starchief

Why would they need another attacker with such a saleable asset like Steven Fletch...oh, I see....

Mark Lawrenson was warned about not going to Liverpool as he was probably only going to be a back-up. His response was "you've got to believe in yourself" and promptly established himself in the first team*. I suspect Mark B probably thought the same. Maybe the D Utd keeper is to replace Boruc as there's constant rumours. *for those too young, believe it or not Lawrenson, the footie pundit, was actually a class defender (in a team with defenders of the likes of Hansen, Beglin, Gillespie, Molby and Nicol). Nope, really, he was!

I liked him at Dunfermline. Don't know why it went downhill at the Dons. He always seemed to fall over whenever he got the ball. Still, no harm in looking I guess. Far more defensive than Djebi-Zadi, so maybe not like for like.

I could see Hartley as a manager in time. Good call.

Don't you just love Old Firm fans ...especially ones from Falkirk, Paisley, Dundee etc etc

I can't see Cowie making an impact in the EPL. Mid-table Championship is the best he could probably do (no disrespect intended). Probably Black and Munro too, although maybe Black alongside a talented midfielder could raise his game.

To my mind, the only teams who can have any real complaints are: Rangers due to the Champions League fiasco, although Smith has got them running again Aberdeen but they really need some money to match expectations. I don't think Calderwood is really to blame, given what he's achieved. Hibs but I think it's just Mixu learning his craft. Think he'll come good. ICT, as they are going backwards with a manager who left previously at the first opportunity. I can't see a new manager doing much better than the likes of Billy Reid or Gus McP. Jefferies should be given the freedom of Kilmarnock for keeping a virtually bankrupt side safe and usually challenging for the top 6. McGhee and Yogi couldn't be bettered and wouldn't be short of offers if the axe fell (in fact, I wonder if they would even step up a club if it happened). Strachan is one of the best managers Celtic have EVER had. As for Hearts, who knows what actually goes on there...

Ross County.

I did (but I spelled it right - Durutti) - check out 'In Debt' by Disco Inferno for a mix between Durutti Column and Joy Division. http://starscapesays.blogspot.com/ For the last couple of days I've been listening to The Organ (terrible name for a band). They were recommended to me and sound like a whole load of new wave bands, like Cure, Joy Division, Souixsie, Cocteau Twins, Cult etc. but they're fairly recent. PM me if you want a sample.

Correct me if i am wrong but are these not the same eleven players who started at Ibrox? Only a madman would start that lot again regardless of how you have shuffled them around.How many more goals do you want Fraser to cost us before you would give Esson a chance. Was also the same team that did so much better in the 2nd half. Formation (and motivation but nothing I can do about that) counts for a hell of a lot. I'm surprised so many are going for an attacking line up with wingers and two up front. I'd have thought not losing on such a bad run (and away against an attacking team like Hibs) would be more of a priority than winning. Anyway, with Tokely out, my revised team is:- --------------------Esson (been persuaded) Proctor---Munro---Duff---Hastings---Djebi-Zadi -------------Black--------------Duncan------------ Cowie----------------------------------------Imrie --------------------Barrowman--------------------- Subs: Fraser, McBain, Wood, Wilson, Sutherland, Vigurs, Rooney With three at centre back, Proctor and Djebi-Zadi can push on. Don't think any of the three could be earmarked for the libre position I thought Proctor may be able to handle. DZ being more energetic than McBain and the lapses mopped up by Hastings. I'm also leaning now towards Rooney in attack but the main three attackers are all much of a muchness. Defensive and trying to sneak a goal. Plenty of attack minded players to bring on if we're looking more confident than we have been (I'd definitely bring Sutherland on at some point just to see what he can do).

After the disaster of Dundee Utd, surely ICT put in a clause meaning it's easy to sack Brew. Can't believe he'd have been too difficult to deal with.

If it was only a case of one match, I'd agree. When it's the norm, it's the manager. Unless he's in the team, Brew just doesn't have it as a manager, as results show.

I think Winters was SK Brann's top scorer*. I have no idea what level that would mean he would be at as regards the SPL but I certainly wouldn't want to dismiss him out of hand. Steven Smith. Thought he was incredible talent before he was injured. Would probably do a job left midfield for us, as well as full back. *having now checked, he wasn't

Need to stop the rot by not losing first and foremost, so... ----------------------Fraser (or Esson - not sure yet) ----------------------Proctor----------------------- -------------Munro---------------Hastings--------- Tokely---------------------------------------McBain -------------Black--------------Duncan------------ Cowie----------------------------------------Imrie --------------------Barrowman--------------------- Subs: Esson/Fraser, Djebi-Zadi, Duff, Wilson, Sutherland, Vigurs, Rooney I think Hastings could do a job in the centre with a sweeper behind him. I rate Proctor but he's not got it for central defence. As a sweeper (or defensive midfield), he could work well. Same old problem - Dods shaped hole. I think that's the basis of all our problems from clean sheets, to confidence to building from the back. All the team has to make for there being no good commanding figure.

