Have to say our season is really going to implode when Austin leaves. Our strike force is not good enough.
You'd like to think so. Is Grego-Cox still alive? Blackwood probably isn't physically ready for professional football based on the very brief glimpse of him on Tuesday JET seems to be the new boo boy but I there's a player in there and probably a striker rather than whatever position that was meant to be yesterday. Someone just needs to remind him he's 6'4 and 14 stone sometimes.
I watched the game on the TV last night and the first impression was that this is a new rangers team trying to find its way; as such we will need to be patient. I thought that Cardiff were excellent and that all that they were lacking was a clinical finisher. It is disappointing that we lost a 2-0 lead, but were we value for that lead? Probably not? Out of the new boys I think that Gladwin shows that he has a lot of scope - he is clearly happy driving forward and taking players on - but he can be a bit sloppy doing the simple things - like receiving balls from throw ins and clearing the ball - these tasks might not seem to be important, but it does result in the team losing possession needlessly. I liked Chery; reminded me a bit of that Arsenal player Cazorla. Like a few more on here I would not have taken him off - he was the one player who Cardiff were wary of. Now I know that we scored our second shortly after he came off but I still think that the substitution was meant to be a defensive one by CR who looked really tense on the touchline. We had two experienced full backs on the pitch yesterday and while both will be OK in this division they did not look match fit to me. Not sure about Lungo yet and did not see enough of Polter and JET.
The football was prosaic yesterday - and I thought we were flattered by the two-goal lead. Poor defending for the first three goals. Yesterday's fare reminded me of the gulf between EPL and SBC. We were sloppy several times in the first half and were not punished for it; last season we were probably 75% of the time and had an uphill struggle. I think Jamie Mackie's absence was a shame - as he could have offered spirit and fight and fired up the home support from the first minute. I know it's not a popular view, but we do miss Joey Barton. The only player directing others was Jane's Great Grandson. After both Cardiff goals there was no-one providing any leadership or communication on the pitch as the ball was re-spotted in the centre circle. Who is going to emerge as the on-field captain? Directing from midfield? I cannot see any of yesterday's team stepping forward. Some of the same problems of last season were still evident yesterday despite the number of changes in personnel - we still seem to have no-one contesting the second ball between attack and midfield; something that Leroy Fer exploited when he was finally played central behind the attackers last season. And we desperately need a creative spark. I know that Ravel Morrison would have been a gamble, but we've always loved a maverick at W12. It was a shame that his proposed move back from Lazio fizzled out ahead of his long-term injury. Finally, I think the dip in mood is down to something far greater than the players or the football. I think it's the first season in the last six where we seem to be lacking any real ambition. I recall the first game when Adel Taarabt had signed permanently - started as captain - and Neil Warnock introduced Shaun Derry and Clint Hill. Then the first match vs Bolton getting spanked, but still knowing that we had a chance if we could just get some quality seasoned players in to bolster the team; similarly vs Swansea; and even Sheffield Wednesday when we really should have drawn at very best (and had Joey sent off!). I know the club have got to play it down a little, but I think that in itself could be a problem. I think it's the realisation that we're back to pre-Warnock Rangers. We can dare to dream, but in reality we probably all know deep-down that we're in the wilderness for a few years yet before we can really apply any faith in that hope.
Well I'm not a betting man but if I decide to have a flutter one day then I certainly won't bother asking you for any tips Jog on!
