match thread (image) [FT] Motherwell 3 - 3 Rangers (Lafferty 15, 38; Ejaria 43)

[Bill 13,717]

You have to ask the question whether EL group stage will be good for Rangers. While we need the money, I think we will struggle to meet our league ambitions with such a thin squad if we have to play Thursday-Sunday for weeks on end. On the other hand, if we accept it will take at least a couple of seasons to be fully competitive then perhaps EL football will only help develop our players and attract new signings. It's a hard call.

[compo 6,129]

2 minutes ago, Bill said:

You have to ask the question whether EL group stage will be good for Rangers. While we need the money, I think we will struggle to meet our league ambitions with such a thin squad if we have to play Thursday-Sunday for weeks on end. On the other hand, if we accept it will take at least a couple of seasons to be fully competitive then perhaps EL football will only help develop our players and attract new signings. It's a hard call.

I suppose if we get through it will depend on who we draw with luck it might be an hour's flight from Glasgow or it could be teams from the back of beyond .

[Walterbear 557]

Reaching EL should enhance the experience of players and transfer values. If Morelos scores a few EL goals he becomes a £15m player. International call ups more likely for the Croats, Scots and Morelos.  It also gives us higher profile across Europe especially considering where we have been. Improves advertising appeal and makes us more attractive for higher quality loans and purchases. It’s a no brainer for me. If we do EL and get a trophy it’s a big step up from where we have been and would set our stall out for 55. 

[MacK1950 2,231]

Staying in all competitions is a must for me,getting to cup finals boosts players,fighting for league keeps them interested.

[trublusince1982 243]

28 minutes ago, Bill said:

You have to ask the question whether EL group stage will be good for Rangers. While we need the money, I think we will struggle to meet our league ambitions with such a thin squad if we have to play Thursday-Sunday for weeks on end. On the other hand, if we accept it will take at least a couple of seasons to be fully competitive then perhaps EL football will only help develop our players and attract new signings. It's a hard call.

One bonus is we are at home after every tie while Celtic are away.

[buster. 4,808]

40 minutes ago, Bill said:

You have to ask the question whether EL group stage will be good for Rangers. While we need the money, I think we will struggle to meet our league ambitions with such a thin squad if we have to play Thursday-Sunday for weeks on end. On the other hand, if we accept it will take at least a couple of seasons to be fully competitive then perhaps EL football will only help develop our players and attract new signings. It's a hard call.

Six games

Six weeks over nearly 3 months

Approximate 10M revenue

Potential to enhance player market value

Co-efficient 

Experience for players

Excitement for fans

Tangible and notable achievement

Prestige

 

It's not a hard call at all !

 

 

Edited August 26, 2018 by buster.

[Big Jaws 570]

3 hours ago, Soulsonic5791 said:

We let them dictate the match in the second half. I would've thought that this will concern the Manager. Too often we went long and gave them the ball back when we needed to get our foot on the ball and take the sting out of their kick and rush gameplan. The defending was too casual at times by certain players and I think that we relied too much on the notion that we'd be able to handle whatever they threw at us. We also gave away corners needlessly in injury time which contributed to the pressure building.

 

Can Flanagan play in a back three, switching sides, and against a team which is arguably the strongest in the league at deploying the tactic of pumping the ball into the air and feeding off the scraps?

 

Debatable imo.

 

Having a mobile second anchor missing today stuck out for me. That's not to say that Andy Halliday didn't have a reasonable game. Lass was, again, a big miss.

 

Food for thought for Stevie.

 

P.S. Thomson was his usual nightmarish self.

I don't believe we've looked remotely like the same team without him mate.

[trublusince1982 243]

Think the main problem highlighted today is too many of our fans are moving the goal posts the second we start playing well.

 

The goal this season is to secure higher income through European football and attain second place. Celtic are irrelevant to our plans. We are building for us not to stop them. 

 

Think it's also fair to say we all expected to see more money spent this season so all considered we are doing well though it's early days.

 

Football has such fine margins. We win today, Thursday and Sunday and Gerrard is the greatest since sliced bread. Lose today, Thursday and Sunday and it's the end of the world.

 

We have a wage budget of around £18m v £56m thoughts of winning the league or teaching them a lesson this early are premature though admittedly very attractive? we need to try and stay focused on the season goals to help the team achieve them

 

Second place and euro group stages and we are doing great 

Edited August 26, 2018 by trublusince1982

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Very much so. This season is all about improvement.

Its looking great on that front so far.

Frankly europa league qualification should be considered a stretch target.

[Whosthedado 1,489]

Gutted to lose a late goal today. Thought we did well to come from behind and get in front. As has been mentioned suspect tactics and baffling subs today, but that is the first time I have really felt Mr Gerrard's decisions cost us. Hopefully he'll learn from it, as will the team in general

 

Coulibaly is a massive absence to this team even so early in his Gers career imo. Fingers crossed he is back for the two massive games ahead this week