Rousseau

28

Yes: Sublime skill and close-control, but doesn't know what to do with the ball. If that skill could be channelled...

I actually like the look of a 4-4-2 diamond. RB Salzburg are one of the best sides to watch, for their intensity and pressing, and they play it. It's maybe a waste of our wingers, though? Kent and Grezda could roam as a #10.

Frankie: John looks at how the manager can change tactics for a title push Me: Please don't say 4-4-2... please don't say 4-4-2... John McIntosh: 4-4-2... diamond Me:

Not Rangers related -- I'll move it if requested -- but it shows how important analytics are in modern football. Rangers are in a difficult position: we're a big club, without the financial muscle of the big clubs. The point of picking up players from smaller, unknown clubs based on certain qualities and attributes that your team needs is particularly important for us. We've needed a destroyer-type player, so we've gone for an unknown Coulibaly (although he's went off the boil) and now we've gone for Kamara, who's similar. It's intelligent player acquisition. Even an aerial threat up front; players like Eaves -- not sure what's happening with that? -- may look like poor players, playing at a very low level, but they may have the qualities and attributes we need to do a job.

I like the sound of Mohanad Ali Kadhim: young striker, who's scored a good amount. There are questions marks about the level, but he looks a good unit for 18. (Al-Shorta, his current club, look to be a top club in Iraq; they're currently 1st in their league.) Woodburn doesn't interest me. He's a wonderful talent, but he's not really played much, at any level. He may be a useful creative presence off the bench. I would recall Docherty.

Our team was knackered towards the end of December, with injuries mounting up; I'm thankful for the break to hopefully see us refreshed and prepared to go again.

He had an ankle / achilles injury prior to the Old Firm game, took an injection to get through it -- because he really wanted to play -- with the knowledge he had the winter break after it. I suppose he's now recovering.

Sign him for the LOLZ.

Forgot about that. Beautiful... GET HIM SIGNED STEVIE BOY!

Really? Because he skinned Lustig? Everyone can skin Lustig. I think that's going too far. Kent's a good player, with good skills, but his final product is average. I'd certainly like to get him permanently, for a modest fee, but I wouldn't go so far as to say he's the future star of our team.

Fabulous stuff! You deserve a Gif...

That post put it to page 56. You've jinxed it.

Perhaps. It's just great to have options; we can now make many more changes in a game. He did play 3-4-2-1 / 3-4-1-2 with Liverpool reserves -- something along the lines of what Southampton are implementing under Hasenhuttl just now, which I've been very impressed by.

I like having the separate thead to discuss the player signed. I just thought I'd post the confirmation in here too.

Steven Davis MBE. The Queen's XI

That Hitler video has been around for ages, but it never gets old. Brilliant.

Great stuff! I look forward to seeing him in action.

I don't think they've been "done" for several days. There is that usual tabloid tripe that gets bandied about, as you know, but nothing's been completed. Defoe was expected to take his medical over the weekend, and join up before the Tenerife trip. The Davis stuff is just rumour, I think? Southampton announced they'd let him go, and I think we're interested, but that's it. Hopefully, we're in talks. The USA guys seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. But again, all we know is that they had a trial, or were on trial.

Rossiter is done, IMO. I suspect he's a replacement for Coulibaly; the destroyer type that can play deep or as an 8. At the very least, he's one of the most promising youngsters in the league, so to tie him up for us is a great piece of business. It's certainly not 4 players vying for 1 position like you're suggesting.