Bring on Hearts

So it looks like a debut for Bardsey tomorrow in the biggest game of the season for us so far. This is going to be really tough as Hearts will be looking to maintain their form shown so far while we have struggled somewhat and I think it is going to be very tight, in fact I wouldn't rule out a goalless draw. I would love to see an entertaining game but frankly I cannot see that happening.

It is about time the defence gelled and also its high time that Leitizi stops his antics and goes for the no nonsense approach when it comes to clearances for example. Other than that he is a good keeper though. Maybe also it may be worth giving Gavin Rae a run out as the two sitting midfielders style of play may not be suited to the type of game this is going to be but in saying that I cannot see many changes in the team, speaking of which this is how I think we will line up tomorrow.

--------------------------------------Leitizi-------------------------------------------


Bardsey---------------Svennson-------------------J Rod--------------------Smith

----------------------Hemdani-----------------Clement----------------------------

Burke-----------------------------Buffel-------------------------------Sionko

-----------------------------------Boyd--------------------------------------------

Subs, McGregor, Hutton, Rae, Adam, Martin, Prso, Sebo

While Adam has done ok so far I think we need a wee bit more experience in there and Sionko can play on the left pretty effectively while Burke will do his thing on the right. Buffel must perform tomorrow, no ifs, no buts, he must perform and take his chances if and when he gets them. Craig Gordon is an outstanding keeper, one of the best young keepers in Europe, I would say and it will be a tall order to score past him and that is why I think Boyd will start due to his goalscoring instincts. Prso can come on later as well as Sebo and I would be surprised if we didn't see Lee Martin in action at some point.

So heres hoping for a great result tomorrow, lets see it happen guys!!

Phil Bardsey in on loan

Not a lot going on today other than the good result of getting Phil Bardsey on loan from man yoo. From what I have seen of him he is a pretty decent player but has a lot to do to work on his game. He is a tough tackler and as one colleague put it today, very similar to Terry Hurlock, remember him? Lets hope he has even half the commitment big Terry had and he will be fine. I know we want to give our young players a run in the team but Alan Hutton has not been the same player he was since he returned from, injury and has been a real liability at times and has a habit of getting caught out at the wrong time. We also have Ponroy who can play at right back too so there is competition there and that can only be a good thing in my humble opinion.

As we prepare for Saturday's big game against Hearts it has emerged that Valdas Ivanauskas is nothing more of a puppet manager while Mad Vlad continues to pull the strings in team selection according to Lee Johnson who has just left them. Lets hope this will have a detrimental effect on the Jambo's who are nowhere near anything special and are a very dirty side. You know it made me laugh when Mad Vlad said that the old firm are dirty, does he watch his own side or does he have selective eyesight I wonder? The truth is out there!

Til tomorrow trhyen when the Friday predictions will be here.

Bye Bye Boab

Wednesday and its au revoir to Le Bob de la Malcolm who is away to join the Gers exiles at Millwall and still the unwated French boys are hanging about doing the cubic root of bugger all. Good thats that out of the way then.

Anyway onto more interesting chat and I found that paint drying is a worthwhile pastime especially with the shades....(Enough DL, CR) Oops did I type that out loud....anyway yes another guy seems to want to join his ex Austria Vienna buddies and he's a defender what we need and he seems keen and Sebo and Sionko have spoken highly of Glasgow so its looking prmoising, all we need to do is shift some deadwood and we will be good to go, over to you then Martin Bain.

Onto the international team and Burke and Boyd are raring to go and both are desperate to get back in the Gers team so they have a chance of being unleashed against the Faroes and Lithuania and with some not so inspired for from others they are defenitely worth a shot. I would take out Prso and Buffel and put Sionko in the middle and Boyd up front with wee Burkey doing his thing on the wing...anyone like the alliteration there?

