Juniorsparkie

zero hours contract then maybe.

Tav slow as fk, but wot a save

I definitely don't think he's "pish" but just doesn't suit our system or league.  In a slower, more technical league he has the potential to be a pretty good player. 

Amazing what a wee bit of pace gives you.
 
Who would have thought that ?

Far far better. Amazing what some width will do for us.

Well I've slagged Matondo on here plenty, but he was really good when he came on. 
Great 2nd half, especially the last 20 odd minutes. Makes last week all the more annoying when we can play with pace like that. 

Must be, had 4-0 @8/1.

Right on the money.
 
You a Psychic?

Matondo on to run the show 

I actually think we're more toothless than last year. I don't even know how that is possible.

We’re so horrible to watch.

At least that penalty goal for servette has made this game entertaining for @Juniorsparkie

Can question his fitness or playing him for tactical reasons but honestly think calling Ryan Jack dugshite is up there with the worst things I've read on here

Excuses… the 11 starting the game should have been good enough to beat a Kilmarnock team with more new player in it than ours. We were fucking clueless it’s always seems to be us where new players need time ect. 
Buck stops at the manager. I’ve been scathing of him since Saturday and imo it’s totally justified. Talks the talk, that’s it. 
We need huge improvement on Wednesday and going into Saturday or the wheels are in danger of coming off before we’re even in September.
 

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.

Ironic isn't it? Every excuse used for Olympiacos and Hoffenheim.... same performance. 
 
it isn't lost on me that we scored 3 goals pre season from open play, one from a terrible Pass back and the other by a guy we are selling. 

The reality check was pre season where we were a mess game after game.
Tonight was just a re run of it.
The reality check needed is all on his part. Pick the strongest 11 for a start, thinks he's a top tactician and can't even get the basics.
Mug

Dreadful 1st half but better 2nd half.
Cantwell is being played out of position and that must stop. If the Turks want Ridvan back then they can have him.

Fuck it we are winning the league, this teams outstanding

I don't remember seeing us look so bad in preseason before? 

This is Embarassing 

We need a left back 

Same as the last couple games. 
Don't really understand what we're trying to do. Sticking 3 strikers on the pitch isn't going to improve our creativity.
The fact our defence was a mess last season and the only 'improvement' we've made to it is a 35 year old, injury prone Balogun.

I might think twice about selling Sakala because I've yet to see anything from Sima.

The last five goals we’ve conceded have been fucking horrendous.