't score enough goals for that slot. Simples. I'd use Roofe or Morelos there if Colak gets the central slot, but for one reason or another, they are currently unfit too.

Some ITK chap over on FF have remarked that we are indeed looking at a striker from the Slovakian league, so there might be something in this Krstovic link. No reliable sources available just yet, so let's take it with a pinch of salt: Nikola Krstovic (22) - striker, Dunajska Streda, contract till 6/2025 - TM profile - TM stats Only signed for DS last September, is on 18 goals and 4 assists in 25 games.

Too bad no-one wants to pick up Kent, so we get a proper striker / attacker into that place.

... yet the top half of that pic (as I imagine Rousseau)

Reads to me like we are talking about Kent, TBH.

Michael Beale tracking Swansea forward Morgan Whittaker as Rangers continue search Rangers are keeping tabs on Swansea City forward Morgan Whittaker (22) as Michael Beale continues his search for January reinforcements. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23255005.rangers-boss-tracking-swansea-city-forward-morgan-whittaker/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Right-sided attacker that is contracted till 2025, solid stats.

I can still spot that No. 14, pointless step-overs, and eyes at the referee when he doesn't give a foul for said No. 14 with closed eyes and despite my age ... 😜

Absolutely not. As I have said: all I want from any attacker is an end product. Our 4-2-3-1 line up demands this of our "wing-attackers", and for long spells throughout the years, those wing-attackers have failed to deliver in any meaningful way, as you can see by just checking the scorelines and player stats. Kent is woefully short here this season, so by all means, give him a roving role, but put another attacker who wants to shoot on that left attacking slot. That said, since we have a dearth of strikers this season, mainly due to injury, the question would be, whom to play there? Sakala has made that right slot his own (3 goals, 3 assists and involvement in 4 more goals says it all). Lawrence would be a good choice (9 games, 3 goals, 2 assists), if not injured, Wright is more of an impact player, Matondo is so far "another Sakala" and unless he whips up similar scores as the Zambian of late, he will get it in the neck. IMHO, not least against the weaker teams, we should apply a 3-4-3 with 3 strikers up top, preferably Roofe, Colak, and Sakala. Put everyone behind them, including Kent and Tillman. Them three alone would wreak havoc inside the opposition's half and keep many of their players occupied, so others might weave their magic.

Sorry, but what did Kent contribute aside from running all over the pitch, wasting the few good chances when he actually did shoot? It was, by his standards, a bang-average performance with no end product again. If he plays as an attacker, roving or not, he has to contribute. One goal against the Scum, i.e. 1 in the last six games, 2 for the season, 2 assists in the last 10 games (and a mighty 7 all season) is hardly what we need. Wright came on and within a couple of minutes set up Roofe. As in: if Kent is or was meant to be another water-carrier, fair enough. As I showed earlier in another thread, his direct involvement in goals has been seriously lacking all season, yet the likes of Wright, Matondo and even Sakala get and got it in the neck. I have no problem with his effort or now free-roving role, but we sure need someone else in that attacking slot, as we are simply lacking any goal-threat from his position and have all season.

Shocking stuff for very long spells, and TBH, likewise with the early subs. Someone takes Kent aside and teaches him how to shoot. So much effort, so very little effect. Nothing new though. The least said about the game, the better.

Imagine it had been Wright instead of Kamara .... shocking idea!

... that's why he and his team ended up 3rd in the World Cup. Yep. 😝 We have far too many player unable or unwilling to shoot on the pitch now, Kent is bringing next to nothing, while Sakala runs himself into the ground. Arfield, Lowry, and Wright next please.

We make them look good, because we simply can't get out of second gear. Now we have 3 workers in midfield, a useless Kent on the wing and too little attack power. This is truly shambolic ... yet again.

Kamara for Tillman ... what use is that? More ball-dancing in the middle of the park and getting 1 point ... oh wait ... its a game to be won! 🥵

Good start, then they had a spell, we took over again and they struck on the counter. In fact, it could be 2-0, bar that offside call (which was correct). McGregor's close-range skill have gone, seemingly. We have two DMs on the field, yet the waltz through time and again. Tillman plays far too often far too deep. Kent again here, there and no-where to be seen. Hence, despite our dominance, once more far too disjointed. Alfie needs too many chances, even though he almost managed one. Half-time tea needed again ...

Three or four warnings ... not heeded, criminal defending.

Just start with the half-time tea BEFORE the game and we are fine.

2024, so Hibs will look for 5m plus, as per usual ...

... and scored a hat-trick. I assume "his" place on the bench was taken up by Roofe and I have no problem with that. Likewise, Matondo wasn't utilized either. Right now, you wonder whether Beale will start rotating the squad a little more than Gio/SG or whether he will, from now on, keep the same team to get results. Given that we have the 5 subs option and see rather dismal first halfs, you wonder whether squad rotation might be a better idea.

Zambia is by far not one of the African countries renowned for top-notch players. We got one of their best ... but compared to the top guys from Senegal or Nigeria ... So I for one do not expect Sakala to be the ultimate or unfailing attacker. Since Beale took over though, a comparison in countable stats (icehockey-style) of our two wing-attackers: Rangers vs Hibernian - 1-0 ... Sakala (Kent) Aberdeen - Rangers - 0-1 ... Sakala (Morelos, Jack), 2-2 Arfield (Kent) Ross County - Rangers 0-1 ... Lundstram (Sakala) Rangers - Motherwell 3-0 Rangers - Celtic 2-2 ... 1-1 Kent (Sakala), 2-1 Tavernier (Sakala) Dundee Utd - Rangers 0-2 ... 0-1 Sakala (Jack, Barisic), 0-2 Tillman (Sakala, Tavernier) If it goes on like that, our right attacking slot is sorted.

Who knows, but Beale said that there will be no loans and this chap is contracted to Arsenal till 2027 ...

IN - Willian Pacho (21) - Royal Antwerp, Ecuador, CH, contract 6/2026 - LINK - TM - dismissed (Heart & Hand)

Watching our first and second half yesterday, there was little cohesion in our midfield, with people wandering about rather than sticking to a certain task. In the 2nd half, Lundstram took over the DM role admirably, while Jack played a little further forward ... and we looked far more comfortable. IMHO, Jack's better suited to the DM role, as he has a better anticipation than Lundstram, while the latter is a good distributor of the ball and likes a pop as well.

No, he is a Zambian striker and plays as best as he can. Those of Nigeria, Senegal and the like play at rather different levels and clubs. BTW, employed mostly as a right attacker nowadays, he sure wastes a bit of possession and hammers shots wide. Yet, our left attacker wandered all over the place, pumped up our possession and passing stats, yet created next to nothing (again) and hardly ever shoots. He's become some sort of luxury player, who sure has his uses, but not instead of a true attacker. Nothing new though. We throw on Roofe (and have two real strikers one), and he is instantly sniping at goalie and defenders. Good to have him, Colak and Morelos ready for action, now it is over to Beale to use more than one of them.