The Hooded Claw
Well-Known Member
A happy bear
Disagree on two counts here. You don’t need two destroyers for the majority of games in this league. All-rounders possibly, but they still need to be able to take the ball from the defence and link it to the front ‘four’ - hopefully a four if Gerrard plays Hagi as a ten. The two need to have an engine though, that’s why I’m still not sure about letting Docherty go as he could do a job (IMO) as a backup for one of those positions.
And as much as I’ll criticise Kamara at times, he certainly doesn’t hide. The opposite is true, he’s too laid back at times and thinks he has time for five touches when he barely has time for one.
Phuck, with Borna, Aribo, Kent, Hagi and Buff. Right there is five players that have no peer in our wee corrupt league. One or two more and we have us a collective of 55’ers.
Haw Ginger Baws, that’s £75m of talent (minimum) right there.
Is it 3mill? I thought the agreement was 4mill?£3m is a steal IMO, well done Ross Wilson.
Whilst playing for us???I think someone may already have said it, but I think he'll be POTY next season.
Who?Michael Stewart's head will be exploding right now.
On 11 occasion's when we won the league, a Celtic player won POTY. When they won league, we've twice had POTY .I think someone may already have said it, but I think he'll be POTY next season.
I think the deal is already signed . No way have genk put that on their web page without the deal being signed. They've probably been asked by rangers to take the post down, so we can announce it on our media first.From the Reddit thread , it appears to be a large sell on fee is part of the hold up . Anyone got info on this ? Can't wait for the announcement. Brilliant signing.
If I remember right there was talk that Genk got a new manager that didn’t rate him/couldn’t fit him into his system. If that’s the case, they might be happy to get a decent fee + add ons. I can’t imagine Rangers will let the % of a future fee owed to Genk (if that’s even part of the deal) be any more than 10-15%, the fact Wilson and co have been able to renegotiate the fee indicates to me they won’t be taken for a ride and will get the best value from the deal.If those figures are correct I can only think Genk have opted for a larger % of sell on value. Great deal minimises our initial upfront investment.
You don't need 2 destroyers, but you do need 2 disciplined, possession retaining midfielders to protect our attacking full backs, supply our more forward players and keep control of the game.
Docherty certainly couldn't play that role close to the level of Kamara, Davis or Jack.
2 out of those 3 must play, if we are to use the
4-2-3-1 formation.
If Docherty can’t do a reasonable job as one of the two sitting against the likes of St Mirren, Accies, Ross County etc then we have a severe issue with the lad.
If Docherty can’t do a reasonable job as one of the two sitting against the likes of St Mirren, Accies, Ross County etc then we have a severe issue with the lad.
The issue being he can’t play any position as well as his competition. Defensively he’s not very good and he’s not as good on the ball as any of our other midfielders. McCrorie adds more value to our midfield as a destroyer and he’s nowhere near the starting 11.
Yeah, i can see all the impartial journalists and haters in other teams doing that right enoughI think someone may already have said it, but I think he'll be POTY next season.
You don’t feel like we still need to strengthen in one of the two sitting midfield positions,mate?You don't need 2 destroyers, but you do need 2 disciplined, possession retaining midfielders to protect our attacking full backs, supply our more forward players and keep control of the game.
Docherty certainly couldn't play that role close to the level of Kamara, Davis or Jack.
2 out of those 3 must play, if we are to use the
4-2-3-1 formation.
He may well do a reasonable job mate, but he wouldn't do nearly as good a job as Kamara, Davis, Jack, or even Arfield would.
He doesn't have the natural possession retention or positional sense they have.
Tbf to him, a holding midfielder isn't his natural position.
In fact I don't think I've ever see him play it.
You don’t feel like we still need to strengthen in one of the two sitting midfield positions,mate?
I’m a big fan of kamara,Davis and jack and certainly after their performance at the piggery on the 29th where they were outstanding but then you have tynecastle and pittodrie (2nd half) performances.
As I said, purely as back up, if he can’t do a job 9/10 games a season in this country then there’s a problem either with the coaching or scouting if he’s truly that bad.
Do we have any genuine holding players that specialise in that position?
I do remember how well they played that’s what makes it all the more frustrating,mate. it’s happened 2 years in row now and it’s happened in every single department, something needs to give.Between Kamara, Jack, Davis and Arfield, I'd say we've got decent cover for those positions mate.
We need to remember how well our midfield played up until New Year.
They dominated every other midfield in the league and some top European ones too.
It may well be that Ģerrard will want to strengthen in that area further, but bigger issues for me, after the break, were basic individual errors, with McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Edmondson, Katic and Barisic all responsible.
Defoe's injury, plus Morelos's ill discipline and loss of form contributed plenty too.
We simply didn't score enough goals.
It's unfair to pin it all down to our midfield.
