17 Jul 2025 10:04:34
With our first competitive game days away I'm a bit concerned. We have a core of first team players that many deem not good enough. Speculation surrounds our no1 striker (dessers) who isn't fit Igamane appears to want away leaving us with the unreliable Danilo. Yilmaz appears to be down pecking order, probably carrying an injury or eying up a move somewhere else. Jefte seems to be considered not good enough and boaby frazer untested this leaves a right back (max) playing left back and tavernier probably plays right back with untested cb pairing in middle! Can't remember any right backs ever looking comfortable at left back apart from Mcgrain, Irwin or maybe Boyd. Oh and one of our main signings gets injured before a balls kicked, some things never change.
17 Jul 2025 10:11:40
Same core group got to Europa Quarter Final. I think we've made some smart additions that improve the core group and the squad.
My only concern re Pana is how early it's coming. Rangers never start well in early qualifying rounds played a few weeks into preseason.
17 Jul 2025 10:23:07
Mate it's the same core except Leon that got to the QF last year. Those that left have had there spaces filled. I'm not panicking, it is what it is ?.
17 Jul 2025 10:28:49
And the main point is that our management team seem to think that we have a good enough team and a decent squad developing.
and as a group of RBs who looked good at LB that is some 3 and i'd settle for any of them ?.
17 Jul 2025 10:30:07
I'm not too overly excited going into the next season but then again I'm quite a pessimistic guy, think we've just had too many false dawn's over the years, just need to wait and see.
17 Jul 2025 10:48:56
Windy, Cerny is missing, too.
17 Jul 2025 11:07:00
It's always going to be difficult.
Personally I'd go,
Butland
Jefte
Djiga
Souttar
Tav
Dio
Barron / Rothwell (tough call! )
Raskin
Cortes
Danilo
Aarons
Pana look pretty dangerous down the left, so doubling up with Aaron's and Tav in the right could be useful - especially as Tav has become a bit more comfortable at tucking into a back 3, so gives us a bit of flexibility.
17 Jul 2025 11:33:59
You have Aaron's up front.
17 Jul 2025 11:41:35
Would tend to agree with that team EHL, except for Aarons.
I do think its something that should be considered away from home though.
I won't be surprised to see Dowell playing on the right in the first leg.
17 Jul 2025 11:52:17
I think team will be this if aasgaard is not fit.
Butland
Tav
Dijga
Souttar
Aaron's
Rothwell
Raskin
Diomande
Dowell
Danilo
Gassama
Risk throwing gassama in but I don't think he has much of a choice, I'd also play Cortes rw but I think he will play dowell as he seems to like him.
17 Jul 2025 12:30:17
Gk Butland
Rb Tavernier
Rcb Souttar
Lcb Djiga
Lb Aarons
Dcm Rothwell
Cm Raskin
Cm Diomande
Rw/ Racm Dowell
Lw/ Lcam Bajrami
Cf Danilo
If Aasgaard is out.
17 Jul 2025 12:32:03
I can't help wondering, why if Martin doesn't fancy, Jefte, Yilmaz or Fraser why he didn't sign a left back as a priority rather than a right back to play out of position?
17 Jul 2025 12:39:12
Don't know what is happening with Yilmaz seems to be missing, wasn't in any training sessions at the camp in England.
17 Jul 2025 12:51:05
Is Cameron not match fit yet, think he would be the obvious replacement if the Norwegian scouser does not make it.
17 Jul 2025 12:59:55
Mystar - good shout with Bajrami on the left. He's supposed to have looked quite good in the friendlies.
17 Jul 2025 13:01:22
Wsl, I didn't realise that Martin didn't fancy Jefte - I was under the impression that he rated him pretty highly.
17 Jul 2025 13:44:05
Wsl because we currently have two left backs and at the time, only one fit right back in tavernier - so recruiting a right back was 100% the right thing to do considering most don't want tav anywhere near the team?
Also who says he doesn't fancy jefte? it's one game in season that has over 50 games and we don't even know who's playing yet ?.
17 Jul 2025 13:44:21
I'm of the same thinking EHL, that martin rates jefte as our best left back ?.
17 Jul 2025 13:47:29
To be honest I would expect Arrons and Jefte to fill the FB roles. Move Tav to CH.
17 Jul 2025 14:08:02
Sws well you have to ask why Martin has played Aarons at lb the last couple of games then, he must be thinking of playing him next Tuesday.