I’m not saying we are getting here or not yet . We won tonight and will take that but not inspired by the performance
the next 4 - 6 games will show us exactly where we are.
I managed not to come on and have a rant on Saturday... but here I am.
I'm always the first to say pre-season means nothing (including beating the likes of madrid)
However.... the alarm bells were ringing big style during this pre-season, because I've no clue what we were trying to do or how we were trying to play.
This summer was a big one with the likes of Kent, morelos and tillman leaving. it was fairly clear what their strengths were (I'll ignore the many faults for now)
Kent brought movement and the technical ability to beat a man, plus draw in defenders and adds width to the side.
Alfie at his best, was a menace, could bully defenders and would move around the pitch to draw defenders into all kinds of positions and open up gaps.
Tillman felt the ball was glued to his feet, seemed to have the knack of getting into the right areas and offered a goal threat from midfield.
These abilities would need to be replaced when considering new signings
I think we could also see the problems in the team, sure we knew Jack and Lundstram were robust and great at points in the past, but you could see the tactics and formation used by Steven Gerrard had become predictable.
It didn't need adapted it needed a change. Personnel needed changed, the squad a revamp. It was time to cash in on some players and overhaul our style of play.
So far we have sold only Antonio Colak.
The likes of Kamara and Sakala will most likely join him. The latter divides fans, because despite the fact he is by no means a natural finisher and (like many before him) lacks that final quality that we so badly crave... he is also the only outlet with pace that has provided some sort of decent return goals wise.
I don't think we expected to move everyone on, but I think having seen what happened with Kent and Morelos, more sales were expected. Is this the time to cash in on the likes of Borna, John Lundstram, Scott Wright, Ben Davies, Matondo, Hagi. Are Tav and Goldson indispensable? Are the likes of Roofe, Lawrence or as harsh as it seems Ofoborh going to contribute a lot?
The fans understand that there are quota's to fill from a european point of view. Mccrorie, Kieran Wright, John Souttar, Ryan Jack fill 4 of those 8 places. I think its a poor sign is that the club haven't developed anyone outwith Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour who could have stepped into those slots, but have left the club. Hopefully some of those of a younger age and be part of our bench this season will kick on and fill this quota in year's to come.
It's also poor that they haven't signed anyone of a good enough level from Scottish teams, apart from souttar, to fill one of those spots. No doubt there is a limitednpool of talent to choose from but you see the likes of Max Johnston, Lewis Ferguson and think could they have been at that level?
This was a huge task for Michael Beale and the club to get things right in the summer. Management had to get tactics spot on to be successful in both domestic and European games. This also meant he had to have the right personnel for each.
We've spent something like 15 million bringing in Butland, Balogun, Sterling, Dowell, Cifuentes, Sima, Lammers, Dessers & Danillo. Sure there was some excitement around the names but also some concerns remained.
Are the goal returns good enough?
Have we replaced the missing attributes from those who have left?
Are these the signings to deliver our expectations?
One of the biggest issues with Rangers under Gio and last season, was we looked like we had an over reliance on balls coming in from barisic and tav in almost 'ping it in and hope' something comes off. We really struggled at points, especially against teams who sat in, to break them down or show we were anything other than pedestrian or predictable.
What an opportunity for Beale to show he would bring in a new exciting era of players who could do that. Players with a freshness and energy about them that could change the dynamics of the team. Early signs were promising as both Cantwell and Raskin looked the part when they arrived in January.
We needed a team that would play high up the park, have a rugged determination to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, press high, play fast passes and would move and interchange positions, unsettle those well organised teams and make it difficult for them throughout the game.
Then the starting 11 was announced and Cantwell was dropped. That was the first question. Why drop the man who was in great form at the end of last season. One of the few players that the fans were almost 100 per cent in favour of keeping. I think possibly only Raskin would be a contender if we were asked 'who must stay/must start' out from last year's side.
The game was woeful and as we saw in preseason, we looked like the same tired and predictable side of last year, but with less width and pace. It was woeful.
There is huge pressure already on Beale after one game and whilst one very bad result doesn't mean its over, the level of play throughout pre season has been no where near what's needed.
The likes of Danilo and Cifuentes will already have huge hopes pinned on them to transform and energise that side, which might be harsh.
I feel like this team still needs a minimum of 4 signings to be competitive at league and european levels. I'm not sure we will see those number come in.
It truly is time for all at the club to step up and deliver and I hope these players have a lot more to offer than what we've seen so far.
Got to be honest was really surprised when I saw hw was on it, being shut in the dark for 8 days must really mess with your mind, not sure if Gazza needs something like that!
So Gio walks into the room and tells the squad no holidays or one week holiday……that’ll make the players want to play for him. It would absolutely work against him even more.
The answer is to give the players 2 weeks off and tell them to consider their future at the club because a new manager is coming in.
After the 2 weeks they come back and the new manager can get to work with them for 3 weeks to see who is worthy of a place in the first team or even at the club.
How crazy is it that I’ve finished primary, finished secondary school, finished college, gotten a degree and a full time job since the taigs last won a knockout tie in European football
