der Berliner

... remains to be seen whether he signs on. Contract runs out in 2023 and its up to him what chances he sees at Man City ... or any EPL-club.

Meanwhile ... some blasts from the past

FF nearly crashed for a few mins ... wonder why: Currently online: Total: 5,354 (members: 2,340, guests: 3,014) 🤣

Ignore

If anything, we know respect and dignity.

Just semi-related, Jordan Jones is back in Scottish football, 6-months loan to St. Mirren.

Brandon Barker to Hibs ... maybe:

Transfer deadline day madness. Still, when was the last time that within hours a dozen or more pages were added 😱 (Mind you, it is 50+ pages over on FF)

Rangers transfer latest as Mateusz Zukowski undergoes medical RANGERS' pursuit of Mateusz Zukowski has this morning stepped up. The Lechia Gdansk right-back is reportedly in Glasgow to complete his move to Ibrox. The Athletic say that the 20-year-old is currently undergoing a medical as the finer details of the transfer are tied up. The Polish under-21 internationalist will be drafted in to Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side to provide cover for James Tavernier. The defender made his professional debut in 2017 having spent his youth career at Lechia Gdansk too, coming all the way up through the ranks. He went on to make 60 appearances at the club. However, his contract is up at the end of this season and this has peaked Rangers' interest. And it looks like the deal will be complete soon. Rangers have already signed Jamie Sands and Amad Diallo so far in this window, with Nathan Patterson going out the door to Everton. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19886489.rangers-transfer-latest-mateusz-zukowski-undergoes-medical/

We do not need another left-winger. If we play 3 up top, we should play Sakala there. Kent`s back-up is Wright, a left-winger by trade. We had about 6 left wingers these last 2 seasons and we always played Kent there, no matter his form. He`s no proper left-sided striker needed for 4-3-3, as his goals return is too erratic. Let`s hope we get the deal for the Pole over the line first, he looks to be more like a wingback we need on the right, having played in midfield and on the wing before. Ramsey ...last time I checked on him, Wenger was still young and that Welsh "talent" cost 3.8m in the Fantasy League player list.

Statswise (noted on FF), the Pole would be a steal. The only problem is that he`ll probably have to wait for a Tavernier injury.

Update by Elfideldo regarding the Romanian left-back

Truth be told, at full time, my cynical self asked - after the 6-goal games before with Ross County this season - whether McGregor had a bet running for 6 goals and a draw ...

Noted that Johnly Yfeko is "named" in our match report of the B-Team`s win over Civil Service Strollers yesterday, which AFAIK means that he has indeed signed. Saw no direct message about us signing him before. Former Leicester City u18 player, a left-back, who`s been a freebie since last summer and who was mentioned above as training with us for some time. Usually, players not yet signed full time are listed as trialists, don`t they?

A bit of a selection nightmare for Gio ahead of Wednesday. Goalie: McGregor is usually solid, but how he messed the game up yesterday. Giving McLaughlin a new contract will have that guy buzzing ... and he ain`t no bad goalie either. Defence: Goldson`s been a rock last season, but even out of my head I can count about a handful of games where he handed goal to the opposition this season. And yesterday was no different. If anything, the Scum knows how to attack and if our centre-halfs are not up for this, the game may become a "who-scores-more-goals contest", as their defence ain`t great. I actually do wonder whether we`ll go to three at the back with Balogun - Goldson - Bassey, with at least one DM in front of them. Defensive midfield: Kamara can be a fine footballer, but yesterday it was another sub-standard performance. For all his ball-winning and retaining possession stats, he passes sideways and back far too often when there actually is the opportunity to either go on the attack himself or play a pass up front. We sure missed Davis these last few games, not least as Goldson`s accurate passes from the back have become a rarety. Likewise, the old fox`s cool head eases some pressure off the defence. He won`t make it till Wendesday though. If I had the choice and he`s fit, I`d place Jack in front of the defence. He`s the destroyer in midfield with a calm mind as well as the willingness to go on the attack and even has a good shot in him. No Kamara, as I would play with 3-at-the-back. Midfield: Dunno how to describe it, but even after all his years here, I do not know what position Aribo is playing in. Maybe he should simply be given the free-roving role. Thing is, yesterday he popped up here and there and I don`t know whether other people filled the spaces appropriately, it all looked somewhat makeshift time and again. Every now and then, you also beg Aribo to (finally) pass the ball, instead of jousting along with two or three defenders (which eh did well to attract to him ... and thus creating space for others to run into). Given his combative streak and willingness to attack, Arfield should also be in the starting line up. Not as effective yesterday, but the service to and from other players to him and Itten weren`t that great either. He`s an Old Firm veteran too and knows the score. That would leave us with the "wingers". IMHO, Diallo will be given another starting slot and did well enough. We`ll have to wait and see how he copes with the howling hordes. Then there is the left wing. Neither Wright nor Kent have set the heather on fire of late, I`d play Sakala there ahead of either, but since I use 2 strikers, that slot goes to Kent. Its games like these that he usually performs, so I`ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Strikers: I`d play two, whether as nominal strikers or not. Since they are the most lethal pair, I`d go for Sakala and Roofe. Quick, bags of tricks and the most direct we have. McLaughlin Balogun/Tavernier - Goldson - Bassey Jack Diallo - Aribo - Arfield - Kent Sakala - Roofe What we will get though is most likely a hard-copy of yesterday, with the odd change. If I had to make a prediction, I`d say ... McGregor Tavernier - Goldson - Bassey - Barisic Kamara - Jack Diallo - Aribo - Kent Sakala ... and they will come at us in waves while we hope for counter attacks. In the here and now, the outcome looks ominous. Then again, in OF games, the form book goes out of the window ...

