Rousseau

Roy Makaay saying to Kent, "[T]ricks are for the circus"! Brilliant.

Goldson having a laugh as he's coming out to train... yes, he can go at the end of the season. 👀

I don't rate McLaughlin. I see him as a poor man's McGregor; a copy, without the ability to pull off the impossible saves that McGregor can. However, I certainly can't argue with those stats, or McGregor's form; it's not been good. I'd rather see McCrorie get a starting slot, or perhaps it's time to sign a different style of 'keeper, more suited to our approach. I wonder what GvB prefers?

There's been a bit of a 'reaction' to Conte and Gerrard banning food stuffs, like Ketchup etc., in club canteens. To be honest, I thought that was standard now? Of course, Sean Dyche requires players to drink 3 pints of Ketchup pre-match, and a Full Roast dinner at half-time. Can't handle it? Sold. It's that simple.

Against? Jeez. Either we're conceding very big chances, letting in soft chances that should never go in or we're extremely unlucky. Mix of all, probably. Either way, it's not good. To only allow 6 shots on target in three games is actually good going, though - If I'm understanding you correctly. We just need to cut out the p*sh.

They don't have to. Abrahams signed for Roma for £34M. Tomori went to Milan for £26M. Geuhi went to Crystal Palace for £21M. Livramento went to Southampton for £8M, and they have a buy-back clause. He's doing very well. That's just this season, which was an especially good one. Last year Pasalic went to Atalanta for £14M, which was the biggest sale. They generally sell a few players every season for £5-10M each. Reece James is now in the squad, alongside Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Mount and Hudson-Odoi. They have all had a few seasons out on loan. Gilmour and Gallagher are currently out on loan with good prospects. Even if they don't make it at Chelsea they'll be going for big money.

It's quite normal in Italy. Juventus have around 40 out on loan. I don't have a problem with it. I would like us to replicate it.

According to Wikipedia, Chelsea currently have 22 players out on loan.

I actually think our defence and team would suit a sweeper 'keeper more than McGregor. We see a lot of long balls over the top that would pose little danger if our 'keeper burst off his line to sweep up, like Alisson. McGregor barely comes out for a headed back-pass from the 18-yard line! But, McGregor is McGregor; you're not dropping McGregor at his best. Time takes it toll, though.

Yes, I don't think we had much of a chance. It made sense to keep in their good books. I feel it's something we have to do ourselves: flex our muscles in that way.

I know of Everton making a derisory bid for Patterson. Who's in for Kelly?

There have been a few games this season where a 'none of the above' option would be applicable, but it screws the results.

Apparently they want Pochettino, and Pochettino is interested. I don't think he likes it at PSG, and PSG are not too happy with him. Something might happen over the french winter break?

I had forgotten. That was nice, for a while...

What are your thoughts, folks?

Yes. And then take the first peanuts offer that comes in for him. We're not getting £5M for him now. Or sack him. And, of course, anyone that hasn't been around the first team in a while is the messiah. We're like that...

To be honest, I had written off Europe when we lost to Malmo. The League is the most important.

To put a positive spin on things, going forward into a difficult month of fixtures, I think it might be a good thing if GvB can make us solid and difficult to beat, so we can get through this month without dropping too many points. Make us difficult to beat, and rely on our superior quality, which we undoubtedly have (I don't know where it is, but it's there! Somewhere... surely?!), to get the points. However, I'm not sure how quickly he can implement his style? We don't have much time.

I have absolute faith that GvB will correct the defensive frailties, but I do worry about the offensive side of things, and tactically. From what I've read, he's quite bland and conservative. My optimism is based on a faint hope that GvB's learnt something from Pep in those 5 months.

I agreed with you. I couldn't believe the optimism, relatively speaking, in the predictions for this game. We were sh*te going into the game, and without a proper manager we lacked that ability to change things in-game. It was inevitable.

Will Gio take his first training sessions today, or are we still waiting on a work permit?

I hate to break it to you, but GvB's preferred formations are 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. It's one of the reasons he was signed. I believe he tinkered with a back-three towards the end of his Feyenoord spell, though. And, I think he played a back-three with the Chinese side at times. I think it depends what he's learnt from Pep.

That's true too. I've been saying it all season. Gerrard out?

I think everyone needs to calm down with the 'sell everyone' patter. This team won the league last season. As I've been saying all season, this team hasn't started; we're stale. This result has been coming for weeks. What we need is new ideas to refresh and galvanise the team. Enter, Gio.

Pfft... ! Correct Result (1 pt): compo Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): Compo, Rousseau, Franc. FGS (2 pts): - Correct Score (3 pts): - Latest Standings: