Davidorrp

I was in west enclosure tonight and we were screaming for him to spin in behind and run channel umpteen times and give Barasic something to aim for. He continually didn’t do it. Dont know if anyone else noticed but Davies gave him dogs abuse at one point and was waving at him to do exactly that and run behind. Kent just shrugged his shoulder and waved his hands out a bit in kind of a ‘what’ motion. And he was just in front of liverpools dugout when he did it. So our manager and coaches should have seen it as well. He is either too thick to get it or doesn’t care. Neither are acceptable. Should be benched or stuck in reserves and moved in at Xmas for any money we can get for him.

He has to go after that. Even tho the first half was decent, you could still see the usual issues, some players being passengers. Kent in particular but you could add Tav to that I felt. Poor basics such as passing, control, not harrying opposition, standing too far off them as well. Hardly winning 2nd balls. Always on back foot instead of on front. The usual going back instead of forward. All the way back to a McGregor from a shy in their half. We’ve regressed badly under his watch, and some of it wasn’t great before he came to be fair. Just felt to me that if Liverpool got in front we’d collapse and sure enough we did. Bit he picks the players who are underperforming , he picks those who are too slow for these games and not quite match fit. He and his coaching staff are the ones that train them yet we see no technical improvements in the basics. Our passing and control were fecking awful tonight. How many bad passes did we make tonight! I lost count. There has been a drop off in fitness too which was one of the saving graces of our performances last year. If it was just one game yeh fine, give him time, but it’s been what half a dozen humiliations now. And can anybody say we are really enjoying the rest of the performances when we do win. Slow ponderous, lacking intensity or passion or drive. Problem is that it would cost a fortune to get rid of him an staff and half the team or more need to go as well. So again where is the money to replace them. Total clusterfuck to be honest.

This with maybe replacing Tav with King as a Tav looks like he’s carrying an injury of some sort. He’s definitely not at his best at moment. Could do with a rest/break. King has played right back before so should manage ok in there against AST Mirren. If we are several goals up by halftime give Devine a run out there. When is a Lawrence due back?

I didn’t say release all in one go. But since 55 we could could have sold Alfredo, Kent, Kamara at their peak in terms of financial return. Perhaps even Tav & Goldson as well. Used the funds to buy replacements. Arfield, Davis, McGregor shouldn’t have had their contracts renewed although I acknowledge McGregor has still been good of late. But most folk thought he was done last season. Youngsters McCann & Lowry could have been promoted to first team in place of Arfield and Davis. We all assumed they would be bit part players so why not use our bets youth prospects instead. And perhaps a new keeper bought. Or just go with Mclaughlan and McCrorie. Admittedly we couldn’t offload injured players such as Helander, Roofe or even Jack while they’re being treated but they will now probably go at the end of their contracts anyway as can’t be relied on fitness wise. Most of those players have been here for 3 or more seasons now. Team has become stale because we didn’t freshen up team and add competition. We are now left having to potentially replace 6 or more players in summer.

Kind of feel we are heading for a ‘losing dressing room’ scenario. Players have no confidence, no energy, fitness levels look down, technique levels are falling away( and it wasn’t t great to start with). For instance, the Passing and control has not improved which I find maddening considering we have managed by a Dutch coaching team, where in their nation technical ability is supposed to be paramount. Then we have players who are under performing still getting games against folk who will at least put in the effort. Players out of position, players in and out of team so no consistency. Our managers style just doesn’t suit our players or Rangers. Lundstrum looks like he’s getting worse every week and is clearly getting frustrated. Tav seems to be carrying an injury but seems to be lost or playing with his head down all the time. I just don’t think the players are enjoying playing at moment. just feel it’s all coming to a head soon. For me, Geo is a dead man walking. It’s only going to end one way. It’s whether the board are happy to accept being 2nd in league with perhaps a cup win (not even sure about that now) and being absolutely skelped In Champions league which is looking yeh case. Who here believes we will turn in a gritty, fight for every ball, barnstorming performance in any of the remaining CL games. Probably no one, it’s damage limitation but of a timid kind. Perhaps keep it down to losing 2 or even 3 goals. I have to be honest, It wouldn’t bother me if he left today. Might even breath a sigh of relief! That’s how pessimistic I feel about the rest of the season if he remains.

