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We're just past the halfway stage of the season, so what are our thoughts on the shape of it so far? Here are some statistics to be bored by or to chew over to help the discussion along: The league stats show a certain amount of symmetry: P21 W7 D7 L7: 28 points. Goals For: 30; Goals Against 31 Given our terrible start, I'm delighted with the current league position and am fairly optimistic for the remainder of the season, if we can keep everybody fit. We could, however, do with Meekings and Doran back! Some other notable statistics - not many surprises! We have the lowest number of shots/game (8.56), the 3rd lowest shots on target (3.48), but the 3rd best conversion rate (goals/shots on target; 39.73%). This might reflect our reluctance to shoot unless it is a clear-cut opportunity! We also have the lowest corner count (won) which might be linked to the lack of shots on goal. Our average home crowd is 3,959 (260 better than the average for whole of last season) - 10th in league above Hamilton and St J and within 100 of PT and Killie. This suggests that our attendance is holding steady, but sadly there isn't much evidence of a bounce from last year's heroics. Our average possession is just less than 50% (49.9%) and there is a very clear inverse relationship between goals scored and possession in each game: for every 10% more possession we have, we score ~1 less goal. In 5/7 of the games we have won, we have had less possession than the opposition and in 5/7 of those that we have lost, we have had more possession. This might sound crazy and could just be a trick of the numbers, but I don’t think so on this occasion. Perhaps it indicates that we really struggle to break down organised teams that allow us to play in front of them (St Johnstone at home and Stirling Albion in the cup are good examples). Possession, particularly in the middle or defensive third does not win games and can often contribute to losing them. Cups: Going out of any cup is disappointing, no more so than when it is at the hands of County. Likewise, our performance in the Scottish Cup was not great against Stirling Albion, but at least we have a chance to put that record straight next week. It would be great to have another cup run and I see no reason why we can't this season. Good buys, goodbyes and star performers: Clearly, the best signing of the season was Miles Storey and it is fantastic that he's with us until the end of the season. Some of the other signings have not been so great - Lopez in particular. The most improved player has been Liam Polworth by a distance. It is also great to have Gary Warren back, but it is a real shame that we haven't yet managed to reunite Warren and Meekings. Draper, Tansey and Vincent are starting to show the consistency that we're used to from them. It was sad to say goodbye to Ryan Christie who was a star for much of the early season - I wish him well for the future. Thoughts?

I think Williams is very under rated. He plays wherever is asked of him, even up front once this season, but tends to miss out on the biggest games. I would give him a good run in the left midfield berth.

That article is a joke! "Rangers were expelled from Scottish Premier League" is simply nonsense. In no circumstance were they expelled from the SPL! They were 'docked' 10 points for entering administration - that was their only punishment. Subsequently, they failed to exit administration and were eventually liquidised - thus ceasing to exist. 42 clubs became 41. The leagues were re-aligned with an unexpected promotion for Dundee...and so on, down the structure, leaving a 12-10-10-9 set-up with an obvious vacancy to be filled in League 2. The new Rangers were accepted, unopposed. The likes of Spartans realised an application would be futile - they were appeased by the promise of a Pyramid set-up, to effectively stand-aside. And so, The Rangers were automatically accepted into League 2 - which the deluded still consider being relegated to the 4th tier - as a punishment! No such thing ever happened! The media need to grow some balls and report the truth!

Quick thinking! A man walked into the produce section of his local ALDI supermarket and asked to buy half a head of lettuce. The boy working in that department told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce. The man was insistent that the boy ask the manager about the matter. Walking into the back room, the boy said to the manager, "Some old ******* outside wants to buy half a head of lettuce." As he finished his sentence, he turned around to find that the man had followed and was standing right behind him, so the boy quickly added, "and this gentleman kindly offered to buy the other half." The manager approved the deal and the man went on his way. Later, the manager said to the boy........... "I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier, we like people who can think on their feet here, where are you from son?" "New Zealand, sir," the boy replied. "Why did you leave New Zealand ?" the manager asked. The boy said, "Sir, there's nothing but prostitutes and rugby players there." "Is that right?" replied the manager, "My wife is from New Zealand”. “Really” said the boy, “Who did she play for?”

Problem is Doran doesn't give you 90 mins and Williams does . Doran at times means we are only playing with 10 men but he can ,when he is in the mood ,turn a game and it tends to be the big ones . However we could have 2 players for the wages Doran is reputed to be on

I believe that the figure is £83,000 for each club but even if it's the lower figure of £75,000 that is about ten times the likely split of the gate after deductions which neither club will have expected or budgeted for. That being the case, why not reduce the entry price to a fiver for full paying adults to cover stewarding costs to generate a crowd and an atmosphere and to let fans who, due to difficult financial circumstances, can not generally afford to attend and who might not even have been able to scrape together the cash to go to Glasgow last May a rare opportunity to see and cheer on the team.

Williams on the left, Doran on the right and polworth behind storey! That would be my choice! I hope to Christ that both Doran and Raven will be offered deals! Williams is one of our most attack minded players so I don't see how anyone wouldn't want him in the squad! I wouldn't be all that fussed to see Tremarco, mutumbo, vigurs, and one or two others! But Vincent still has plenty to offer, as does Doran, Raven and Devine

Some fascinating stats on this thread. I'm sure Sneckboy will be keen to comment, just as soon as he's finished wiping down his keyboard and monitor!

and as usual there is a police car outside the door !

I think the term is liquidated. Liquidised would suggest they were put through the blender - an amusing thought! Dream on Walter Mitty. Just listen to the BS that Sutton is allowed to spraff on BBC 5 Live without challenge. Large parts of the media just suck up to the OF. Sadly, this trait is all to apparent in those who govern the game too.

What do you mean "again"? Is that not being a bit hard on a new club in just their fourth Scottish Cup campaign?

Storey wasn't signed by Hughes but fair enough on Ofere and Fon Williams. Tansey we largely knew about anyway but he has impressed since (re) signing. I hope that when the time does come to strengthen we look at some more creative and / or wide players. We desperately lack that now with the likes of Christie and Watkins away and Doran out injured.

Out of the list of out of contract player for next season, I would only keep Dean Brill, Aaron Doran, Ross Draper, OFW, Liam Polworth, Miles Storey, Ali Sutherland, James Vincent and all of the development squad (Alex Fisher? Haven't seen him play yet, so can't make comment) Build a squad around these players plus the ones signed up for the following season and make additional quality signings like a centre back, left back, right back and 2 wingers and we should have a decent team.

I personally want to see a fresher look to the back four with new and younger full backs. That's not to say that I wouldn't be sad if we kept Raven on etc. In terms of Williams, I prefer Doran over Williams however I want to see new wingers similar to Marley Watkins/Jonny Hayes.