starchief

You appear to be hinting - I'm just not sure who that hint would be though

TV viewing is also obviously not overly dependant on how good clubs are. It's difficult to see how much worse it could get for the OF (and others) in Europe. So, a more equitable payment would see a more exciting league with possibly more reasons for tuning in. The current line-up? As, was it Walter Smith? (I could be wrong, might have been Martin Bain or someone), said, Rangers (and Celtic) need the money to carry the flag in Europe. If we look at the evidence, there's either not enough money for the OF, or some other problem (like competitiveness). Either way, that money isn't improving our European results. So, the question is: should the SPL be structured to ensure one of the twins wins every year? Well, we did better in Europe and it was more exciting when the league was more competitive...

I think we're ok here. G.Shinnie should come in. If he's not fit, then Tokely's done ok at LB before with Aldred and Hogg in CD (which they may well be anyway). No real cause for concern there. That's a decent back four, considering G.Shinnie, Gillett, Meekings and Proctor can all return in a few weeks, with Cox also being possibly in there when he's back. Or Jones if there's another one out.

Tokely or Wilson...Tokely or Wilson....just can't decide. Maybe it will come down to astronomical wages? I also hear Carlos Tevez is looking for a new challenge. Or should we stick with Tade that's another tough call.

With a midfield of Tansey, A.Shinnie, Ross, Hayes and Doran, it would be madness to play the long ball as a first choice. Definitely the short passing game. Foran's also decent in the air but it's not his forte. Nor is it for the more obvious target men of Tade and Sutherland. Slow build up, keeping the ball, rather than a mad blast up and chase.

I only saw about the first quarter of the match but Hayes seemed to have two, even three, men on him as soon as he picked up the ball. It's going to be tough.

Esson Peirmayr - Hogg - Aldred - G.Shinnie Jones Hayes - Ross - Tansey - Doran Foran As I said on the tactics board, I think we've got a good attacking midfield that would allow us to play a very effective 4-1-4-1. Tokely/Hogg/Aldred - well, we're still seeing the right combination. We'll try this combination and see how it goes but Tokely definitely on the bench, ready to come on.

I think Tel would have to win a cup or get in at least top 5 for that to happen.

If I look at where our strength is, it's in the creative midfield. Both Tansey and A.Shinnie can get goals from midfield, whilst Doran and Hayes will provide. That's why I think we should be changing to a 4-1-4-1 tactic. Jones (or Cox) will hold the defensive mid, allowing Tansey and Shinnie to get forward much more than a 4-4-2. Foran is intelligent and hard-working enough to play that role up front on his own - holding up the ball as the att mids get up. It's fluid, it plays to our strengths and can help the back four when under the cosh by withdrawing to a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3 if the oppositions full-backs are weak. It's a bit slower, more technical and a shorter-passing game but I think our players would prefer this.

Aaaarrrggghhhhh!

Yeah, I was watching that too. Thought we looked the better team at the time. Foran looked a bit rusty but was convinced we'd win the game. I still don't think too much cause for panic.

Although I agree with 'you're out means you're out', I don't agree that means another club should take their place. A fail in the SPL to reach Europe should also mean just that. No back doors - what have they done to deserve special status other than fail to win? I'd actually want the whole Euro competitions revamped completely anyway. No knockout rounds, just Champions competing against Champions. The Cup Winners' Cup would also be resurrected. A cup competition for Europe's cup specialists. Sounds better than the Europa Cup for second-stringers that failed in their league. Can't understand Ally McCoist though. Two players sent off. Players still not match fit this early in. Yet he doesn't use two of his three subs? Doesn't seem right to me.