Hopefully the Hagi signing will be the spark for more creativity in the final third.
I do remember how well they played that’s what makes it all the more frustrating,mate. it’s happened 2 years in row now and it’s happened in every single department, something needs to give.
Hagi can be a great addition if we play him in the correct position.
I hope we are actively looking to sell Morelos and have a replacement lined up.
Gerrard and Ross Wilson have a big job on their hands. Firstly we need to add at least three more attacking players on top of hagi then we need to either strengthen the defence or Hope the return of helander improves the overall performance of the back 5.
If Hagi gets a full preseason and we play him as an orthodox 10, he could ruin this league. We need to upgrade other attack options and if we have the funds a box to box midfielder. Biggest thing for me is to be flexible in the formation we play, 433 needs binned as our go to set up.
Even now, I’d be astonished if Gerrard deviates from his comfort blanket 4-3-3.
As I said earlier in the thread, it’s a massive transfer for the gaffer - will he ultimately turn out to be a Warburton ‘one system fits all’ manager whose Plan B is to do Plan A better, or will he prove to be a progressive and adaptable manager who’ll build around his most talented footballer and train his squad to be familiar with more than one formation?
It’ll be a very interesting one.
Damn it!! I knew there was something i forgot to do!
Good post, seems like right place wrong time for Docherty unfortunatelyThe issue being he can’t play any position as well as his competition. Defensively he’s not very good and he’s not as good on the ball as any of our other midfielders. McCrorie adds more value to our midfield as a destroyer and he’s nowhere near the starting 11.
You don’t feel like we still need to strengthen in one of the two sitting midfield positions,mate?
I’m a big fan of kamara,Davis and jack and certainly after their performance at the piggery on the 29th where they were outstanding but then you have tynecastle and pittodrie (2nd half) performances.
Even now, I’d be astonished if Gerrard deviates from his comfort blanket 4-3-3.
As I said earlier in the thread, it’s a massive transfer for the gaffer - will he ultimately turn out to be a Warburton ‘one system fits all’ manager whose Plan B is to do Plan A better, or will he prove to be a progressive and adaptable manager who’ll build around his most talented footballer and train his squad to be familiar with more than one formation?
It’ll be a very interesting one.
If we stick to 4-3-3 we will nothing. It might sound dramatic but I'm convinced of it. I hope Gerrard learns.
It will be a long season the mate, for me anyway, Gerrard has done a good job so far imo. But we need to be less predictable in our play, as well upgrading attacking options, we were far too reliant on Alfie to get goals
Or Defoe obviously.
Barjonas would do a far better job than Doc in that position as back up mate.
Davis is very much a holding mid now.
Jack and Kamara are also very comfortable sitting deeper and all have the technical ability to recycle and build the play for us.
Arfield has done it well on occasion too, although it's not his natural position.
If Defoe is our 2nd choice striker next season, we won't win the league would be my guess. We need more goals in our team
Got to be more ruthless here, for me Arfield is not a first pick and we can do better than him.
Davis also needs replaced unfortunately.
Defoe won't be 1st choice striker, nor should he be, but remember as 2nd choice striker he outscored our 1st choice striker in the league, despite playing less games.
It's absolutely baffling how some people just ignore his goalscoring stats and say he doesn't score enough goals.
Here's the facts......
League goals.....
Defoe, 11 starts, 13 goals
Morelos 18 starts, 12 goals
Kamberi 19 starts, 4 goals
What manager in his right mind would discard a striker from his squad who is providing a return like that?
Not sure where I or anyone implied Defoe should be 'discarded' . Given Gerrard plays 433 with one central striker, typically Morelos, my point was to have more players contributing goals other than our central striker in the 433 of we insist on playing that way .
If you want a fact we were 13 points behind the manks, the main failure on our part was the lack of goals compared to what the scum did when TLB changed formation
Defoe won't be 1st choice striker, nor should he be, but remember as 2nd choice striker he outscored our 1st choice striker in the league, despite playing less games.
It's absolutely baffling how some people just ignore his goalscoring stats and say he doesn't score enough goals.
Here's the facts......
League goals.....
Defoe, 11 starts, 13 goals
Morelos 18 starts, 12 goals
Kamberi 19 starts, 4 goals
What manager in his right mind would discard a striker from his squad who is providing a return like that?
Those are Kamberis starts for Hibs aren’t they? It’s a hell of a tick to beat someone with when using stats from a mid table side vs one vying for a championship.
You said if Defoe was our 2nd choice striker we wouldn't win the league mate.
There won't be a better return from any other 2nd choice striker in our league.
Changes in formation are a different argument and one I agree with.
We also need a first choice striker we can always rely on.
Hopefully Morelos, if he stays, has learnt his lessons.
Michael Stewart will be along soon to spout some negative slant on it.
Missing the point that one of Europe's most exciting young talents will be playing in Scotland.