BlackSocksRedTops

Definitely something afoot after reading that Chris Jack piece. Does anyone else think the board are maybe sounding out someone else before making their move? Was Beale not visible at Ibrox before replacing Gio? Interesting week ahead as always.

So will the league title.

I think our problems are greater than whether Barasic stays or goes to be honest.

That's what's frustrating IMO. There were small signs he was heading in the right direction last season but he appears to have ripped that up and become too cautious IMO.

I hate to call for any Rangers managers head but I've just come to conclusion that he has to go in order to try and salvage our season. Maybe it's a bit of hindsight but many of the summer business bothered me. To give this context, Im going to go back to last season. It seemed to me that Beale had developed the genesis of a playing style based on a high-press with Cantwell at the top of a diamond leading (and scoring). This was complimented by 2 split attackers, 2 in the middle, one at the base of midfield, wing backs providing width with a midfielder dropping in to cover. I liked this style and thought that this was going to be our blueprint for this season. Roll onto the summer...with Cantwell in the number 10 role leading the press did we need Sam Lammars? We also had Hagi who could play there. Lawrence was on the way back. God we even had young Lowry. Would that money spent on Lammars not have been better spent on more mobile wide attackers or central defenders? This is just one of many things that have been bothering me. Don't get me started on Danilo...

Come back Fashion. All is forgiven.

The other thing that worries me is that if Roofes goals had stood, we would have continued with our tactics of sitting back and hitting long balls. We only came out in the 2nd half with a but more attacking I tent because we had to. Reactive not proactive as usual.

I know it was a dead rubber but this was the formation I thought Beale was working on. Cantwell further forward at the top of a diamond leading the press with 2 split strikers/attackers. A flexible 4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2 which can easily become a 3-5-2 if the sitting midfielder drops in.

Could apply this to countless things that happened today.

Nooooooo! Another xG debate would genuinely tip me over the edge Rousseau. Anyhow. I'm away to set up the firepit and pour myself something tall, red and full bodied. No not Christina Hendricks...

Trying to be rational after today but did anyone else think we were not being brave on the ball? Maybe a fall out from Wednesday but some players (Jack, Raskin, Tav, Goldson) looked scared to play advanced passes.

Apologies for reading that wrong and agree wholeheartedly about our midfield. I think that Cantwells energy should be used at the tip of a midfield to start and maintain the press. They were there for the taking and we let them walk through us into yards of space.

I've been patient with regards to Beale as he came in last year and steadied the domestic ship and at least was competitive against Ange's Celtic team. This was of course all done under the proviso that was with someone else team. This year has me scratching my head. I get horses for course when we navigate the move from the SPL to Europe but it appears we are trying a new set up in every bloody game. There is no consistency of selection and no identity to what we are doing. Most of our signings are on the bench and Matondo has gone from the exit door to the starting XI in the space of 4 weeks. It looks like we are making it up as we go along and the scattergun approach to our subs today only cemented that. I genuinely hope he turns it around as I like him but today was a hard pill to swallow. Much like Wednesday night, the result is bad enough but the manner in which have lost is extremely worrying indeed.

I'm not blaming the players Bill. The manager obviously thought Sterling, Jack and Matondo had to cover the left. Baffling.

Utterly depressing to get beaten by such a poor team. Too many things today (and this season) are just not making sense. I feel for the new additions as they genuinely look like they don't know what they are meant to be doing. There might be good players there but until MB defines a clear plan we'll never know. Whilst I'm at it... Can someone tell me why Ryan Jack was playing closer to the LB position as we got overrun in midfield? Cantwell and Raskin are not being used properly. Why did we make so many subs? I get we are chasing the game but the multiple changes kills tge small bit of momentum we had built up. This morning I watched Ange's Spurs team rip Burnley apart using a system that is different to the one used at Celtic. Both had one thing in common though. Players pressing together with energy and players who understand what they are meant to be doing. F**King raging.

We need to press better and as a team. Once they get through the press they gave bloody acres of room. Big 45 minutes. Over to you Mr Beale.

I'm utterly confused. We are getting overrun in midfield when they get through our weak as water press. Why is Ryan Jack effectively playing left back? Abada is good but do we need 3 players on that side? Confused.com

Very strong bench incidentally.

Who hasn't?

Looks like Tav providing the width on the right with Jack tucking in and Matondo on the left with Sterling playing primarily as a defender. Glad Roofe is playing. Big 90 minutes ahead. Still think Dessers is going to have a big say on today's game. He been up and down since coming in but for me has shown enough to suggest he's a clever player. Today he's playing with a very clever player in Roofe so hopefully they can be on the same wavelength.

Still waiting for Sakalas shot to go the other side of the post....😟😟

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Good point Rousseau

Kind of sums my original point. He's about 46/47 in this clip. Brilliant clip BTW. Apologies for hijacking this Tifo related thread. Sorry guys.

Maybe a classic player? Or manager? On the manager front...I was reading an article online about Jock Wallace the other day and I was shocked to discover that he was only 60 when he passed away in 1996. That meant that he was only about 41 when he completed the treble in 1978. It just shows you how times have changed as I always have this image of JW being in his late 50's/early 60's in his first spell at Rangers and then being an elder statesman during his 2nd spell. I guess 41 year olds looked different back then...

I doubt if Roofe is fit enough to play a full game therefore I would start him and ask him to do as much damage as possible in 60/65 minutes. Not sure whether I would start with Matondo. I like the idea of him arriving on the pitch with the game more open and stretched. It's a tough one and I do not envy the task Beale has got on his hands. I just hope he's more pro-active as opposed to reactive.