Holmes_and_Watson

If we can help even one SR club get into Europe, then it will be worth languishing in the championship for. 😄

I think that was the draw for Brand Martin. He sticks to his guns and gets bigger jobs. MK Dons, Swansea, Saints and Rangers (if that's finalised). He's now in European competition. A whole new set of suitors when his time at Ibrox ends. SR left him with a weaker squad in the PL than his promotion squad. If Rangers have the personnel to even fill the big gaps such as Adams type striker and an experienced DM, then they should be finishing second. If he gets a decent European campaign (which is far from certain for Scottish clubs) then he can fail, but now have that experience on his CV.

A quick peek at footy stats shows Rangers were getting an overall 65% possession anyway in 24/25. Hiring him, because you want higher possession, is madness. As one of the big two against teams holding out for a point or a set piece, they get plenty of the ball already. Citing his narrow defeats is also madness domestically as the expectation is to win every game. The expectation and approach required are very different. Hoping to have more control in European games is different. Perhaps one of those adaptable managers could have more than one approach. Odd to say it's hard to judge him on our bad season, when he was in charge of it, and led the way to the drop. Martin's style took a bit to settle in, for various reasons. While we did have that unbeaten run, I never got the feeling it had all clicked into place. Some of it yes, and in some games a lot, but overall not. Someone has their tartan bonnet on a bit too tight I think.

Earps was wanted in the squad, but didn't want to go and potentially warm a bench. If she wasn't considered number 1, then she saw the future of not playing, and pulled the plug herself. Kirby, despite the experience and skill, is just down to manager's choice. Bright was injured for a long spell in 23/24, and has worked hard again to get back a few times. She's making a choice for herself longer term. I don't think Bright has retired from England? There is also the scenario where the manager just felt Bright wasn't quite back to her best, and was happy to let the player break the news. Also, these are ll veteran squad members. As opportunities and facilities are better, you'd expect an overall general jump in the players coming up. That's going to limit the length of time some players will manage to stay in the squad. It's a shame, after all their success, to see that team break up. But there were retirements after the last Euros, so it was happening gradually anyway.

Morning news... Next series of Doctor Who to be extended. "Budgets are really tight, and we needed a direction," said showrunner Echo Betterdays. "But that Giant Strawman turning up has not only slashed the need for CGI, but given us a villain for a 6 part series. We're in talks with MLG to play the scientist who fails to identify it and misuses it in his lust for power."

Energy

The stripe on the right goes down part way then vanishes. There's a double dark red stripe descending into the badge on the collar side. A collar that, as posted, does not fit the neck it's supposed to be attached to. Logo looks off colour too. Here's hoping it's a design they do end up using though.

They have a good grasp on what they are getting. 🙂

It's been a pointless league since the days of Ferguson at Aberdeen and McLean at Dundee United.

The Premier League should never have changed from the Premiership. That's just one more reason I'll be supporting the tactical masterclass of Russell Martin, if he joins Rangers in the Premiership. 🙂

Syringe

As if. We're packed with top striking talent. Archer, AA, TP, BBD, Stewart, Sule when we're doing that 1 up counter formation. No room for strikers here! 🙂

Not to panic. That's just the first one over the line. Deals for the three left backs they really wanted are close. 🙂

Sign of Saints shirts to come...

Will that be the mandated welcome, if P&O become our main shirt sponsors? 🙂

"We are taking this very seriously and are following positive lines of inquiry," said police, thrilled at finally having something to do on Arran, and hoping to get a TV mini series out of it. Meanwhile "Hundreds of people attended the first Arran Pride in a march along the Isle's renowned seafront in 2022." That will also include all the people trapped on the island before the next ferry, on the main street, with not much better to do and who can't drive past because of the parade. A place where it's hard not to attend an event.

After watching them this season, there's every reason to feel down. If they're just going to insult us, I'm going to listen to my Village People albums instead. 🙂

I was about to leap (well amble) to the defence of our overseas Saints supporters, who we all love as fellow fans. But you did say "identify with the strongest teams", so that clearly doesn't apply here. 🙂 Mind you, historically, football hasn't needed much of an excuse to be corrupt all the way back to incentives for amateur players, or ways round wage caps.

Looking forward to the new kit launch...

Comparing that to ourselves, part of how we present ourselves to players is a move to a top club within a couple of years. Less, if the buying club hits our price point, or we need to cash in. Our player trading approach, means the club don't want to have players hanging around for 5 years, although they also don't, have a structure in place that controls when bids come in, and keeps the squad building upwards. The result is that our squad gets weaker and weaker and the talents we do have vanish all the faster when we get relegated. We also spend a lot on multiple players we think we can sell on, rather than a better player who we want to stay and make us better over the long term. There, I knew I could make the Liverpool chat relevant to us. 🙂

As Manchester United found out during their ghost town bus tour, you don't have to stick with one soccerball team forever. As clubs look down on "legacy" fans, leverage that to keep supporting the successful ones. In this Beeb article noticing the shift from Man Utd through Man City and back to Liverpool, winning is important. However, it does mention Brighton as a hipster choice. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2qd53v479o

It's hard to let go of a manager who had that common touch, and shared so many of the things the everyday bloke does ...(pauses to apply beard oil) For a manager who would rather sometimes lose and play to his philosophy to go to a club where every game is seen as a win or bust, is not a good fit. They've had a fallow period using what resources they had. However, the new takeover will have already raised expectations. Even the new owners have said that their aim is to win trophies and do well in Europe...while being sustainable. Massive expectations, uncertain budget. Good luck with that. Martin will be facing a load of teams that if they've been a bit braver recently, are quite happy to sit back and defend for 90 minutes. Rangers knocking it around at the back suits them fine. Only the poorly coached will be drawn in to even trying to get it back. For them a point against Rangers is an excellent result. And if Celtic are doing better, he's going to be under pressure anyway. Because to win the title, they are the only competition. The press are there to sell papers, not discuss transitions. They will happily stir the pot, like a shortbread version of Spanish football. We saw how Martin's system failed to cope in the PL. Against European opposition, he could well get unstuck as a Pep-lite coach, when others have developed past it. Like everywhere he's been, some fans will like the approach and others hate it. Unlike everywhere else, the expectation levels are relentless. He just has to win...all the time. I can see why his controlled system is attractive to clubs. But that won't stop them dumping him sharpish, if their own goodwill gets dragged down too. Edit:Beeb discussing same stuff. Martin "interviewed brilliantly." The article highlights many of their difficulties. Compare that with the new owner goals and fan expectations. Then drop Martin into the middle of it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2jp5xp0njo

At least that's something they'd never do 😀 I saw the Opta team of the season (also doubling as Man Utd's Scouting list) had 10 other players alongside Trent, marking it out as different from the Fawning Commentator team of the season which was just him. 🙂

Dome