I actually like Sands as a player and think he’s a decent centre half, and I would say between him and Goldson, he’s been slightly better this season than Goldson, who has been way too casual and below par for me this season. And that’s also acknowledging the boy has made costly mistakes at times But to keep him we may have to pay £4 million( I think) in summer. Similar for Tillman (who I also think is more than decent). But with the management team looking increasingly suspect, and plenty of players out of contact as well, we may need to replace management team and half a dozen players in summer. Can we afford £8 million on two loanees?? We may not have that choice money wise and may have to just end their loans. So King may be crucial to our team going forward as he’s cheaper, and already acquitted himself well in role and hopefully will continue to improve with games. We may have to look at possibly Mayo as well for the 3rd/4th CH roles. Goldson and Davies would be the first choice obviously. But I’ve no issues with King stepping into the role going forward. Perhaps Lowry can be similar in Tillman/Arfield position. Cheaper, homegrown and as skillful an option. Just feel with size of rebuild in summer, , we won’t replace all the players with new ones so we will have to promote from within.

We are watching a team on its last legs basically. Too many of the first team are past their peak, have regressed or are just phoning in performances. Too many have stayed too long. . Many of them should have been sold/let Go/binned by now. Alfredo, Roofe, Kent, Arfield, Davis, Kamara, Jack, Borna, Helander, McGregor ( I accept he had a great game tonight) and also for me, Tav and Goldson. It’s grim reading. Add in a manager who’s style doesn’t suit the players or to be honest Rangers. And it’s a bit of a perfect storm. Technically we seem to have gotten worse, our passing, style and the basics are woeful. Our fitness levels now look poor as well. We need to clear the decks and start again. But how the fuck we do that I don’t know. Will cost a fortune to replace manager and his staff and the players mentioned above, never mind get a new manager, who can do something with remaining players and probably a tiny budget. I don’t expect us to beat Liverpool on their own patch, but do expect us to give them a game. We just seem to have regressed so badly. Actually quite depressed about the season ahead.

Not writing season off yet, as 5pts behind is catchable but let’s be honest here, a lot of us are probably uncertain as to whether this management/team will do it. I’d drop some established players if i was Gio just to at the very least show them that Saturdays performance was unacceptable. So McLaughlin, Tav and Goldson out, Play McRorie, Devine at RB(polish lad could have played there if we hadnt just loaned him out) , Sands in place of Goldson, King takes left CH role. (Davies If he’s fit enough) Yilmaz in for Borna although to be fair I thought he was best of a bad bunch on Saturday. Then a midfield of Lundstrum with McCann and Tillman as 10. Up front Matondo or Sakala on left, Colak up front and Wright on right Not sure I’d play Kent or Morelos again to be honest as they haven’t signed contracts and Kent is in particular very poor just now. I wouldn’t even have some of the dropped players on bench for next few games. Only Borna, Kamara and Arfield with some youngsters. And finally Gio has to take shackles off and tell players to be brave in their football and to go at opposition. Shoot on sight, wingers to take on full backs and get to byline. Midfield to play thru lines and go beyond markers, Just be more positive all over pitch. We may very well lose with such a young side, but at least if we have youth and hopefully some energy in side, we may at least have a go. None of this will happen tho. I expect to see the McLaughlin, Tav, Goldson, Borna, Davis, Kamara and Kent all starting on Wed and probably most of them v Aberdeen too.

You could easily add Goldson to that list. Perhaps even Tav. Goldson looks like he’s got a new contract and decided to phone in His performances. Shouldn’t have been given the option to re-sign if he wasnt willing to do so before contract end. Stuck with him for 4 years now. Tav is good going forward (mostly) but defensively has always been suspect. The whole thing is a mess, should never have been left in a situation where 10-15 players aren’t good enough, past it or injured!

To me he is a dead man walking, he may get us some decent and memorable results in Europe, but we will lose the league. We may even do ok against them in next 3 old firm games, but we won’t humiliate them and I suspect it will end up like last year a win maybe or a draw and loss here and there. We will tho drop points to other teams as our ponderous style won’t kill teams off and our defence can’t keep teams out. It just feels like I’ve seen this all before and just have that feeling league is gone. He will get the bullet or walk but it will be too late when he does.

This is my issue with him as well. He’s on a 4 yr deal on a big wage and as a senior player will be first name on team sheet. He’s not turned up this season and looks like he’s happy coasting along not reaching the levels he should be at. Is he gonna improve over next 4years? Probably not. And I’m not sure the club should have re-signed him although I understand why. But he wasnt willing to re-sign before end of his contract and therefor club should have maybe closed door on him once deal was up. The problem is in this form, he’s a liability for us, and no one will buy him. We are stuck with him sadly.

