DMAA

Nothing on Gauld @Stevie - 4lads Blog? His contract is up in June so I think we are free to sign him on a Bosman. I think he's tied into a season long loan until then. If we sign don't sign him Aberdeen or Hibs probably will. Worth a punt given he's the no 10 type and would be cheap.

It's certainly a point that it's a big ask to go straight into first team football with a demanding fixture schedule with Rangers after a long spell without regular games. However there's the world of a difference between a Kranjcar or a Senderos and a Davis or Defoe. Both have a virtually flawless fitness history and that definitely counts for something. I'd be excited if Gerrard could pull Defoe off. Gerrard would be why he'd do it imo because it would be a big pay cut.

Thanks for the update Stevie. Surprised due to geography, wages, competition and first team football issue but I’m not opposed to a loan or short term deal if he’s willing to take a Davis style pay cut (which I’d be shocked by). The problem with the young players we are able to sign is general rawness. Defoe would bring technique and finesse to the final third. Even Morelos, for all his abilities, is often clumsy in possession and his finishing and passing. If fit, and he seems an evergreen type, he’d certainly improve the squad.

I find this very unlikely. He will have plenty offers much closer to home from teams who are more able to pay his wages.

Looks like this has been removed. He must read your critiques.

Erzurumspor are believed to have accepted a bid in the region of £1m to take Rangers misfit Carlos Pena...

I didn’t ignore it though Craig. We’ve discussed the caveats a number of times so I said despite those I would still probably have agreed with the criticism of his league record to the 31st.

This has been often repeated but it’s not true, Celtic performing far worse is the only difference. We’ve dropped 4 points to a much less competitive Hibs side who’s squad was decimated at the end of last season. We’ve dropped 5 to a clearly weakened Aberdeen. 2 to a much weakened Motherwell. 2 to a much weaker Dundee. In the 9 games we’ve dropped points the only teams which are stronger are Kilmarnock (who were also very strong last year) and Livi (who are better than the team they replaced).

At 12k a week I’m a convert on Davis. I wasn’t as sure as others but at that cost I can get excited about what he should bring. We've struggled when we have all the possession this season and Davis played alongside Jack should bring much more passing ability to our midfield which I think has been terribly lacking for most of the season. That would leave only one naturally defensive player in our midfield which is what it should be in the vast majority of our games. The technical ability in the team isn’t as high as it should be and I can get excited about a player with more creativity and more precision in his passing playing in that deeper role.

You don’t have to look past the preference to refer to Celtic as “The Champions” by most in the BBC. It’s fair enough sometimes but there’s obviously something wrong when it’s practically the default. I didn't hear Tom English talking about our domestic record but despite the caveats I’d probably have agreed with him. Gerard’s record pre-old firm was the exact record that got Warburton sacked, and 1 point off Caixinha/Murty’s record by end of year old firm match. Hopefully we’ve turned the corner now.

At 60k a week it’s his only option. Even assuming we manage to pay as much as 20k, he’d be sacrificing about £640k. There aren’t many people who wouldn’t just sit around for a few months for that kind of money.

Maybe we should have an open thread for discussing some players. He lacks the technical ability I like in a winger, and which is very important in a 4-3-3. He has a very traditional winger skillset imo.

The team should watch Germany’s dismantling of Brazil in the World Cup a few times. Almost all of their goals were tap-ins, a joy to watch the game made to look so simple.

Agreed. It’s an open goal for Arfield if squared.

Well, up until now he hasn’t been that effective. He’s been all about directness, pace and dribbling. His passing, crossing and shooting (i.e end product) has left a lot to be desired, evidenced by the fact that despite playing the equivalent of 3 games more than Middleton (an apparently “very raw” youngster) he has the same number of goals and assists in the league. Even on Saturday despite playing really well you saw that side of his game when he missed a one on one which should have been a goal.

The contract was purely to ensure they got a proper fee for him. But he’s a £2m player max in my opinion. A lot of money for us but add ons could be a route to take the up-front fee down somewhat. Saturday was his best performance yet and although he’s an excellent dribbler he needs to produce end product consistently to convince me he’s league winning quality.

Fixed that for you

Yeh it was the definition of “a 6 pointer” and what a way to go into the winter break. @Bill has a point in that we haven’t been good enough in the league so far but the main thing tonight is that we’ve finally been given real hope that a turnaround could be possible.

I’m delighted for Ryan Jack today. He’s had a hard time from the fans since the Aberdeen game but I’ve felt he has been unfairly criticised and to get the winning goal in our first win over them in 12 games and with a performance to match could be a definitive moment in his Rangers career.

Yes, with an attacking midfielder playing the attacking midfield position. Arfield was immense and is a huge player for us. Not to mention the return of Kent, another attacking player. All about the players available and as soon as I saw the starting lineup my spirits lifted. What a performance.

The same team who faced Hibs will really struggle. That midfield is devoid of creativity and very poor in possession. Our best chances on Wednesday came from Middleton’s pace. Jack is the one midfielder who has the ability to create something and play him in. Poor Morelos could be in for another very frustrating Old Firm, double marked with no strike partner and unsupported from midfield. As @Gonzo79 said, prove me wrong Rangers.

? I didn’t know that. But whatever the formation, that style of play executed well will unite any fans

Can’t comment because I haven’t seen him play. Worth noting it’s a big step up but if he appears to have the attributes required it doesn’t seem a big gamble.

Agreed. Losing the late goal to Hibs wasn’t a coincidence or just bad luck. It’s the 4th time we’ve conceded late on at a stage in the game when we’re hanging on and started to give the ball back to the opposition rather than trying to hold onto it. I’m conscious we pulled it off a few times, Ufa one example, but there was a reason we all saw that equaliser coming even though they’d created next to nothing the whole game.

We should be trying to copy everything the Red Bull clubs have done in terms of overall club management. From top to bottom they look like fantastic football clubs now.