weebluedevil

Swap Lawrence with Rabbi, I’d go with that.

Proper cup in those days then? Sounds like 8 games to win the cup. Only 4 needed these days (for some).

I agree with that. I would just caveat that consistent CL qualification and yearly participation, on it's own, will not enable us to perform better. For that we need to invest the financial rewards into the playing squad. Sorry, but these days 5million quid for a player is bargain basement these days (sometimes that can work out, but more often it won't). We need to mix it up with some young prospects for 1-5million, and a couple of proven players that may require higher investment. Outgoings, if we are true to the player trading model (+ the academy product has to be better), combined with regular European prize money should allow for that. On the back of a European final run and CL qualification last year, we didn't reinvest, and then it gets harder and harder and then we're on a slippery slope.

Would be tough to outperform a Talisker

Then quite frankly Beale can fuck off. Win the league and the fans will allow him more time and Europe becomes a bonus (for this season). Fail to win the league and get pumped in Europa and/or Conference, then at least we can look forward to a new manager that can actually take us somewhere.

No idea 🤪. However, it would be an easier opportunity that the Europa, which resembles Champions League this year.

I don't know if we drop to the Conference and go far in that competition (final or winning it) would be viewed as a failure. I can see us getting to the round of 32 in Europa, maybe round of 16 at best. Would I rather get to the final or win the Conference? Absolutely!

What the group daw has offered up to us, is a great chance to progress to the knock-outs, whether that's Europa, where I think our chances of going deep there is very limited, or the Conference - where perhaps we could go quite far. I wouldn't mind it if we dropped down and got through to the semi/final of that competition (would still require massive progress in performance from where we currently are right now).

That is a huge concern I'll be honest. It would be selfish of Beale to pick a team to justify his summer recruitment choices, rather than the best team for the test, which is most definitely Roofe, Matondo and Cantwell up front. Even if he goes with one of Sima or Lammers, with Cantwell deeper, leaving Dessers and Danilo on the bench is quite damning really.

That might not be a bad suggestion

Rangers 1 Celtic 1 FGS: Matondo

Diddley-squat

Tomorrow 11pm

Can we accept stolen money?

I didn't say they weren't playing for Beale. I was referring to not being able to carry out his instructions or directions. i.e. the tools/information that Beale is giving his players. I also don't believe that the players downed tools with Gio. Craig, you can leave it honestly. You rate Barisic, I don't. Let's leave it at that.

Fair enough, that was incorrect. However, my point was that he has been very poor. Still Barisic has not been one of our best players for years. Yes, that is my opinion, but I would expect to be in the vast majority on that one.

No, you're right. They never picked them up in the first place!

It maybe, I haven't watched re-runs of all Barisic's miserable free-kick attempts - well in fact he rarely gets to take them these days for that reason. I throw it back to you too Craig. it's factually incorrect that Barisic has been our best player over the last 18 months.

Gio had a great run in Europe didn't he? But he screwed up in the league and was punted. What did he get 1 yr?

Not good enough, unless we also want to accept mediocrity domestically now as well as Europe. If Beale doesn't win the league this season he should be punted. Simple.

Unexpected but very welcome news indeed. Yes, Pot 1 here we come.

I wouldn't surprise me because he simply hasn't been. 18 months!!! Really? He's played well at times recently (low bar) with a few decent crosses/assists, but defensively he's mostly had howlers. Last night, he did okay, but folk forget how often he gave too much room to the attacker. And he hasn't managed to get one single free kick over the wall in about 3 years. Sorry, but I'm not buying it, and I'm not surprised there are many others who also cannot accept that Borna Barisic has been one of our best players last 18 months. That's a joke if ever I heard one. I'm not saying we have lots of contenders but Barisic is not one of them. Even here in our MOTM threads, I don't recall Barisic ever getting many votes.

As a vicTim why didn’t the elephant man call it out then, straight after that game, rather than 20 years later.

Maybe play players in their best positions. Surely we can do that? Get them to do the basics well, work hard, press high, defend smartly with intent and aggression. Then hope for the best. Roofe must start. Rabbi must start. The rest just need to try to play football if at all possible.