Probably didn’t word it well. But Davis and Arfield imo should have been moved on/let go for younger players to come in . Wasn’t expecting money for them. In terms of the others, peak for us not necessarily peak for their age. My point is we need to be smarter at selling our players when their value/performances are at their peak with us and they attract attention. And recycle that money into team. I admit that can all fall down if no one shows interest tho. Goldson should maybe have been touted out/sold after 55. We kept him, he ran down his contract then no one appeared to want him, we re-signed him and you’d obviously understand why club did it. Decent defender. Knows league, club etc. But to me, he looks this season, like he's ‘settled’ in that he’s on a 4 year deal at somewhere between £25k-£35k a week and to be honest, doesn’t look like he gives a toss. Thinking perhaps he can coast it. Lacks the desire perhaps. So we need to strike when iron is hot so to speak and move players on.

The team has become stale, and we’ve held on to players far to long. McGregor, Goldson, Tav, Morelos, Kent, Davis, Arfield and we should have sold at their peak and made decent money and reinvested and we should moved on ageing players to make way for youth from our academy or like Bassy/Aribo type buys. All the big money we’ve made has been from selling our young players, but we kept Davis and Arfield this year rather than bring in McCann and Lowry, give them games if they are good as we hope, sell in a couple of years for good money. We need to move on our better players before the end of last year of contract for money. It’s stupid not too. No one is buying Mcgregor, Goldson, Tav, Davis or Arfield. They will all go for nothing at end of contracts, and Kent and Morelos will walk for nothing as well I reckon. We will probably release Helander. No idea what will happen with Roofe. Fair enough we were never making money in mcgregor, Davis or Arfield, but certainly could save in their wages. But could have made modest millions on all the rest if we’d followed business plan and sold at their peak. That way you would hope we would be refreshing and improving team every 2-3 years.

I’m more worried about continuing to play Goldson, Tav, Davis and Kent.

Sadly already feel winning the league is beyond us. Can’t see them dropping many points and we will almost certainly drop points to other teams. Our style/coaching is the problem, it’s slow ponderous, possession based (55% today..wow we won that eh, probably along back line and to and from Davis) always on the back foot. Our strikers isolated as we have too many defensive minded players staying back, wingers who won’t attack byline, no 1-2’s, no midfielder running behind markers. Slow in tackle (as always in back foot so don’t react. We hardly win 2nd balls or tackles as again we are too slow. If you watch that shitey pig in the middle we play in training then Our passing is pish in that too! It’s all the basics we are dreadful at. It’s maddening when these are all things that can be improved Aron by a more positive style of play. Also some players need dropped/binned. Kent, complete sand dancing imposter. Davis is done, worst midfielder for me today and stayed on full 90 which is on Gio. But aside that he’s become the most boring square ball or back passing player in team, also doesn’t defend, win tackles, headers to go beyond marker. So he’s sadly a liability in midfield. Goldson as well too fecking casual and caught out twice again today and never a leader at the back. . Tav looks fucked. Bulked up in summer and got slower. Just absolutely scunnered. If we are more than 5 pts behind at Xmas which I expect us to be, Gio has to go. Doesn’t matter how we do in Europe which is always a bonus, League is our bread and butter.

Disagree with the opinions in here that Sakala was shocking. Think he did ok, had some good direct runs and has pace and some trickery. He’s not perfect by any means but neither was Matondo. Boy did fine for us.

The hibs players tackle on Lundstrum Is worse for me as it’s straight legged and has studs showing, it’s not trip like Lundstrums was.

Really disappointing if it turns out that Davies has a long term injury already. Hoping it’s just the usual nonsense rumours. Same with the Souttar rumours I hope. Sands is an able replacement for the moment and I suppose we have King and Katic even who could fill in if Goldson was to get injured/ suspended. I know some folk feel Katic isn’t Rangers quality, but I’ve always felt that was harsh. He’s always done ok imo with occasional lapses which you could say of all our defenders to be honest. He’s a big robust, great in the air (both offensively and defensively) style CH who I feel could still do a job certainly domestically. He just maybe needs to be told to keep his passing short and just give it to more creative players. King as well looks like he could do a job from the little we have seen of him, and is certainly a prospect but obviously since his appearances have been limited it’s hard to tell now good or not he may be in big games when under pressure. I kind of feel we won’t see Helander again in a Rangers shirt. The silence on his progress seems ominous to me. But ideally I hope the rumours of any serious injury to both Davies and Souttar are untrue and they are back playing or in contention soon.

I think Sands has done very well for us so far in the LCH position. I have no fears with him continuing in that position till Davies gets fit. My concern is unfortunately over Goldson, who has had a bit of ‘casual’ start to the season. I’ll admit to never being a huge fan of Goldson, I think he’s a very capable defender but not a great one. I think for a big lad, he’s actually not that great in the air, both defending and attacking set pieces. He’s the typical thrupenny bit heid!! Just never know where ball is going half the time. His bringing out of the ball from the back apart from the occasional good long diagonals isn’t that great either. Think he can be again quite casual with his passing and often gives ball to Tav(his go to option) too late so Tav is closed down and has no option than to pass it back. and I get the fear when he attempts to run past a striker or marker. I think Sands is far quicker in moving the ball and getting it early to midfield for me. So far the boy hasn’t really put a foot wrong. Couple of wee. ‘Oh no’ moments but generally over the piece he’s been good.

