19 Oct 2020 14:24:41
Just something that has been going through my mind since we qualified for the Europa League. I understand the financial element as to why qualifying was important but now we are there most of the realistic money available to us has been banked. I think we should use the EL games this year like we do say league cup games in Scotland. Play all our fringe players, keeping the more important players for a league battle which this season will still be. Any other year this would not be my opinion but the league title is absolutely everything this year and any distractions are not needed. I would almost have a midweek team and a weekend team with only minimal crossover, some of the older member's of the squad would not even be travelling . Thoughts?
19 Oct 2020 14:42:07
Great idea to be honest mate. If we get through group realistically only worth a couple million. Having already banked possibly 6/ 7 million. I would be resting 3 or 4 key players. Put bassey in. use zungu jack etc in middle.
19 Oct 2020 14:44:06
Agree Cambiger, the league is our no.1 priority this year. Qualification was good for the finances but I'm happy to "take it easy" in the EL to concentrate on the league.
19 Oct 2020 14:45:23
Normally I would disagree but the reality is every other team from Scotland does nowt for our co-efficient ranking so focus on the league this year. I think Gerrard will know this anyway. I hope lol.
19 Oct 2020 15:50:22
The difference being though, in previous seasons we didn’t have a squad big enough to realistically cope with the rigours of playing both domestic and European football and keep the standards high, Gerrard continually stated that himself and continually said he wanted to improve the overall standard of the squad with players who could come into the starting eleven without the quality being affected (this is where people have been getting confused, when we have made signings some folk have moaned that they don’t think the players brought in are better than the starting eleven we have. Well maybe they aren’t better, but they are at the same level which overall has greatly improved our ability to consistently put out a team of great quality, unlike in previous seasons where losing a few players has crested Big problems) . If you look at our bench from Saturday we’re just about there now. Considering we didn’t even have Katic, Edmundson, Zungu, Roofe (or even Stewart) in the squad at all, we probably now have the ability to make 4 or 5 changes between European games and domestic games without affecting the quality we’re putting out.
For example if everyone is fit and up to match speed, would replacing McGregor, Helander, Davis, Arfield, Barker and Morelos with McLaughlin, Balogun, Jack, Zungu, Roofe/ Hagi and Itten, dramaticly reduce the standard of the team overall?
It may be too early to tell yet but I’d still be confident with which ever team we put out.
19 Oct 2020 16:00:03
Were going for the quadruple this year. don't be a defeatist. we fear no foe.
19 Oct 2020 16:16:16
I think our squad now looks good enough to compete on both fronts. Why can't we progress out of the Europa League group and reach the last 8 or last 4? For Davis, Arfield, Kamara read Aribo, Jack, Zungu, or any combination. Plus Roofe and Itten. We've got cover in goal and at the back too. If this is going to be our season let's win the league AND progress as far as we can in Europe!
19 Oct 2020 16:25:30
Last 4 a bit of a stretch with quality in the doiger. we got played off the park and outclassed in every dept by a good leverkusen who then got knocked out comfortable by inter. But yes we are most certainly stronger than last season.
19 Oct 2020 16:31:56
If Rangers even attempted to have a “ midweek team and a Saturday team “ we would be ridiculed and never allowed to forget it if we won nothing
Not a chance this will happen mate,
It was talked about regularly a good few years back, And Rangers really did have far better team than now, and enough players, it didn’t work then and it sure as hell wouldn’t work now
It’s completely understandable that you know the league is everything, but rangers are in the process of regaining their international reputation, no not for me, we play the game to win.
19 Oct 2020 16:33:44
There is still substantial £££ in the way of points (wins and draws) plus topping the group etc.
19 Oct 2020 16:57:23
Agree Tom Thumb, we want as many points as possible to keep up our co-efficient. This could mean automatic qualification to a Champions League group slot in the near future and all the millions that entails.
A midweek European team? No thanks, although I'm realistic enough to rule out going last 4 let alone win a quadruple. Think some are getting carried away because we gubbed a rank rotten Celtic side who are about to be given another footballing lesson from Milan - presuming Milan are interested.
19 Oct 2020 18:43:53
Nobody wants to stop 10 in row more than me, however, next season is far more important. As I understand, the top 2 teams qualify for the champions league but the winners go straight into the group stages and the 30 million it brings. If I had the choice, I know which one I'd choose. Laudrup said recently " nobody outside the west of Scotland gives a damn about 10 in a row".
19 Oct 2020 18:45:51
Honestly don’t care about europa league as I have said since the start of season understand financial implications of not getting there but 55 is way more important.
19 Oct 2020 18:58:07
we need europe or be sure we wouldn't have a team capable of winning 55. we definitely wouldn't 1) be able to afford who we have now 2) they wouldn't come if there was no European football.
19 Oct 2020 19:42:45
Can’t understand this, the league is everything this year, that’s a fact, but nobody said rangers can’t compete in Europe too, and we will, this title will bring its rewards, and stopping them is absolutely paramount,
19 Oct 2020 20:28:35
Go out to win every game, taking each 1 as it comes on individual merits, assess squad fitness and recovery etc and play the strongest poss team no matter who we play. In it to win it or don’t turn up.