der Berliner

That half-time tea ... 😱 😎

That's Sakala for you!

Meanwhile, our Women's team just slaughtered Stirling University 11-0 in the SFA Cup ... https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fl9vt2UXgAAunb0?format=jpg&name=large

Kent has a free role now, but hardly anything comes off it. Probably because everything behind Colak and Sakala is totally disjointed. Jack and Lundstram need to decide who is the one DM required, while the other is for creativity. Tillman is well marked, but still gets balls fired into him with 2 or 3 guys about him. Same with Sakala, who at least tries to be more direct. Just terrible all round.

Seen it under SG, seen it under Gio, now its MB's turn. Poor line-up, poor display ... half-time tea to work wonders again.

Beale is supposed to have said that he wants three players, has talked to all three and all are willing to come. We shall see ... IN - Todd Cantwell (24) - Norwich City, LM, contract 6/2023 - LINK - TM

A few updates on the OP ... nothing new, I'm afraid. That Pacho guy's rumour might remain just that, as Monaco, who are also interested in him, seemingly got a 33m bid from Chelsea for one of their defenders and will thus have plenty of money to splash on Pacho. IN - Willian Pacho (21) - Royal Antwerp, Ecuador, CH, contract 6/2026 - LINK - TM IN - Dion Sanderson (23) - Birmingham City, CH/FB, contract 6/2025 (at Wolves) - LINK - TM NON-STARTERS: IN - Luca Kerber (20) - Saarbrücken, ST - doesn't want to move - LINK

Took a while for me to get down from the seething levels yesterday, alas, working afterwards at our ice-hockey venue did help. First half was de facto atrocious, it sure took us 30 mins before we got going. The only two reasons I could think of regarding the appearance of Kamara in the starting line-up was a) to put him in the shopping window, or b) an slight injury to Jack. For all the lovely footballer that he is, he offers very little in a DM role, and even less as an attacking player. As I wrote in the thread above, seeing him close and near to the opposition's box is all you need to know about what is wrong in the line-up. I don't know why neither of his managers told him that shooting at goal is part of the game. You can - and we did in the 2nd half in spells - only get them problems at pressing them and keeping them in their half. While our front three tried their best, those behind them for long spells did not, so they far too often easily passed their way around us. Morelos looks half the player that Colak is when it comes to pressing, in general, he just jogged around for long spells and when he had chances, he returned to his pre-injury routine of missing 5 before getting one on target / a goal. Kent likewise did a lot of running with no real effect. The first half almost fully bypassed Tillman, who I would have thought was meant to be our creative hub. And that's not for a lack of trying on his part, but mediocre passing or choice of passing by the rest. Second half exploded into action, as I said, they should serve the half-time tea (talk) before the game - from now on. The much critised Sakala (our most direct player and - Tillman aside - one willing to shoot) grabbed two assists in setting up Kent (after his wasted shot earlier) and forcing their defender into conceding the penalty. He continued to work his socks off afterwards, till the end, a change for him too. We sort of dominated them from then on, but our main drawback came to the fore again: too few players take responsibility as well as running into free spaces. There was one 3 minute period where we had 4 of our players first exchanging passes on the left side of the area with just one of our guys in the middle, then it all moved to the right side of the area. They mopped that up with throwing people in and the opportunities were wasted. That's what you get when you play DMs and CMs willing to pass the ball about, but hardly any real intention to actually go for goal. We took of Lundstram because of injury, when i had hoped Kamara getting the hook. Then Wright replaced Morelos and Sakala, who had run himself into the ground taking the sole striker slot. 2 subs, one enforced, and three more available, with three attack-minded players on the bench (NB: if they weren't fit for 10-20 mins, why put them on the bench in the first place?). Were we willing to see this game out? Then we get Sands on for Tillman 5+ mins before the end, when they threw on their potent attackers - reasonable, but more invitation for them to attack us. Which they did and - as per usual - grabbed an IMHO by then undeserved equalizer. At the time, our attacking threat was Kent (hey ho), Sakala, and Wright. When you play them, the best way to keep them at bay is putting them on the back-foot. During the last 20 mins we handed them the momentum, withdraw quite a bit of firepower and got what we deserved. Got what we deserved? Yep. I am sick and tired of this one-striker stuff with no goal-scoring attackers next to him. It hasn't worked for years - Europe aside, but it is a different ball game there. Granted, this season has been wrecked by injury and illness to vital players. Granted, Beale got almost all points out of the games we played under him (but better remind no-one of Aberdeen or Ross County), but we are still making silly mistakes or playing people who hardly contribute where it matters. The last time games were won by passes completed or chances created was never. So why we keep goal-threats like Roofe, Colak, and Arfield benched in vital games like yesterday, a game that might have kept our title chase alive, is totally beyond me. Why we can't play a system and the corresponding players in a way that presses and attacks the opposition for the full 90 mins when we have them available is equally beyond me, this season or last. There's hope that with all them returning people the way we play might change. But in the here and now watching Rangers is truly no joy for the eye.

Throw away the biggest chance to cut the deficit. How Kamara was left on ... and them other non-shooters, is totally beyond me. But we are by now well-conditioned by Rangers managers ...

To play 10 mins of football?

Mind you, we have Roofe, Colak and Arfield on the bench ...

We have about 6 players on the park who can do all but shooting. No wonder this will end in tears.

Heaven help us ... so much trash in there again. Was just about to vent my anger at this Bealenaccio ... but hey, there's the bill.

Alfredo is tiring since the 10th minute ...

We have four or five guys on the left, then on the right flank, including our striker, and no-one in the middle ... 😱

Let's wait till the Fat Madame appears. But we look far more up to this now.

Can we prepare the half-time tea before the game too?

Who would have thought .... keep it up folks, keep it up. No-one will ever doubt the Prince of Zambia this season, right!?!

OMG, Kent hits the back of the net. Signs and wonders do happen! Nice work and cross by Sakala!

Only that Maeda is running down our right side and Tav. TBH, both our fullbacks have been rather mediocre today.

It is atrocious in front of goals, TBH. But that's what happens if you have Kent running about with hardly any effect, no-one runs into spaces or crosses end up behind the players. With Kamara we are effectively a man down. Nothing against the lad, but in games like today he is useless. Jack at least sees the danger in the making and covers. Our creative chap Tillman is isolated and gets no real material to work with, the front three try to press, but behind them there is nothing, so the Scum pass their way out of danger ... and there is that gut feeling that they could score from the odd counter any time. I'd chuck at least three players at half time and bring guys with some heart onto the pitch.

If Colak is anywhere near able to walk, get him on at HT. Alfredo is back to his one-goal-in5+ shots per game ratio.

Took us 30 mins to get going, but the end product is still terrible. Too many passengers still.

Heck, they look at sixes and sevens back there, but we have no penetration or people throwing themselves in there ...

Nice pass-back from Kent ...