No idea what to expect to be honest, hoping for a win as always, just not confident of one on current form. Back 4 same as yesterday, but Midfield is key. Lundstrum is a given, and for me it’s Lawrence and Tillman too probably. Jack doesn’t seem fit enough so can’t see him in there unless it’s to come on near end. Kamara out of sorts as well so probably out as well and he should be ideal for this game if on form. Seen some folk would like Davis in there, but not for me, he’s great with space to play his passing game, but he doesn’t tackle and doesn’t win headers. Rarely goes past a player these days either. Think they will come at us more strongly this week, so midfield will need to be up for battle and have energy in there and strength to go toe to toe at times. Davis doesn’t bring that, and last week Lundstrum had to cover for him and looked gubbed by 60 min mark. So he’s a no for me. Front line, Colak obviously, but both Kent and Matondo just not hitting any kind of form. Kent probably gets the nod, on left (no other option really) but maybe a curve ball like Sakala on the left might be worth it. His directness and unpredictable nature might be good in there. Move Kent to right. Can switch if not working. But really need the front line to be better at holding up the ball, hopefully getting shy’s and fouls high up pitch coz feel we will be under cosh a lot. Whatever formation, every player is going to have to be up for it and play to their best for us to progress.

Again club looking a bit unprofessional here. 9 days to go and no apparent signing or contracts. And if they have signed already as some rumours have said, then why not pub,Ickes it. It Should never be allowed to get to this stage. If they haven’t resigned a year before contract expiry, they they should be sold. Simple as. Club can’t be letting contracts run out and losing money. It’s supposed to be our model, buy, cheap where possible, give them the Rangers platform and sell on for a profit. I think Morelos for what he brings to us is brilliant albeit with his moments of madness like yesterday and fitness issues. I don’t think Kent is anywhere near as important. As others have pointed out, his numbers are poor now and I struggle to remember many games where I come away thinking Kent was good never mind great. Out of the two I’d prefer to keep Morelos, but this hanging around waiting to see if they sign isn’t a good look.

Folk are having doubts about Gio because we have been less than convincing this season so far and to be honest, there was plenty of games in 2nd half of last season where we we looked sluggish and poor as well. Yeh we got to Europa final and win SC but that’s done. Over, it’s History. It’s what he does now that’s important. He’s made what appears to be on paper at least good buys in transfer market. And there may be a gelling issue with them at moment. But the sluggish possession based style hasn’t changed. Everything is laboured. We’ve scored 2 cracking goals with quick passing and movement against PSV and todays 2nd. I just don’t understand why he doesn’t seem to encourage more of that. I still hope that once the players bed in a bit more we will see a quicker tempo style, but these slow starts to seasons/games needs to stop.

Lundstrum is a shocking decision, he actually goes to ground first and just lifts his left leg slowly to catch Boyle and bring him down. It’s not even a swipe. It’s not dangerous and there is no real pace in his tackle. It’s a professional trip. Even their manager said it. The Hibs one on Lundstrum in first half is worse as it’s straight legged with studs showing and Lundstrum is probably lucky hibs player never caught him worse than he did. I expect Club to appeal and they should really also complain about Collum and demand he gets demoted. But they won’t as usual. Gio also didn’t look bothered in post match interview so makes it look like ref was ok, He should be if not raging showing his annoyance, use the interviews as a bully pulpit to complain. Alfie’s I wouldn’t appeal as it was stupid from him and a clear attempt to swing at player whether it was a good connection or not. He let his teammates down and his club down and arguably cost us the points. Club should fine him, accept ban and move on. And he should be doing extra training to make up for missing games and try and get himself fit. but ultimately our pish performance is more to blame than dodgy refereeing decisions. Game should have been dead and buried in first half as Hibs were crap.

Don’t know what’s going on with him but needs taken aside by management and told to buck up his ideas. He’s been far too casual so far this season. His heading ability defending and attacking ball has always been questionable(Katic has always been better in the air imo) but he’s been caught several times dallying on ball this season and need to bring more urgency to his passing game. Sands has clearly been the better defender so far this season. And no one should be undroppable including Goldson. I suspect he could continue this form tho and still not be dropped.

Looked great in pre-season matches but not showing it so far. Probably doesn't help that we hardly give him the ball in game. Why pass early to our wingers when we can have another couple of passes long our back 4!!