Davie P

I thought that it was Traynor's comments about Rangers supporters in Villareal?

http://www.rangersfansvoice.co.uk/cl...ir-pants-down/ Fair play to them if they were instrumental in getting it resolved, but is there any need to then publish a statement? I know that the support comprises a very broad church and we would never agree on very much, but this seems to me to be put out purely from the point of denigrating C1872. (Maybe rightfully so, I am too removed from the situation to understand fully.) I had never heard of Rangers Fans Voice before today and don't know the reason for the formation thereof, but if we are to obtain an element of fan representation ultimately onto the main Rangers board, we all need to be pulling in the same direction and to me the statement is divisive.

I have heard that they are practising with the current standard formation (4- 4- 1-1), as well as with 3 centre backs (3 - 5 - 1 - 1). Would hope that McCrorie keeps his place in the team when Alves returns from International duty, but think that it is unlikely unless they play 3 at the back. Wilson has also resumed training this week (along with Kranjcar), but at best, he should be our fourth choice CB after Alves, Cardoso and McCrorie.

Best midfielder in Scotland since Durrant. I remember being devastated when he moved to Blackburn and I think he quickly realised that he had made a mistake.

He's good at innuendos is Keef. First Morelos (was an apology ever received for the Columbian stereotypes?) and now TRO/Traynor/Villareal. Thinks he's a real wordsmith, when the truth is, he doesn't have an original thought in his head.

Funny you mention McMinn. During the first match of the season against Motherwell, their winger (Cadden is it?) reminded me of the tin man, did ok too!

Have to say that the article sort of reminded me of the McCoist/McCulloch partnership, when we would have a poor result and big Jig was wheeled out to tell us how gutted the boys were, and how determined they were to set things right. I honestly thought that the team would have bust a gut to get a result against Hearts, after the blatant cheating by Beaton in the Hibs match, but instead, we got a very damp squib of a reaction. For me, this just reads as a PR exercise and talk is cheap. They need to get a result against Hamilton and do their talking on the park.

We could win the League Cup, beat them in the next match in the midst of a 10 match winning streak and if he lost his next match after that, we would all be screaming for his head. It's what we do as Rangers fans! Personally, I agree with JFK-1, give him the season and see where we end up. At the beginning of this season the more rational of us felt that closing the gap to Celtic would be an improvement over last season. Realistically, if we bring in a new manager mid season, the Portuguese and Mexican players potentially down tools and there would be massive unrest in the change room. It was always a gamble to bring in a foreign manager, but sometimes high risk brings high reward. We were a million miles away from them last season and while I could not see any massive improvement in our performance on Saturday versus last season, the reality is that replacing a GBP30m squad cannot be done in a single transfer window. I'm not happy and I'm not condoning or accepting poor performances, but unless SAF decides to come out of retirement, a mid term change could be more destructive than beneficial.

Foderingham - 5 Tavernier - 6 Cardoso - 5 McCrorie - 7 Hodson - 4 Candeias - 5 Jack - 7 Dorrans - 6 Windass - 5 Pena - 5 Morelos - 5 Subs : Miller - 4 Herrera - 4 Nemane - 5

That's interesting. Was he also asked about Sinclair's dive against Dundee?

Elton may be fit for the Partick match according to Pedro. I think it is quite bizarre that we did not have a single left foot player in the team, other than Foderingham. There was no balance and Hodson was totally overrun. I know that he is viewed as a utility player and cover for both full backs, but he is just a yard stick for how far we have fallen. It is not a criticism of Pedro, (who could have foreseen injuries to Wallace, John and Beerman at the same time?) and full back was probably an area which could wait while we reinforced other more critical signings, but we require a better standard of squad player as well as a left footed midfielder.

Interesting that Pedro decided to play Bates in the pre-season friendlies and against Progres, even though McCrorie was back from his loan. It just suggests that players working hard in training can impress and create their own opportunities. Personally, I would hope that McCrorie keeps his place when Alves returns from injury, either at the expense of Cardoso or by going to a 3 CB set-up.

Has it been confirmed that Alves is out? Could it be an operation Tango, where the Mhankies are lead to believe that he will not be playing? I think that McCrorie is a totally different proposition to Beerman, but throwing a young man into an old firm atmosphere is sink or swim. Let's hope he is a Michael Phelps! PS. TB, I had heard previously that Wilson was injured but no idea if he has recovered or not. No matter, I think he will have dropped down the pecking order behind McCrorie and for the benefit of his own career, probably best for him to move on.

Considering that we got Jack on a free, and hurt one of our key competitors at the same time, I believe that he has been Pedro's most astute signing in the transfer window. His awareness on the field is superb, I honestly have lost count on the amount of times that he has been in position to cover Wallace and Tav, in addition to controlling the centre of the field. I think that much of what he does is not noticed as he recycles the ball that quickly, He is not a Stuart McCall, or a Kevin Thompson, he is a very competent Ryan Jack!

He hasn't been great, in fact, other than his passing, he has been fairly ordinary. Perhaps on a par with Hill last season? Possibly, a lot of that is down to our expectations, where Alves is a world class signing and we were desperate to strengthen the defence after last season. However, much as I liked the look of the young boy McCrorie, I would be far more comfortable if Alves was starting on Saturday and we blood McCrorie into the team in coming matches.

