Rousseau

Only if defenders just defend which hasn't been the case for 20+ years. See Trent Alexander-Arnold.

That's true, but teams don't pay a premium for a 'Keeper at such an age. The only comparable transfer was Pope (30) to Newcastle for £9M and he was a standout in the league.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also suspect defensively. Just because he has flaws in his game doesn't mean that he's not one of our best players.

My issue with those wanting to get rid of Tavernier is that he's one of our best players. Surely you get rid of the rubbish first?

It's a good argument, but I still do not see that kind of money involved. English 'Keepers transferred in the last 4-5 years: Name Age Year Joined Fee Tom Heaton 33 19/20 Aston Villa Premier League €8.80m Aaron Ramsdale 22 20/21 Sheff Utd Premier League €20.50m Jack Butland 27 20/21 Crystal Palace Premier League €1.10m David Button 31 20/21 West Brom Premier League €1.10m Aaron Ramsdale 23 21/22 Arsenal Premier League €28.00m Joe Hart 34 21/22 Celtic Premiership €1.20m Nick Pope 30 22/23 Newcastle Premier League €11.50m Karl Darlow 32 22/23 Hull City Championship Loan fee: €157k Daniel Bentley 29 22/23 Wolves Premier League €57k Dean Henderson 26 23/24 Crystal Palace Premier League €17.50m James Trafford 20 23/24 Burnley Premier League €17.30m Karl Darlow 32 23/24 Leeds Championship €400k The blues go for high transfer fees because they are young (except Heaton, maybe Pope) and going to be first-choice. The oranges go for pittance because they are older and going to be back-ups. Joe Hart. I think Butland is in the Orange category. IMO.

I don't see that at all. I'd snap their hands off.

Biggest asset in terms of his importance to the team? Sure. Biggest asset in terms of monetary value? No. He's a 31-year-old 'Keeper. He's not worth much.

Rangers 1 - 0 Hearts FGS Tavernier

Rangers vs Hearts

It's our own fault.

I'd keep Yilmaz (good player, still very young) Goldson is one of our best defenders, so I'd still use him - but we do need better competition. There's no real value in letting him go as we're not getting a fee for him - other than freeing up wages. Dowell and Wright can go. Lammers I'd keep. I'd like to see him get a run in the #9 position. Caveat: I'd sell everyone, anyone if there is a decent bid.

@CammyF's list: Yilmaz Yilmaz Yilmaz Yilmaz Yilmaz Dessers gets a bonus and a new 10-year contract. @der Berliner's list: Tavernier Tavernier Tavernier Tavernier Tavernier Scott Wright gets a bumper new deal, and is made captain.

Excluding loan returns: Roofe Lundstram Davies Jack Barisic

I'm only picking at a single metric. His other defensive stats are quite good. He is also always available.

Sterling won 1/1. Goldson won 2/2. Souttar won 2/3. Lundstram won 2/2.

I don't think so. Many teams - see Leverkusen - play with two. I think it's the press: teams can break our press quite easily. It's also a specific problem in Lundstram's game; it has been for a while: Even in Beale's diamond he was quite poor in this metric. He is actually in the lowest 3% in the whole league for this metric. Either he is particularly bad at it, or our press is so poor they are exposed. I lean towards it being a bit of both.

The stats also show that Lundstram was dribbled past twice. We've discussed this before, haven't we? It looks to be an issue with his reading of the game or positioning.

James Tavernier. Chances created - 4 Expected goals (xG) - 0.33 Expected assists (xA) - 0.80 xG + xA - 1.13 Touches - 95 Touches in opposition box - 3 Successful dribbles - 2/2 (100%) Passes into final third - 12 Tackles won - 1/2 (50%) Clearances - 2 Recoveries - 7 Duels won - 5 Did more in the attacking third than the front three combined. Only Souttar did more defensively.

Ugh...

Ooft! No points at all.

Roofe!

I actually thought we'd see a back-three utilised by Clement - at least in some games - because he used a back-three at Club Brugge and even at Monaco he used a situational back-three with the LB staying back and the RB playing further forward. We've clearly not got the wingers he'd like, but perhaps this shows we've also not got the profile of defender he'd like, either. (I correct myself: we did see a situational back-three at one point, with Yfeko drafted in at LB. I can't recall the game, though. In any case it didn't last.)

I'd like to see Silva playing in his favoured position as the #9. And I'd like to see McCausland come back into the starting line-up. Tamundo can come off the bench.

This is a disgrace!

The chickens are coming home to roost. NEVER MESS WITH THE JUJU!! @Whosthedado had the title won two weeks ago...