13 Mar 2017 13:22:40
Would any body else be tempted to rest our big game players this weekend?
A few of them looked like they could use it before semi final.

{Ed007's Note - No chance, Kev. Unless it's through injury/fitness get them out on that park playing to redeem themselves, get them back to winning ways AND show that they're up to the task of seeing out the season. The semi is over a month away and we have a league to wrap up asap.
We had the winter break and the trip to Dubai was meant to be all about recharging the batteries so if any the players need a rest now then their fitness levels aren't at an acceptable level, if that is the case I'd have them in for extra training never mind resting them.
Even at that I wouldn't say any of our players looked tired yesterday, for me that's just an excuse for them not turning up and putting in what was a thoroughly unacceptable performance. They've got all week to rest and train to be ready for Dundee, that should be ample time for any player.}

1.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 13:43:46
Agree ed just maybe give jozo and eboue a wee run to freshen things.

{Ed007's Note - Things like that are just normal squad rotation though and I've no problem with that. Although Simunovic was on the bench yesterday he wasn't fit enough for 90 mins or I think he would have started beside Boyata. I also think if we had been 2 or 3 goals up Eboue Kouassi would have replaced Bitton at some point during the game but when Bitton got injured we were still looking for goals and McGregor was probably the better option. Armstrong going off injured was a big blow to us and we struggled after that.}

2.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 13:51:40
Kev83: I understand your thinking but the 1st team need to be match sharp and that only comes from playing games at that level.

3.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 14:06:08
Good shout ed can't disagree with that armstrong was a blow thought he was controlling things but we just didn't turn up.

{Ed007's Note - It was reminiscent of a Walter Smith side, knowing that the referee isn't going to red card anyone so just take it turns to commit fouls until you're booked then let someone else be the hatchet man until he gets booked and so on, - but I wonder if it was the drunken jakey tramp Bomber that gave the order to try and injure our midfielders. Did they listen to Meatloaf's Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad after the game?
Don't forget that the game was only 7 mins in when Kenny Miller tried to break Armstrong's leg(s) so there was no surprise when he ended up injured during the game.

4.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 14:30:37
Am amazed they finished with 11 men. there's a picture of millers challenge on another site its unbelievable he never even got booked holts challenge on a think it was paddy was ridiculous not even a foul. and well we know about the pen dermot Gallagher on sly saying it was pen brother bobby would have been getting toasted last mite by the klan terrible display.

{Ed007's Note - I have no doubts at all that if the penalty incident had happened at the other end it would definitely - 100% certain - have been given.}

5.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 14:34:12
If the players have enough pride about them then they should be desperate to play on Sunday to get yesterdays performance out of their system.
Over the last few weeks I've felt that we haven't started games well, I don't know if this down to complacency or not but I would like to see us really forcing our opponents back early in games before they settle into their defensive shape.

{Ed007's Note - We're struggling playing 4-3-3, I can't quite put my finger on it but since we switched formation we don't seem to dominate the way we were earlier in the season when we had a fit Rogic and played 4-2-3-1.}

6.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 14:47:23
ED007 I said last week that our players would be targeted as they knew the ref would turn a blind eye. Did we really expect anything less from Madden.
The game was almost a re run of Delia's semi final, we played poorly in both games, yet were still better than them, a wee gee up from Brendan is now needed.
I agree with you about some of the players easing off in games recently, I hope Rogic is fit for the semi and even the new guy Eboue both may give us some energy.
We all saw how blatant the cheating, and there is no other word from it from Madden, and this was in a game Sevco had nothing to gain except pride, imagine the number of "honest mistakes" that will occur in the semi final, which is now sevco's make or break game.
On the positive side, just like the last semi final, all the "respectful" triumphalism displayed yesterday should ensure our players are well up for the April game.

{Ed007's Note - There is no way that an ex-RFC season ticket holder (wasn't it a debenture he had with the old club?) should be in the middle of a Glasgow Derby.}

7.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 15:06:37
Said in a earlier post that think we're missing rogics wee bit of magic in the last third but hopefully b ready for semi final where the honest mistakes will be a plenty remember big eriks disallowed goal the ladt time at hampden there's yer starter for ten.

{Ed007's Note - We need to look at a new No.10 in the summer, for all I think Rogic's a great technical player his injury problems are a constant concern. I still think we should have kept Johansen for another season to see how he fared under Rodgers.}

8.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 15:36:30
It does beg the question why, like with the English FA and their refs having to declare who they support etc, if there are measures which can reduce pressure or possibly even eliminate innocent mistakes, they aren't taken with the SFA.

{Ed007's Note - It's definitely something that should be looked at up here. Either that or bring in foreign officials for big games like derbies and the semis and finals of the cups.}

9.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 16:11:07
Ed Jimtim's idea is fine and reasonable but do you expect madden and his ilk to be honest?

{Ed007's Note - Madden couldn't lie and say that he wasn't a Rangers/RIFC season ticket holder.}

10.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 17:36:00
I've said before that even if a referee goes into one of these games intending to be truly fair, you can't be sure how they'll react when they have to give a decision in the last minute of a match which is likely to cost his favourite team the match.
It's human nature that he's likely to instantly give the decision in favour of his own team.
Why the SFA think that this won't happen is beyond me. If they were to bring in referees from outside it wouldn't just be fairer to us, it would also be fairer to the refs themselves.

11.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:10:25
In that split-second moment gerry, a decision could even be a subconscious one.

12.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:04:14
Think your right ed definitely need another no 10 rogic to injury prone maybe young christie can step up next year.

{Ed007's Note - I wouldn't fancy Christie in there in CL matches though.}

13.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:46:27
guys if we play Armstrong as a No10 then we are looking at another backup to him. SA has the pace guile and strength to play that role.

14.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:47:56
Me neither need to get the cheque book out christie will b fine domestically but cl to lightweight.

15.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:46:27
guys if we play Armstrong as a No10 then we are looking at another backup to him. SA has the pace guile and strength to play that role.

{Ed007's Note - Just NAW!!}

16.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 18:47:56
Me neither need to get the cheque book out christie will b fine domestically but cl to lightweight.

{Ed007's Note - Rodgers was quick enough to speak out about LG needing to knuckle down and get himself fit so God knows what he thinks about Rogic. I really hoped he had put all the injury problems behind him and he would cement his place in the starting 11 but that's just over 4 years (Jan '13) he's been here and he's still struggling to stay fit. Being fit for only 50% of our league games is unacceptable to me when you know his injury history.}

17.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 20:53:00
Thats a terrible stat ed shame cause he's got a lot to offer.

{Ed007's Note - I was surprised myself but we've played 28 games and he's made 14 league apps for us so far. Remembering how many times he never lasted the full 90 mins in games I worked it out that in the SPFL he's averaged only 63.5 mins per match - 889 mins over his 14 apps.}

18.) 13 Mar 2017
13 Mar 2017 21:18:59
I actually thought the cup game was closer than a month away but still think some of the players look jaded.
With the league won in all but name really I would be rotating as much as possible up until the semi to make sure everyone at there peak.
As for the number 10 roll I think it's only really rogic that can play it in our squad and it is a must buy for the summer.
Armstrong for me is best in beside brown and is looking more like the next captain every week.