Thanks Frankie, excellent preview as always. Injury permitting, I think that the team you have suggested will be the starting 11 on Saturday. The only alternative could be for Miller to take over from Windass and Pena retaining his position in the centre. I do think that you have hit the nail on the head though with regards to expectations. We all have been spoilt by years of unparalleled success, but the total destruction forced onto the club will take time to bring order back into place. I hate it, I cannot stand the thought that we may be second best to them, but the reality is that for a period of time, we are going to be playing catch up. Ideally, every player busts a gut on Saturday, fights for every ball, wins their individual battles and we come out comfortable winners but more realistically, as long as we can see discernible improvement, I would be OK with that, unhappy but OK!

Miller for Windass? Makes you want to look back at the Transfer window and tell Hearts ' how much for Walker - 1m? Nae bother'!

I don't think we will be able to do it now as it hasn't been practiced before, but to compensate for the lack of any left sided players, we could have gone to a 3 - 4 - 2 - 1, with Tav and John in the 4 (alongside Jack and Dorrans) and with Pena/Candeias supporting Morelos.

Alnwick - 8 Man of the match. Would have no problem in him keeping his place for the weekend. Tavernier - 5 The usual, decent going forward, exposed defensively. Cardoso - 6 Poor first half, improved when McCrorie came on. The concern is that he looks as vulnerable as Kiernan when strikers run at him. Alves - 5 I can only imagine that he felt the injury early on, as that was his poorest match for us. John - 7 Hope that we are taking to him about signing a pre-contract in January. Decent all round game and hope that he can shake of his injury before Saturday Candeias - 7 Very quiet first half, but you can't argue with a goal and two assists. Jack - 6 Tidy and efficient as always, really like this boy. Surprised that he is not one of Pedro's 5 captains. Dorrans - 7 Better as the game went on and do think that he would be more useful further forward. Windass - 4 If he bottles it against Thistle, how is he going to be against them? I keep on hearing about the player in there, but to be charitable, it only rarely comes out and even then, it is in fits and starts. Pena - 6 His passing game leaves a lot to be desired and against better teams, we could be exposed by the quick break from his mistakes. However, no question that he does carry a goal threat and the Celtic central defenders are as bad as Cardoso when players run at them. Pena could be the X factor. Morelos - 6 Worked hard to try to find space, and probably should have scored, but hopefully he is saving it for the weekend! Subs : Hodson - 6 Did ok, but certainly hope that John is fit by the weekend. Holt - 7 I actually thought we looked more solid when he came on. Herrera - 7 A goal and an assist, good return for 30 minutes of work! McCrorie - 8 Love it when the youngsters get a run out, and particularly when they do well. He looks like a very calm lad, and definitely wasn't out of place. In fact, you can see that he is the captain of the U20's as he wasn't shy when shouting out instructions.

I can imagine the likes of Miller being unsupportive of this change though, because where does he play? Someone else suggested playing Herrera as the sole striker, with Morelos on the left. That's very interesting as far as I'm concerned. Herrera definitely is more suited to that role, but I think it might waste Morelos' talents. I'd be up for testing it out, but that's easy for me because my job isn't on the line if it goes wrong. Very valid comments, however, with Miller being rested for last night's game, I think he is a certainty for the weekend match. That's a shame if it turns out be the case, because, for all of Pena's erratic passing, we definitely carried far more of a goal threat. I did think that the shape last night may be more suited to the personnel at Pedro's disposal but against Celtic, I think he has to bring in two defensive midfielders. With Rossiter being injured, perhaps Holt comes in alongside Jack. Dorrans moves to the left, Pena centre (no 10) and Candeias on the right. That then leaves the choice of the sole striker and it would be difficult to see how Morelos can be left out after his start to the season. However, Herrera may be better suited to hold up the ball and bring in the attacking midfielders, but all well above my pay grade!

Have to say that I was very impressed with McCrorie. It was noticeable how much Cardosa improved when McCrorie came on for Alves, and while that may have been because Thistle were pushing for the equaliser, it could equally have been due to the need to raise his game i.e. be the senior defender. Alves was poor, but probably felt his injury. I normally detest hyperbole, but I am going to say it anyway -the manner in which McCrorie plays reminds me of Alan Hansen! Sammon had been a world beater until Ross came on, but he stood up well to the physical challenge and also looks very comfortable on the ball. Perhaps Craig Mulholland's efforts at Auchenhowie are beginning to pay dividends.

Thanks Pete, excellent review as always. One minor correction is that we beat Ross County 3 -1. For me, the glaring weakness that we have is the left midfield role, or perhaps just the left hand side in its entirety. If we play Windass/Kranjcar in front of Wallace, we are always vulnerable defensively. Good going forward but weak defensively. Wallace has many excellent qualities, but defending against a quick right winger is not one of those. We will be up against Roberts in the near future, and I would be concerned about leaving Wallace exposed. PSG just did the old tag team against him, whereby the midfielder was the first defender, and the left back was just there to mop up the pieces. Windass is a threat offensively, but I honestly cannot recall him tracking back and tackling/defending, in the way that Candeias is doing on the right. I might even by inclined to give Elton a run against Partick with a view to the Celtic game. Really in two minds here because I would think that we should be on the front foot against Partick, so Windass should start, but am concerned about the Celtic game. We cannot have a repeat of last seasons results under Pedro against them. It would turn the fans against him and potentially cost him his job. Equally, we need to beat the rest in order to get closer to them by the end of the season. Glad it is not my dilemma and that's why Pedro gets the big bucks!

Get that published!

That's hilarious, is it for real?

I wonder how they structure their tax affairs?