Can`t actually follow the path to blame the board on our recent "slump in form" ... despite staying unbeaten, BTW. Gio took over SG`s team and now has to see what each player is made of. I said it a few months back and repeat it: last season`s success was built on a solid defence that exceeded the previous two under SG. What we did not do in either of these seasons was to convert chances into goals. This season, our defence leaks more goals again, but we fail to learn the lessons and put more emphasis on attack. Now we have the players to utilize a better attacking approach, but we keep on going with the same stuff and the same players. And to finish that ... at some point you simply have to admit that some chaps have peaked with us and seemingly can`t take us further. And if they don`t peak - like Goldson, Kent, Tavernier and even Kamara, we end up with what we get right now.* Patterson was a clear step up for the right side - and it was still shrewd to sell him in the here and now. But we cannot stand still. Rivers run just one way and that`s not backwards. What Tav scored or delivered on assists is past. As are Goldosn`s headers and great clearances. We need quality performances all over the pitch and we don`t get it right now. And I say that full well knowing that every team has had bad spells over each of the past championship-winning seasons. And if that is the case, change is needed. For the time being, I trust in Gio and his team to get us back on track. * It is almost embarrassing at times, how the Itten`s Sakala`s, Wright`s or Lundstram`s get it in the neck when they are thrown in from the cold or for the half hour each game, yet the "veterans" keep on not performing up to their own standard and it`s almost swept under the carpet. Sakala is the spark required for the left attacking side, Diallo seemingly the same for the right - though who knows what will happen at the howling Scumhut. Hopefully we defy the formbook.

Who knows, Gio is not SG. Kent`s end product is far too inconsistent, as opposed to Sakala. It is the same with Goldson or Tavernier. What´s in the past is in the past. People have to deliver to validate their selection and Sakala is the man of the moment on that left flank.

When was the last time we assisted 6 goals and got away with but a point?

You just hope that we don`t go to the Scumhut to defend. I do expect Sakala, Roofe and Diallo now ... as those three have the pace and willingness to go for goal and shoot.

Has McGregor a bet running for his 40th birthday? 2 howlers in one game ... But we have been far too lackadaiscial once we got in front again ... countless slow and needless passes at the back ... and Tav not clearing the ball out but conceeding that disastrous corner.

Not half as much as Diallo ... and now Sakala. But at least he`s got going now.

... which was said throughout the last 3 seasons. Far too many safe balls and too many touches from defence to midfield ... and Ross County plays rather open as well.

The amount of goals conceeded from the few chances the opposition create this season is simply horrendous. Another howler from Goldson, not to speak of McGregor`s. Kent essentially an empty jersey, what a difference to Sakala. Aribo and Arfield are trying, Itten looks okay from the service he gets ... at least he`s keeping the ball up and passes offensively, rather than backwards. Two good shots by Arfield, another two by Tavernier and Kamara ... all straight at the keeper though. I`d throw on Sakala for Kent straight away at HT.