One thing I have realsied since the start of the season is how much we are missing Fergie. The one thing we lack on the park is a proper leader who can inspire that wee bit more out of his team mates and added to that his ability and it is clear that we are missing him. Big time. I hope to god Marvin Andrews has been making himself useful and speaking to the big man upstairs and attempting to faith heal him when he isn't watching but that clearly has not happened! In all seriousness though we need him back as he brings more to the team than Hemdani for example who does a good job it has to be said, but he doesn't offer much in the way of attacking impetus. Fergie once he is back and fit will be as good as ever and will lead us to a more respectable season that last season.

Another day...same feelings

So back today after being ill yesterday and well what can I say other than what a lot of rubbish. It has to be said that Dunfermlines defensive tactics were frustrating and they made few attempts to attack and that sadly is their prerogative. They are at the bottom of the table and must win points by all means necessary. Fine, but it doesn't allow for a good game or indeed a good advert for Scottish football and their style of football is so bad it could get football banned! However their game plan worked for them and fair play to them for that.

In saying that the team should have adapted accordingly and not gone for the long balls that were getting picked up if not the first time but the second when the supporting three behind Prso got on the ball. We have to stop the long ball tactics. They do not work and what we and indeed the manager wants to see is good football played on the deck with pace and accuracy. That will not always be possible and if we have to play ugly then that means winning ugly, by any means necessary.
Saturdays game will be different and it is still early days in the PLG era so lets just hope it gets better sooner rather than later so we are not way behind come October. Hearts and Celtic are not all that great and neither are Rangers if the truth be told so far under PLG. Lets hope that changes but it won't happen overnight. Fans who thought that all would be rosy from day 1 of le revoltion are quite frankly living in a dream world and while I am sure in a year or two we will be a very good side, we aren't now and it pains me to say that.

On a brighter note it seems the misfits are on their way out, hopefully this week and I can't say I am sorry, with the exception of Ricksen, even then he hasn't always been good for us.

Top of the table?

Todays results mean that tomorrow we can be up where we belong. The top of the table. I have to feel a wee bit of sympathy for the Pars with all their injury problems, but having said that, who gives us any sympathy when we have important players out injured? Answer: nobody.
The main headache tomorrow is where to play our attacking players and who replaces who and when. With Lee Martin set to be in the squad and Burke, Sionko and Adam going good guns it is a good headache to have, unlike the one I had this morning! The team though picks itself but again there anre questions over who will start and here is how I think Rangers will line up tomorrow.

-----------------------------------Leitzi--------------------------------------

Ponroy--------------Svennson----------J rod------------------------Smith

----------------------Hemdani--------------------Clement------------------

Sionko-----------------------Buffel---------------------------Burke

---------------------------------Boyd------------------------------

Subs: McGregor, Hutton, Stanger, Rae, Martin, Prso, Sebo

So a tough one then and who will come on for who and when? If things are not going well up front and we see another afternoon off misfiring in front of goal the I can see Buffel coming off for Sebo and Burke or Sionko making way for Prso, with hopefully an opportunity for young Lee Martin to take a bow.
Either way this should be straightforward but I said that in the run up to last weeks game so I am going to say no more.
Enjoy the game.

Just another day

Another day of nothing interesting in the news concerning Rangers. According to the bbc Le Guen is looking for defenders which is unsurprising to say the least. So who is available and who can we get that is the question.

Well Sol Campbell would be nice but it seems like he wants to join the avoid relegation struggle at Pompey and he has been pish the past 2 seasons and he's out of our league in terms of wages but maybe Le Guen has people in mind, I'm sure he does and hopefully he will unearth another gem and one who has experience and will settle in right away. The two main centre halves we have are ok except it could be argued justifiably that Svennson has a hell of a lot to do as has Hutton who I fear may be becoming the new Maurice Ross. Ponroy though can play at right back and maybe he should be given his chance on Sunday as Hutton was to blame in some ways for allowing the cross to come in that led to Noel Hunts goal on Saturday.
So sorry folks not the most positive piece I have ever written but hey it could be worse.