To suggest Brew should go because we lost to the Old Firm is madness... ...he should go 'coz he was shown as awful at Dundee Utd and poor at ICT whenever he hasn't played.

McCulloch I think is a decent player but never a playmaking central midfielder, as he's doing at the moment. Maloney also seems to play well for Villa but always gets taken off and starts on the bench the next week. I've noticed that happening even when he was man of the match (even when he scored two goals one week). MON, as at Celtic, just doesn't seem to rate him as a first-teamer.

How do you know it's the first week of the season? Craig Dargo reckons he'll be out of plaster in 6-8 weeks!

I like Mixu's signings and he did well at Cowdenbeath and, I believe, in Scandinavia. He also pulled Hibs up from the bottom half to a top 6 finish. I think he could do well as a manager. Resigning should be the last thing on his mind.

Bloody ****! Another last minute goal at Aberdeen!!! Hang on...who scored...? :thumb04:

Dodgy central defence for Aberdeen. Good defensive midfielder in Severin with an improving youngster of Considine but no big ugly commanding centre half. Hope that means Barrowman and Imrie pushed right up. Apart from that, worries about our central defence (as usual) but both midfields look good and attacks have potential.

FALKIRK 0 : 1 RANGERS Nice touches there from Falkirk. Really do play an entertaining game. You can see why Stokes scored so many for this club, with an ideology of passing the ball on the deck and enhancing the creative side of the game. Unfortunately, Stokes is long gone and both Higdon and John Stewart are no regular goal scorers. McBride was especially commanding, being at the heart of all Falkirk's good play. Having said that, there was little get-to-the-bye-line-and-cross action. In the defence, the Bairns were solid. McNamara, who I have to admit I thought was past his sell-by date, was particularly impressive in the first half and solid throughout. Bullen, who I remember from a few years ago, was solid, dependable, with a calming influence. Think Steven Pressley at Hearts. ICT would have done well to sign him, although he's no spring chicken. Rangers were pretty much what you come to expect. No flair. Grinding out results. McGregor, apart from one almost disastrous mis-kick, was extremely solid. A keeper any team in Britain would be proud to have. The back four rarely put a foot wrong. Dailly, the subject of some criticism lately, played well overall. Commanding in the box and keen to set up attacks. Although Christian did have one or two dodgy moments, these strangely disappeared once he was booked mid-way through the first half. Bougharra had a terrific match. This Algerian could really be some player. I fancy he may well be able to play midfield as well as centre-back so comfortable he was on the ball. Remind me of Desailly. Papac and Broadfoot were both never under any real pressure and coped with everything. Thomson was easily the stand out midfield player...and that's it! The supposed wide players of Whittaker and Lafferty did nothing pretty much the whole game, although Lafferty will probably claim an assist, which may have been a sclaffed shot. The front pairing produced nothing of note for each other...which is no real surprise. Either can score when given the chance but they ain't gonna be setting up too many for each other! Cousin or Novo would be the natural partners, though Novo appears to be only used now in an ineffectual wing position and Cousin just doesn't appear interested. Nuff said about the headless chicken of Darcheville the better. Alternatively, an attack of one up (Boyd or Velicka) and a more creative midfield could work. McCulloch looked keen and may have done a bit more with a player like Hemdani (presumably going somewhere so being kept injury free) or Ferguson (injured) in the side. Overall opinion: should have been a draw. Neither side had anything in attack, although Falkirk the most pleasing to the eye. Both defences solid and on top. Both keepers (pretty much) coped well. Chris

If anyone's in the MENA Region, ART Prime Sport has got the right to SPL games again. We get the full package for about ?10 a month (about 10 sports channels, plus films, UKTV, US tv, Nat Geo, Animal Planet etc etc). Well worth it if you can get NileSat. Falkirk v Rangers is on Libya Sport 2 (Libya al-Rhiahyah 2 or something) for free. No idea why. No Libyans playing (just one Algerian). Though you do have to decipher the likes of Lee Maklosh (McCulloch) and Falkreek (Falkirk). Chris NB This is not some dodgy connection internet tv, so not against the rules.

Just watched my home country Canada beat Argentina 2-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris (shhh! nobody mention it was womens' football)

Not on 2008 yet but is something programmed in so ICT still can't beat the Dons. I constantly lose to them, many times to a last minute goal. Serious question. Is it just coincidence? Chris Packthedefenceandmidfieldwithonelonestrikerupfront (I'm not renowned for my silky football)

Probably the best summation of the SPL teams chances (all of them) I've read so far. Guess it helps not pandering to either the Glasgow or Edinburgh teams.