T-1000

With two offensive full-backs/wing backs in Tavernier and Barisic would Rangers benefit from playing three at the back; Goldson, Katic and Worrall?

Gerrard is partly through a rebuilding process. He has strengthened the defence and we can see a definite improvement there particularly at centre-back. The next stage of the rebuilding process, unless Dorrans and Rossiter come good, is some quality permanent (and creative) signings in midfield. At the moment we are relying on relatively inexperienced players , such as, Ejaria and Kent. We should reflect on the fact that celtic bring on a Scottish internationalist in the shape of Griffiths whereas we being on Middleton who is just barely out the youth ranks as an indicator of lack of strength in depth. In this game I think our midfield was not as active as in other games but this might be partly down to low energy levels, this was particularly so for Ejaria. I also believe that players like Ejaria, Kent and Boracic will have gained from the experience. Although disappointed by both the defeat and the level of performance this game will have provided Gerrard with some insight into where we need to improve to give celtic more of a game when we next meet.

The defence were outstanding today with Katic immense showing that he is a real find. The only downside of today is the energy levels expended prior to the weekend match.

Ejaria has some nice skills but I felt the game passed him by today, though part of this have been due to us hitting a lot of long balls. Tav wasn't as effective as he normally is when he is in offensive mode. I feel that Morelos looked as though he was starting to tire in the second half (I thought this was also the case in the Maribor game). Other teams will have seen we have trouble coping when the opposition is continually in our face making it difficult to get our passing game going and that if you send in sufficient sufficient crosses to our box at some point one or two of them will be fruitful.

Has it been reported what the additional cash inflow to the club will be as opposed to the conversion of loans to equity.

Yes, but Murphy wasn't helped by a poor pass from Barisic.

It is difficult to gauge how Sadiq will turn out because he has had limited time on the pitch and only then we have been down to 10 players which affects our approach. However, based on what we have seen he seems to lack co-ordination and is let down by poor control. Hopefully as he has more playing time we will find out if he adds another dimension to the team.

Very promising performance but still a few areas where improvements can be made. I felt at times Maribor's strikers found space a bit too easily especially between the lines and were dangerous at corner kicks and balls into the box where at times we looked a bit static and were not attacking the ball sufficiently.

The striker is a difficult one. Ideally, we want another signing adding that enhances the quality we already have. Lafferty would be ok but doesn't strike me as having much wow factor. Perhaps to achieve that would be too costly and therefore we might have to settle for Lafferty or a loan deal.

This looks a good acquisition, adding to the quality we have already brought in this year and providing us with additional options in defence.

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2 FGS: Morelos

If they are thinking of terminating their contracts the club probably has to be seen to be following due process which would include a full investigation, including interviews, of the circumstances relating to the incident.

When Paul Murray and Barry Scott resigned from the board this was seen as being done to provide space for new directors who would be investing money in the club. Since it appears that, for the moment, there are no new investors why did Murray and Scott resign?

It looks as though there are a number of positives about having SG as manager. He will be demanding, a good motivator and have the respect of the players. He may also be a factor in convincing transfer targets to come to Ibrox when otherwise they would not be interested in trying out Scottish football, though the main factor in new signings tends to be money. The unknown with Gerrard is whether tactically he will be an astute manager, can he forge his method of playing on the players and can he see the need to change formation when it is needed. Having listened to him commenting on BT sport it is difficult to assess with any great certainty how insightful he is in analysing a game though I tended to think Lampard's comments were a touch more astute.

I always thought there was only one Steven Gerrard but perhaps he has been cloned. Will we know which one turns up at Ibrox?

We have made some reasonable acquisitions and overall the team has been improved (though if you look at our subs bench we lack strength in depth). However, I am not sure we are much in front of Aberdeen or Hibs. Taking the latter, is our midfield stronger than that of Hibs with Allan, McGeouch and McGinn; I think that is debatable. Our central defence is weak and Hibs signed McGregor (from us) and I would suggest that he is at least as good as any of our present central pairing. I don't know the other Hibs players well enough to do a player by player comparison but I would suggest that others, such as, Gray or Boyle are reasonable players. A better manager could have got more out of the players, especially against Celtic, but I think we still need to improve the calibre of the players we have to make a sustained challenge against Celtic.

Bill, you've got it wrong, its Steve McClaren.

Murty looks a bit haggard whereas Nicholl looks browned off. Has MOH a glove fetish?

Unfortunately, there appears to be no consensus as to who would be a suitable manager; all sorts of names are bandied about with all of them having some pros and cons and with some unlikely to be willing to come to Rangers, perhaps because of greater financial remuneration elsewhere or else they don't fancy the challenge of having to surpass Celtic with considerably more limited funds. Given our past record of appointing managers who were a disappointment the Board are now likely twitchy about making another mistake in who they appoint. The appointment of Murty when Pedro left suggests the Board could not see any obvious candidate when McInnes turned us down and I am not sure the position has changed since then.

Who said it was Well, you could always have been providing factual information. However, your comparison with Clarke suggests otherwise; that being a celtic fan he should not be the manager of rangers.

Murty may have got the tactics wrong yesterday but it is implausible to think that this had anything to do with him being a celtic fan.

Do you really think it is a done deal. I would have thought his position is dependent on how we fare in the cup and obtaining second in the league and the availability of realistic candidates in the Summer. The discussion on this board when Pedro left did not seem to suggest that there was overwhelming support for any candidate. I also don't recall Clarke as being someone pushed forward at the time when Pedro left. Now, of course, it has changed because he is successful with Kilmarnock; we are a bit fickle. In another post (not you FS) it was suggested that Rodgers out-thought Murty. Unfortunately, the following week he (Rodgers) did not seem to be able to ring the changes to break down 10 man Motherwell. Perhaps the tactical genius was out-thought by Robinson. Maybe, on the basis of this we should support the appointment of Robinson.

Thanks for the response John. I guess my experience of celtic fans is broadly in line with your second paragraph. Though, I know a number who would contribute funds to the IRA when collections were put round in a pub but tended to disconnect this from what use might be made of the funds.

john, do you think that support of the IRA and the singing of Nationalist songs is equally repulsive to Catholic Scots?

Forlanssister, I agree with you on this but the fact we have been able to obtain this draw down facility does mean that in their (Close) opinion we are a reasonable credit risk. if, however, we had been unable to obtain a credit facility that would be seen as a negative signal particularly if the club is considering making a share issue.