Blantyre_Braveheart

That final game, were we are out and have been out for about 4 games. He starts just 1 eligible player for the next campaign. Plays so negative it is unreal and plays to show no actual footballing capacity. On the Ayr LB, there were 2 of them. He called up both at 22/23, before Doig and Hickey. That tells you all you need to know about the man. Did you know Nathan Patterson never once played RB for the u21s? Or that McCrorie played more as a RB than a CM? That Turnbull barely featured and was behind Barry Maguire? How is this developing players? That is the remit of an u21 manager. Whereas Gemmell has the mindset of a dinosaur. My favourite was his article about needing to give younger players a chance earlier, yet he doesn't follow through with it himself, even at u21 level.

This will turn out an easy win but it should in no way excuse another absolutely dreadful performance up until that sending off.

Hanley lucky that wasn't caught. He was nearly ripping the lads shirt off when Armenian were through again.

Tbf he wasn't injured against Ireland. He was the best of the 3 CBs against Armenia and was bizarrely the one dropped of the 3 for Ireland. Hendry was then poor and atleast partially at fault for 2 Ireland goals.

Somebody want to tell Clarke to drop the defensive line. We've been caught out over the top 3 times already and lost goals over the top to Ukraine and Ireland.

I'd assume Leeds fan when in the championship, would've said the exact same think.

That was the initial plan under Wotte as performance director, but once he went (due to all the push back on his ideas), We played anything at different levels under horrific coaches.

I don't exactly see that mentality instilled in our u21s by Scott Gemmell. There have been results like this over the years but also tons of bad defeats and dropped points. He's just a poor old school manager. If anything playing this horrific way at youth level, would instill the mentality of you aren't good enough. The only way to not lose is to dig in, be hard to beat and clear it instead of passing. That's not exactly the message, you want to send to your young players.

I honestly hope and pray some club is daft enough to take a punt on him. He's had some decent results here and there, but he's had some truly fantastic young players playing absolutely honking old school football.

Graeme Murty would be perfect for the u21s. He plays passing/attacking football and is all about development and progress over results. That's a dreadful thing at senior level as shown by his Rangers tenures but he is perfect for youth level. He is far more forward thinking than the dinosaurs we have in charge at u19/u21 level currently. Surely there are young promising coaches in Scotland, who we could try at u19/u21 level. I'd be happy with them even splitting their time between club and Country, if it meant we got someone willing to attempt playing football.

Talk about forward planning from Gemmell. Final qualifying game of a campaign, were we've been out for ages and Gemmell precedes to choose just one eligible player for the next qualifying campaign. How is this clown still in charge. He has absolutely no youth development skills or even forward thinking.

McTominay playing helped neither of them. Either Hickey with a natural CB, who can cover Hickey and position themselves properly or McTominay with O'Donnell, to help cover for McTominay. Using a CM at CB next to a kid making his first full start in a massive game, was very poor from Clarke. Wrong choice.

Tbh I said at the Euro's Clarke has done very well to bring back the unity and get us to a level to compete, but it seemed like the right time to move. Clarke obviously turned it around massively in the WC qualifying group and at times we played some great football but still struggled with a few things. Tonight though we very much reverted back to type. Clarke has done enough to warrant continuing but if we have a poor nations league then questions would need to be asked.

Anybody else still wondering why he was going to bring on Souttar at 92 minutes in? Surely you would bring on Ross Stewart in that situation. 6'2 striker who's good in the air beats playing 3 CB's upfront.

Very poor from the players and very poor tactically from Clarke. Got it all wrong defensively. Our CBs set up far too narrow and we wanted the full backs wide. All it did was cause their wide players to drift into the half space between the fullbacks and the CB. Very poor

How bad is that Ukrainian keeper.

McPake broke Rangers youth wage scale, then King broke it again to stop them going to bettermoney in England. We offered Wilson the best terms we ever have to a young player, I'm sure Celtic done the same with Doak. Due to brexit Scottish youngsters will be getting targeted for the academies in England. Any decent player coming through will be getting offers down south in the next few years. These last couple of seasons have just been the beginning.

