weebluedevil

I don't disagree, but I want to play devil's advocate for a moment. Does a third tier club get to a European Elite 2nd tier competition final? Maybe it was just an unexplainable blip, or an overachievement by a team with an exceptional manager and tactical display, who we then sack when the team drops back to a more realistic level. We, fans, can moan and groan all we like, as you say it's part of being a Rangers' fan and the heavy expectations that come with that, but the decision makers can't be jumping from the frying pan to the fire every time the fans get restless because our performances are only equal to the investment and ambition of the people that run the club.

Rangers 5 Morton 0 FGS: Dessers

I underlined what you said, and add to that players that are at the early stage in their careers who could become complete while playing for us - Ridvan was probably that gamble. Either we think he still can be or we need to cut our losses and look again.

Currently, our club coefficient ranks us as last club for eligible for Europe, but it does include points from Europe this season, so we need to stay ahead of our closest challengers: Taken From The Scostman: Despite Celtic’s domestic dominance in recent years, Rangers would qualify as Scotland’s entrant as their European coefficient ranking of 38.000 is far superior to Celtic’s 15.000 across the last three seasons. Club Brugge of Belgium with 35.000, Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia with 33.00 and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine with 31.000 pose the biggest threat of overtaking the Ibrox club. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/rangers-in-line-for-lucrative-club-world-cup-spot-why-celtic-will-miss-out-4175440

It was John. And I don't necessarily disagree, but what we're essentially saying is that we can't afford players that can perform everything we need of them. Therefore, why are we slating them all the time? Would we also accept that Danilo or Dessers or Lammers will miss sitters in big games (Sakala likewise), because if they had the consistency to perform under pressure, when needed, they wouldn't be playing for us? I'm not so sure.

Are you saying that Gersnet members are unable to identify sarcastic posts? 🙃

I'll start by saying that I'm not Borna's biggest fan. He lacks the ability to run the wing and can't beat a man, preferring instead to pass back (not always a bad option though). He mostly fails to defend hi area and doesn't get close enough to stop crosses in the box. He's juts not good on the ball in defensive positions. However, what he lacks defensively he makes up for when he overlaps and provides options from wide by crossing pin-perfect balls for our forwards (and Tav) to score. He doesn't always deliver but he's found his form again in that respect. Now, he's in the last year of his contract, what should we do? I'm not sure extending his contract is in the best interest of the club. We need better - someone that is as good at crossing but can also be effective in defensive and playing out from the back. I think most of us are coming to terms that Ridvan is not the solution. Should we cash in and replace him? He's probably worth a couple of million. Or do we accept losing him next summer for nothing?

Barisic declining hug from Cantwell there?

Easy choice. Butland was brilliant.

Generous, Butland aside

I think after 4 competitive games, more bears will be thinking the same, we are just not that level yet. Any reaction to whatever happens against PSV will be to how well we play, if we play well and show progress, there shouldn't be any toys thrown. However, if we continue to see this level of performance, then the fans will rightly react harshly.

Job done. Decent money win or lose against PSV. Performance wise, we struggled to find any rhythm and our new forwards seem to be some way away from clicking....if ever. Servette are not a great side, we really should be burying them, or at least we would have done last few years. Anything is possible, but we do not seem to be ready for PSV this season, unfortunately. Looking on the bright side, I won't be too sad to see us play in the EL, it's more our level.

Great, we do agree 😀

Okay, so what you’re saying is that, if Haaland had been presented with the same opportunity, he would more likely miss than score?

So I think we agree. Saying Haaland had a 40% chance of scoring that chance is incorrect, right? That's because the data is not based on one players data, it's the chance based on many thousands of different players who have missed and scored a similar opportunity to that. So the stats maybe quite accurate for a level in the middle, we will lever know if that equates to the Scottish League 1 or 4th tier in Austria, but should not be accurate when assessing a chance falling to a forward in a Champions League Q game.

What I'm trying to say (and I think others are also challenging) is that the 18yr old CB from Elgin, in that position would likely miss that chance. Haaland would very likely score that chance (95% of the time). The stats includes the Haalands etc. and the Elgins etc. and everything in between to create an average. We can decide who would be more likely to overachieve the XG, surely? Or put another way - what is the XG for Haaland in that situation and what is the XG of a lad from Elgin in that situation, they would be different. Do you see the stats for the kickers in Rugby? There's a predictive stat they show on the screen on the probability of the kicker successfully converting the kick. The stat is specific to that player e.g. Russel : 83% chance of successfully converting a kick 40m out, 40 degree angle and 10mph wind speed. That's based on his own kicking data. What I'm therefore trying to estimate is what the XG is for Lammers in that situation. I expect it to be higher than 0.41. Yes, it's an estimate, not based on proof/data, but on experience of a football follower. If that data did exist (I agree small sample size) it would be higher than 0.4. Does that make sense?

So I think it's fair to say that Rangers XG should be well above the average if the stats include all professional leagues (assuming that includes the lower leagues of some countries). So if 0.41 for the Lammers 'sitter' chance then it probably ranges from 0.1 for the lower league teams to 0.8 for say a Champions league team. I guess the average is in the middle. Rangers therefore should be closer to the 0.8, which is the same as a penalty - fair to say he should have scored. I've ran that clip back a few times (from highlights I could find online) and can only see it from the one angle, and I agree it looks trickier, just because (I feel) Raskins pass is a tad slow, and I think Lammers had to rush the shot due to the back-tracking defender. So if those variables are taken into account, perhaps the XG should be 0.6/0.7, for Rangers, but yes he should score and I would still categorise that chance as a sitter.

Is that £5m just a parachute payment though for losing the play-off? We don't get it if we get through to the play-off and win, correct me if I'm wrong. Of course, the prize money for making the CL groups is the main aim.

Unfortunately, Roofe was not included in the squad for this round, so Dessers it will be.

"A draw is allowed, though frowned upon, in a 2nd leg at home should that be sufficient to progress." Yorkie Bear 2023 😤

Interesting debate on the chances created. I don't think we created enough during Livingston's low block, I watched the game and was frustrated. But, we do need to find a solution. We won comfortably in the end, but Livi came out too early in the second half, like an 800m runner sprinting ahead with 400m to go. That's unusual for Livi, especially as Martindale said he thought his team looked dangerous going forward at times. So they should have continued to frustrate us and hope they could steal a point from a counter. They will learn their lesson as will the other 8 teams that will do the same. We also need to learn to counter the low block better, it's the biggest issue we face in the league.

Servette 1 Rangers 2 FGS: Danilo

I agree Raskin wasn't his usual self and lots the ball far too much. However, I dont know why you think Barisic and Tav had good games. Barisic had one good cross that led to Danilo's goal, but he was very poor otherwise, and as others have said Tav is beaten easily and is too slow and ineffective. Our full backs will continue to be a problem for us, I agree with Yuddie.

We've tired Livi out. The right subs at the right time from Beale, completely changed the game.