starchief

In the short-term, he's a fair enough call-up. Nobody's played much so he won't be behind on competitive action. In the long-term, there shouldn't be call-ups for Rangers players. There's little way of judging how they'd play against quality opposition.

It's a got a chance of being a better team as, last year, we had Hogg, Jones, Hayes and Doran all out for large parts of the season and Foran playing with an injury. As long as we don't have injuries to our crucial players this season, we should do alright. The players we will miss will be Hayes (when fit) and Gillett. But what can you do? We missed Rooney last season. Can't always find high quality players, willing to play for virtually nothing.

When we went on that year-long away run, we played 4-2-3-1. It works so well away from home. Trouble is, when it comes to being more adventurous at home, we can't play that counter-attacking style. We struggle without having someone so good at passing. Tansey would have been ideal in there. Unfortunately, last year, he had to put in a shift as a defensive mid, that didn't suit him at all. I would be tempted to go for a traditional 4-4-2 at home. The back four is fine, or will be when Raven begins to settle. Mind you, what does Meekings have to do to get a start? The mid, I'd like to see Ross as outside right and Doran in left-wing. Probably Jones as the defensive mid but it's either him or Draper for 4-4-2. I'd stick Foran in as the more attack-minded mid. That would leave Sutherland up front, where I'd like to see him get a run with Oswell.

Luke's obviously just trying to defend one of his own. This is the first red card OTJ has ever picked up so it obviously is out of character. Yeah, he did something wrong but he's nowhere near the record of Roy Keane or Zidane, so let's not overblow the situation. The 4-2-3-1 has never really worked at home. Trouble is, it works so well away, it's tough to change it. Although Doran and Sutherland aren't really supposed to track back in that formation. Hopefully, Ross will come in and Foran's place is assured. We're good at counter-attacking, not dominating. It's probably time to think of an away and a home preferred formation.

Hooooooo-boy. Terrific goal by Rory - who, incidentally, looks head and shoulders above all the other attackers on the pitch. Looks as though he might finally be ready for the step up. I wonder if McCoist might think the same thing?

It's going to be an exciting season I think. Lots of teams can beat others, so I'm not too sure about expectations. I'm really buoyed up by the comments previous teams have made about King and Warren. I'm also really looking forward to Oswell. Some players can just score and score, no matter the league. I'm hoping he's one. I expect to avoid relegation but I also expect some really exciting matches as I think we can match St J, the Dons, RC etc but with no easy matches*. I think the difference between 10th and 6th might be only a couple of points. A missed penalty. A rookie goalie. That could make or break it. *except Hibs of course.

Imagine criticising a politician for not being driven, inspired and highly intelligent? I was against maths teachers who weren't very good at arithmetic too but I see now it's not their fault. Anyone should be able to do any job they want, no matter how unsuitable. "This post is hidden because you have chosen to ignore posts by Laurence. " and can you believe for this thread, I did? What a waste of time.

Mammoth. What are you talking about? I never mentioned where she was born? And she is famous, so that hardly counts either. But she's an intellectual lightweight. If that's the 'hand she's been dealt with' then stick to chick-lit and chat shows. She's personable enough but I want our country's leaders to be giants. She fits in very well with the Camerons, Johnsons, Blairs, Cleggs and Millibands of this world. Where's the drive behind her? Where's the original thought? Where's the economic depth? We've settled for mediocrity and photo-passable politicians for far too long. I find it madness we have Osborne as the Chancellor in a government with Ken Clarke and Vince Cable in it. Get rid of these poor excuses for pop stars and let's have some serious heavyweight minds.

Robert Peel, Pitt the Younger, William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, David Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin, Winston Churchill, Harold McMillan, Harold Wilson...err....Louise Moensch...I think not. One more self-obsessed idiot gone. How about politicians with a bit of life experience? A bit of intellectual weight behind them? Not these professional poodles that have never known the stress of sacking or being sacked when it actually meant something.

I'd be strongly in favour of a two-league, 16 teams or so per division set up. That's the kind of thing that might work for Scottish fitba. Four 'professional' leagues is simply ridiculous, given the crowds at some of their games. They were lecturing the SPL clubs on not over-spending. Time for the SFL to do the same and not leech off SPL money.

Three more signings for the Rangers (see, it sounds more impressive - let's stick with ordinary Rangers). That's some team they're building up. Aren't they banned from the Scottish Cup? Do they really need that good a team for SFL3 - even SFL2?

Wasn't it more to do with going down south that was the motivation? Anyway, I'm surprised he's moved into coaching. Can you imagine: "you've got tae play through the pain barrier, son". The natural response must be "aye, you first, gaffer".

I'm not so sure it was. Oswell is a striker. Putting on a midfielder is a better way of defending a position than a striker. You could argue for someone more experienced but that's really only Morrison, who's not that much more experienced. I don't think there's much in it (plus, who knows what Polworth has been like in training).

