der Berliner

Since we had the NHL in Berlin, I skipped this game ... and truth be told, you have to have some sort of sado-masochistic streak watching us getting hammered by the elite teams of Europe. On bare facts, we keep even this sort of opposition at bay for most of our games, very few goals came from open play. None yesterday either. While people might say that they all hammered us so far, chances created and shots at goal don't win you games. Goals do. Kamara essentially gave two goals away against Napoli, Jack and McLaughlin managed that too, Sands deflected a shot into the net. That's not going to change the fact that we are totally out of our depth in the CL and we will sure need a few years to get anywhere close to mediocre CL standards. You have to commend Gio for adopting a different tactic, though you would have to scold him for not trial-ing that earlier. After all, why introduce this for de facto the first time with these players AWAY TO LIVERPOOL? People, experienced or not, need to adopt to that and see how their fellow defenders work. IMHO, last night, effort, grit and determination were needed, and IMHO it should have been Arfield and Colak from the start. Likewise, it gets beyond farcical that Kent gets every game, full 90 mins, 365 per year, and everyone who usually plays on his side is shifted elsewhere. Be it Wright, Sakala and a host of other left-sided attackers before them. From what I heard so far, the game by-passed our wing-attackers again, which is no wonder in Kent's regard, but why on earth we put Tillman on the right is anyone's guess. Furthermore, that chap played 5th tier German footie not so long ago and now we send him out onto Anfield ... Onwards we soldier, the gold is in the bag. Just make sure that come the end of the season, we get direct entry into that hoard, even if it will again most likely mean less European games next winter.

We were solid for 60 to 70 mins, after HT we looked sort of slack and started them silly passes across our penalty area/defensive third. Once the Sun came back out, we could and should have scored more as Hearts were toiling badly ... despite us scoring 4 in total. Sakala brought some spark to the attack, though I do think he`s more of a striker than a winger. Matondo had a typical winger game, drifting in and out of it. Kent, well, he can`t do no wrong, seemingly, and eventually got a goal after some two dozen attempts. Would love to see Morelos and Colak combine up front.

What have I missed during the international break? Every time I saw him beforehand, he was at best half-decent, yet prone to wild challenges which will only go unpunished if he wears any other colour than blue ...

Benfica was for the women what Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax are for the men. Truth be told, the group stages might have turned into routs every other week. But given where we were a couple of years ago, we are sure moving in the right direction.

Communications ... I for one would be happy if we had some sort of "Doc`s Words" every other week, so we know what is up with Hagi, Helander, Roofe , and Co.. There is virtually no "transparency" about their state. If there are private issues like there are with Davies, just say so and it's fine. But no info is just terrible.

Highlights ...

What I would like to see, at home against the Arabs and similar dross? When fit ... McLaughlin Sands - Helander - Davies Jack Hagi - Tillman - Wright/Lawrence Matondo/Sakala - Colak - Morelos/Roofe And yes, Tav and Borna/Ridvan would return in away games or against better opposition. We have the players, we simply don`t utilize our squad at all.

By now I have come to the conclusion that much like SG, Gio as a former DM/CM simply likes workmanlike dire-shows that grind out results. No will to play offensive football or change things when he has the options. this is really really aweful tactics and we seemingly have no will to change it, unless it becomes absolutely necessary. How I hate it being correct about pre-game predictions ... Grab them three points and run.

Wright and Tillman brought some spark, yet, McCann, solid as he has played, sclaffed about 5 chances by now. Are we somehow forbidden to use 2 strikers?

Imagine it had been Morelos instead of McCann ...

Imagine you have the option of 5 subs now ...

You play a team with no penetration (Part 3.962) and get no penetration (Part 3.953). We have virtually no wing-play, everyone bar Colak wants to pass and if there`s a shot, it goes wayward. Give me Morelos, Tillman at half time please.

We must be one of the teams that have the most passes in the final third before scoring. While I can see us winning the game with some margin, playing but one guy willing to shoot and the rest playing passes, is pretty ppor.

If I want to see icehockey style game, I'll go and watch icehockey.

Well, the rant will be even better after the game if my pre-game prediction rant comes to pass 🤪

Strange, 20 mins ago I checked that twitter link and it was Devine listed ... or I need better quality drugs 😱

What can you like about a line up with three DM/CMs, a winger, an attacking MF and one striker AT Ibrox against a poor side that shipped 9 goals at home against the Scum? Our defensive approach will kill us - again - this season. Wonder why Ridvan is not even on the bench.

Dreary me, "same procedure as every week ... " How do we hope to win games with one striker, a blank-firing winger and a well-worn soldier, yet have firepower galore on the bench. We`ll "work the Arabs down" ... so so sad.

I am fully aware that you will know this, but if you press reply and that text field opens, there is an icon above it, two slots left to the "A". If you mark the full line up and press that icon, it will align the text in the centre. You may change size and press B too ... McGregor Tav/Devine - Goldson - King - Barisic Lundstram Arfield - McCann Morelos - Kent Colak I'd chuck a few of the old brigade and stop being defensive ... its the Arabs, after all. McGregor King - Goldson - Davies Lundstram Matondo/Arfield - Tillman - Ridvan Morelos - Colak - Sakala

Sands is but 22 and currently seen as the go-to option as long as Helander and Davies are unavailable. TBH, despite being rash in some decisions, IMHO, Sands is no worse a CH than Goldson right now, plus he is quick and covers a lot of ground. McLaughlin is a good goalie and we should not forget that it were McGregor`s antics which cost us those vital points in that horror fortnight earlier this year. One bad kick-out will not determine his fate. We all know the pros and cons of both keepers and both are here for a reason.

Well, the fat lady hasn`t even dressed for her travel to the opera house, never mind arrived. So best keep some sort of a cool head for the time being. My sarcastic self had a wee wry smile at the reaction of the past tenday or so. For ages I proposed that we need to change tactics, drop ineffective players or at least changing them more quickly. The amount of FLAK I got and get for that can be measured in metric tons by now, yet after those very same tactics and players manage to fail again (sic!) in three semi-important games and hell breaks lose ...

Treble! As of now, we`ve played 6 games, drew one (in rather interesting circumstances) and lost one OF game (which seemingly never happened before, in better circumstances than we are in now?). A considerable amount of newbies and better players already in place have not been available or fit, but will return over the next few weeks or months. Lawrence missed all three of apparent "horror shows", being a rather influential chap beforehand. Morelos is still unfit, Helander, Davies, Soutar and Ridvan missing, Roofe and Hagi too. Matondo and Tillman look good enough too, may need some time to settle. For some reason, the "crowd" (here or on FF) seems to become restless rather eagerly and more quickly, and the crystal balls of doom and gloom are revolving with a state of exultation (after qualification to the CL group stages and beating PSV) like a Gatling gun ... We are all old enough and have seen enough to know that it ain't works like that. The season IS a marathon, however worn-out that mantra is. You know it, I know it. Our team is good enough to beat anything the Premiership can throw against it, and if all are fit and willing, sure capable of beating the Scum. Hence, despite recent results don`t look good, we are well capable of grabbing the Treble and I assume that is the goal set out by Gio and the rest.

That`s bipolar from how I see them, but there you go. Our regulars offered next to nothing in Amsterdam and let us down last night too.

As I said before, send Ridvan and Borna out on the left flank and lets see what happens. For the love of the game I cannot understand why Kent in this mode is kept on the field week after week.

We sure need to think about playing that many CMs/DMs, even if the opposition is that good. Tillman and Matondo have bite, as does Wright, Colak and Arfield. we need to trouble the opposition in their half, not trying to stop them in our own.