I mean 3 teenagers through Rangers academy in the last 2/3 years have become regular squad players. While they aren't always playing, that is a massive difference compared to what Rangers were. It's still early but it is showing a pathway into the squad. Now its about the next step of showing a pathway to first team football. With Wilson from everything I've heard he was never signing a deal (same with Doak at Celtic) regardless of what he was promised, even before turning 15 there was talk he was away to England at 16. He was offered by far our largest ever youth deal, which was originally King to stop him being poached. Sometimes players just want to go elsewhere.

From what I've heard both Kamara and Aribo will most be away this summer. There is probably going to be a massive amount of Change in the Rangers dressing room. From what I've heard Arfield was kept due to being a (low wage) big presence in the dressing room. I personally wouldn't have kept him but I can understand why, he was re-signed. I'd also be very surprised if McGregor or Davis get new deals. They are at a natural stopping point with Rangers. Lowry and King are the same age as when Bale (at spurs) and Foden were subs making very occasional starts. Remember all the debates about Foden should be a starter and Pep is killing his development. I think Lowry and King should be getting atleast 15/20 starts and atleast that in sub appearances. I do agree he should have been given more appearances this season. Especially when it was obvious the title race was over.

Your first example is one of the main reasons to avoid overplaying young players. While we in Scotland have our own examples over at Celtic. Tierney is lucky to play 60% of his club games a season now. You have to be careful with player development. BTW I'm not talking about not playing them, I just think people are being unrealistic and wanting them playing most games. I'm talking about 15-20 starts 15-20+ sub appearances next season. This is what Foden, Bale were doing at 18/19.

You all do realise if Davis re-signs it won't affect Lowry's playtime. Davis is a CDM and Lowry is a CAM who can play out wide. Aribo staying would be the thing that affects Lowry's playtime. People also do realise King and Lowry are only 18. It's not like they are 20/21 and just breaking in. Lowry still has massive work needed on the physical side. He will get game time but People need to be patient with his development. Same with King. They are teenagers, very few teenagers are regular starters at even comparable levels to our league. If Lowry and King are regular starters by the time they are 20/21, I'll be very happy.

Rangers vs Hearts in the cup final yesterday and outside Bassey the best players on the park were Scottish. Gordon had a very good game and made a number of good saves. Souttar was fantastic and I think he'll be first choice at Rangers next season. If he stays fit. Jack scored a peach. Wright came on, had a good game and scored the second. McLaughlin didn't have anything to really do, so hard to judge his performance Halkett and Kingsley were solid and didn't really put a foot wrong McKay didn't have his best game.

I say this as a Rangers fan. Scott Wright shouldn't be near the squad squad next month. He had a decent tactical semi final performance and got a league goal. He also wasn't the worst player last night but he's only done half decent for a few games. I'd also be very surprised if he isn't back down to a 3rd/4th choice back up next season at Rangers. If he isn't and kicks on, I'll hold my hands up and say fair play give him a cap. I don't really see it though tbh.

With Hickey he did turn down Bayern to go to Bologna as he wanted to play first team football. I doubt he'd go to a club where he'd only play 30/40% of the time and potentially stall his career.

Ones you play 5 first team games you can't be used in the B team anymore. It's the cavet they are playing first team football while having that access to facilities, coaches, etc that is making the difference. Like I said the level is lower but they are paying the same style as the first team and playing mens football. Also it's not like Rangers and Celtic B are running away with it or destroying everyone. It's young players learning the game against men. Some good results but also lots of bad ones and learning experiences. Devine and the 4 young subs were all part of a side that lost 4 nil to Stirling Uni last month. It's good for the players development, brings larger crowds and more exposure to the league, while not stopping other clubs being promoted. So far the experiment has been a massive success on both sides. I think Hearts are wanting to join aswell now.