Here's where I disagree with the majority of football fans. If sending Newco Rangers to SFL3 was a punishment for financial mismanagement, then Rangers should be investigated and, if guilty (and I haven't the financial nous to have an opinion), punished. If Newco Rangers are in SFL3, not as punishment but because they are a new club, not in the SFL so have to start from scratch, then they also have no connection to the financial scandal and shouldn't be punished for a different club. Saying Newco Rangers are a new club with no rights to Rangers history or a place in the SPL/SFL automatically but should be punished for Rangers history is petty vengeance, not justice. For the record, I believe Rangers, the club, are simply being managed by a new company. The history, the traditions, basically, the club, are all still there. Being sent to SFL3 was (part of) the punishment. Those who favour the Sevco approach can't convince me Newco Rangers have no rights to their history but punishment for that history.

Esson Raven - Warren - King - G.Shinnie Draper - Foran Ross - A.Shinnie - Doran Mackay Ross for Sutherland is obvious. I've gone for Foran for OTJ, simply due to his reliability. No problem if this doesn't happen. It'll be interesting to see though if 4-2-3-1 works at home. If I was a bit braver, I'd maybe switch to a 4-4-2 or even 4-3-3 but I'll keep it as it stands.

Got to remember, Aberdeen were at Celtic Park yesterday. Broon's a cagey guy. A 0-0 away to the champs would have been right up his street. Vernon will score a few goals but he was used to dampen down the Celt's right-wing and get a follow-up from McGinn. Alex Ferguson has done the same thing when with Scotland. I'd expect Vernon supported by Hayes and McGinn to get a few goals. It was designed for a 0-0 draw and should have been. I thought, and maybe they will, Hibs would have bought more. Calderwood drained the life out of them and they need a big revamp. They have the money in the bank. Then again, I'm not too sure there will be relegation this year. Can DU mount a challenge? I don't think so. Celtic will win virtually every game. DU will be the toughest of the rest but don't have the players or budget to guarantee wins. Exciting start though.

2 out of 10??? What would you have given us for finishing below Hibs? If we'd won a single game more, we would have finished above Aberdeen. What if we hadn't finished FOURTEEN points above Dunfermline but still avoided relegation? What points then? Two out of ten is for finishing a point or two above the relegated team. Not being nowhere near relegation and competing with the much bigger financed Hibs and Dons is worth more than that. And why, if season tickets being down is for not having players that have been here for the last ten years, not playing attractive football and relying on players coming for a few peanuts more, have Hibs and Aberdeen not crashed? They were no better than us last season and Hibs haven't looked inspiring for this either.

I don't expect them to win but that's a pretty tough team Aberdeen have got out there. Leaps and bounds what they had last year. Not too many changes really but improved in crucial areas with a bit of quality in Naysmith, Anderson (he was only there in spirit last year), McGinn and Hayes. If we finish a point below the Dons this year, we'll be doing well.

There's real potential here. King and Warren had glowing reports from their previous clubs. Raven and Draper have a history that sounds promising. Oswell could make his mark by continuing with his goals, as could Sutherland. I don't think Doran is quite as tricky as Hayes but he could be just as effective. And the jewel in the crown? Andrew Shinnie. Put his injury problems behind him and he may well be the SPL's surprise of the season. I don't have too much concern over the likes of King or Hogg. Big injuries to get back from but not injury-prone. Tudur-Jones and Raven are far bigger worries. They've had too many shift works (2-weeks on-2 weeks off) over their career. The Gary Gillespie Syndrome. Maybe not their fault but do they have the body to play football?

Sounds a lot of money but it's not that much in football terms (or in other industries when you reach a certain point). I would think only Barry Smith would be on significantly less. My memory is of the 'sacrifice' Bobby Robson made when he went to Newcastle for only £30,000. Then you realise it's £30,000 a week.

I can see Hibs being bottom six come Xmas but they have more money than most clubs. Possibly they might just fork out a bit more by then. I don't think it's a genuine relegation battle but just not a great season again. They just have a touch of quality to take them away from the likes of Dundee. St. J just don't look good. The players they've lost have been crucial. Can you imagine how ICT would do with Sheridan and Sandaza as the strike-force and Morris prompting from midfield? Now replace them with Tade and a few unknowns. Not quite so rosy. Lomas will struggle to stay in his post.

Who do you think will win the league? I'm going for Celtic.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/4463718/Our-TV-deals-in-the-bag.html "It’s understood Sky will show 30 matches per season and ESPN 35, with the new Rangers being shown live a minimum of 15 times in Division Three." Why not? Big fanbase still. If it was about competitive entertaining matches, they probably wouldn't have shown any Old Firm matches outside Rangers v Celtic in the last 15 seasons. And, since Souness, OF fans have never cared about other clubs. Can't see many of them tuning in to see Hearts v Dundee Utd for second place. Rangers v Elgin? They'll be queuing up (although probably a good deal of ICT/RC fans will want to see that too). That and Peterhead for the obvious reasons. Wow! Looking at SFL3 - have Stirling dropped that low???

But if they are not entitled to the glories of oldco Rangers, why should newco be punished for their transgressions? It's one or the other. (for the record, my view is only the company has changed, not the club, hence Rangers players playing in Rangers ground, with Rangers strips under Rangers management team means they are Rangers - both debts and glories should remain - football should not be about holding companies and trading names)

Aberdeen have made some good signings. I expect a top six from them, not relegation battles.