JFK-1

I'm excited about the game but unlike my usual self approaching it with limited to minimal expectations. As has already been gone over many times we didn't expect to be here at all so no matter what happens it's all good. But in saying that I do still have a belief we can perhaps take something from this for yet another bonus to the Euro expectations we had at the end of last season. Wondering how the media will approach it if we get something over there while the yahoos stutter against Rosenberg which given their recent form isn't entirely unlikely. A nice little timplosion to chuckle over.

As it stands with the current financial imbalances I see no way to change that. In fact if anything the imbalance is likely to become even greater. We're over the moon about getting a potential £10 million in the Europa league while the likes of Barca annually pay 4 times that much in salary to a single player. And to be fair I for one had no complaints when Rangers had a huge financial advantage. And in fact we still do over most of the SPL. We spend more on a single transfer than many clubs in the SPL will on all transfers in perhaps decades.

That is indeed one unbalanced facet of it. The away team in the first leg has no chance of snatching an extra time away goal against tiring legs while the away team in the second leg potentially does.

There were some charts etc I couldn't copy over but can be seen at the link if anyone is interested. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45460290

Good result for Liverpool in a group that has somewhat of a 'group of death' look about it. Aside from the obvious class of PSG Napoli are no slouches either. They finished second in Serie A last season just 4 points behind Juventus while third placed Roma lagged 15 points behind Napoli.

It is no coincidence that Rangers returned to winning ways last weekend following the return of Lassana Coulibaly. The Mali international opened the scoring after four minutes and ran the show until he was withdrawn after 56 minutes with Steven Gerrard’s side 3-0 up against Dundee and in total control. What a return to action for Coulibaly, who had been absent for a month with a hamstring injury and had been sorely missed in the defeat to Celtic earlier this month. The Scottish Sun report Rangers fans could be seeing a lot more in the future of the 22-year-old, who joined in the summer from French club SCO Angers on a season-long loan. It is said the “early signs” are that the Glasgow giants will look to convert the loan of Coulibaly, who has a contract with the Ligue 1 side that runs for three more years, into a permanent deal next year. He would be a brilliant full-time signing for the club. Of the 15 summer signings made by Rangers, none has been more impressive than Coulibaly, bar perhaps goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who looks like he could still do a very good job for a Premier League club. The 10-times Mali international has predominantly been used in the midfield anchorman role who protects the defence and launches attacks, but he is far more than a water-carrier. Coulibaly is also composed on the ball and his distribution is such he could be the best Scottish central midfield import since Victor Wanyama. Steven Gerrard has spoken warmly of Coulibaly’s strength and awareness in midfield, and his partnership with Ryan Jack, who was injured last weekend, gives Rangers hopes of mounting a serious title challenge. The Ibrox faithful would love for the loanee to sign permanently. They know class when they see it and Coulibaly has it in spades. https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/09/blogs/scottish-premier-league/coulibaly-would-be-a-sensational-gers-signing/

It's definitely disappointing that we can't field the strongest 11 or anything like it. A result in this the could really set us up for a run at the knockout stages. On the other hand as soon as the draw was made I wrote this one off as doubtful and looked to all the other ties to get us through which I still deemed doable. And let's face it. None of yscexpected to be here at all far less beating a side like this away. The entire group stage no matter what happens is a surprising and welcome bonus to our season.

I'm not being critical of you or any visually impaired person but it never occurred to me that someone who had such an impairment they couldn't see what was on a big screen would go to a football match. Perhaps they do I suppose. And as I said it just never occurred to me before that they might.

A 2-1 away win for Liverpool who are beginning to look like the real deal. The first time since 1990 they have won the opening 5 league games and reportedly the win was a lot more emphatic than the score line suggests.

I think the applause for Miller whether it was merited or not was a better more dignified way to sign off on him than the type of treatment we see Jack get at the sheep pen.

Clear instance of the ref momentarily forgetting Miller doesn't play for us anymore.

I'm feeling good about a title challenge and it's not simply a out a good result today. We have seen that they can be impressive against far more formidable opposition than Dundee and evidence of that can be seen in the fact we're in the Europa League groups. It's a team still in the process of gelling and arguably still haven't fielded a strongest 11. They can only get better and I feel that Gerrard and co can coach a high degree of consistency into them. As for the yahoos it's becoming clearer all the time that they have peaked while we are still far from it. Even Gerrard has stated that if that's the best They can offer after the game at the piggery then we have nothing to fear and he's not the type to exaggerate. He knows we're going to continue improving and they're not a and they met us at the worst possible time for us. I'm actually beginning to somewhat forget them while looking up at Hearts with a 100 percent record plus the highest scorers and equal best defensive record in the league. That's the upcoming most difficult challenge.

Seemingly the team moves just too fast for the officials to keep up.

Indisputably but possibly hard to call if not looking at a freeze frame and from this angle.

I would like to see Grezda get a bit of time on the pitch.

Think it was absolutely essential to produce a commanding high scoring performance at home against the bottom side after the lacklustre display in our previous game.

This potential rampage doesn’t surprise me. This is a good team and I feel people began to forget that after a few teething issues with a new squad plus a hectic schedule.

Hell even my 4-0 is beginning to look conservative.

Strong bench too if needed.

I think we may see the difference Coulibaly can make which is why I'm going for 4-0

Coulibally in Grezda on the bench.

That seems dubious but in saying that any dealings with Gerrard will be widely reported in England and even further afield. Not so when dealing with Clarke. Local news.

I see Rossiter seemingly happily chatting to Kent in that picture. Presumably more than familiar with each other since I think both came up through the Liverpool academy from around 7 years old and are the same age.

Rossiter been training for a week to 10 days.

I'm sure Sky etc will love that.