People will talk about missing Rooney but he's now a Championship level striker. It's doubtful we can get one in of that quality even though ICT did their best in regard to Adam. Just like Rooney, we've tried to buy in a striker (who then went to Accrington Stanley) and then got another promising player in instead (Mackay), as well as someone who looked the business in SFL1 (Tade), even if his goal-scoring wasn't the best. I don't see Aberdeen or St Johnstone being able to buy in a 20-goal striker, fully developed, so how can we, without getting rid of a good few other players? Even the likes of Darren Mackie are outwith our wage structure, I'm guessing, and I don't see he would be bring that many goals. So we will be looking for that diamond in the dirt. The only proven goalscorer we could possibly have brought in would be Rory McAllister. A 20 goal striker from the SPL is impossible. Let's just see if there's another Hayes or Rooney idling away in someone's reserves, just waiting for that chance instead.

Absolutely. I expect CT to come back in the New Year. But what could the new appointment achieve? Got to be better than 3rd place, which is where JJ would almost certainly have got them (IMHO). But that's going to take a few millions. Can't see that happening. Ambition above committment from Mad Vlad.

It's good timing from Vlad. Now they have the whole close season to prepare their new tactics. The new manager will have the whole summer to identify transfer targets and get in his team before, say, the SPL starts and the Europa Cup is upon us. Oh, and

Huh? This is crazy! I fancied Hearts to be at least 3rd this year. Jefferies had really steadied the ship there and brought in some good signings. Surely Mad Vlad hasn't judged the next two seasons on a couple of games in July???

Esson Piermayr - Tokely/Aldred* - Hogg - Gillet Jones - Ross Hayes - Tansey - Doran Foran We're away from home, so counter-attacking style. Whether Aldred plays is really down to his future. He's only here until Xmas but is there any talk of a longer term option? If there is, I'd have Aldred in there. If not, I'd just have him as back-up and let Tokely and Hogg develop a partnership.

Everyone is capable of beating everyone else. It should be tight. Bale and Ramsay can upset Serbia. Croatia can lost to Macedonia quite readily. All-in-all, a fighting chance.

If this is true, it's a great signing and could push us top six if our strikers fire (I do think Tade will become a very good striker for us but controversial I know). I'm not quite convinced yet it is. I just got the feeling Butcher wouldn't go back. But two from Tokely, Aldred and Hogg looks very promising.

Brewster at Dundee United. If we're talking before the abbreviation, Hearts had Alex McDonald and Sandy Jardine, plus St Mirren had Tony Fitzpatrick. John Hughes was player/manager at Falkirk but I think (could be wrong) he only played for them in the First when manager.

There's just no option. Duff would prefer to go non-League. Snodgrass went Division One (or Division 3 as was), Cowie went to a relegation battle in the ECL. If those players were staying in Scotland, then there's an argument about displacing Scots. Unfortunately, it's just not the case. Steven MacLean could have come back to a decent club up here but instead will be journeymanning in Yeovil instead.

The new Dods (how many years did it take to replace him???)

Exactly!

I don't see that we'll be getting two new centre-backs, leaving Tokely (who played much of last year as an SPL centre-back), Aldred and Meekings on the bench, alongside Proctor. ICT don't have that sort of cash, plus is there much better out there for the same money? Also, another winger? Doran and Hayes must be first choice, so buying one in means dropping one of them. Can't see that happening. A back-up? Well, they'd have to be better than Ross, Sutherland, Tade, Foran and G./A.Shinnie, just as adaptable and cheap. Again, not easy to find. Few have seen Mackay but there's your striker, alongside Sutherland, Foran and Tade, with A.Shinnie also being played up there. So again, he has to be better but at least as cheap. If he can find someone, great, but that's going to be tough. I would have thought a central defender and a defensive midfielder (maybe even the same player) to be priorities. Then, if a gem comes up that's cheap, get him in too but it's not gonna be easy to find. All-in-all, I'm really just expecting a defensive midfielder to come in for a first-team start. Succeed-or-fail, this is Butcher's team. Can't see him bringing in players then ditching them straight away.

With Rangers losing to Malmo, I doubt Rangers will be spending money now. Although I can't see why either Wylde or Healy didn't get on.