Kingsmills

Ouch !

Celtic are bound to be tired after their recent schedule of matches. A point might not be beyond us. That said, they will be all out to avenge their defeat in Inverness. Whatever else, we can't afford to be as slow off the blocks as for our last two matches.

There was a suggestion that Charlie Christie was very keen on signing Offiong last summer. He's done well in the First Division for a number of seasons now but may opt to stay at Hamilton if, as appears likely, they are promoted.

Kilmarnock's win over Aberdeen today is a bit of a boost to whatever top six ambitions we have remaining.

Apart from a forward who can score regularly both home and away our priority has to be at least one decent central defender. Two injuries or an injury and suspension or just plain old loss of form and we're in serious trouble in that department.

Dmacca, how do Bristol Rovers fans feel about the Robins astonishing success in he league this season? Would they like to see City in the Premiership next season ? Surely it would do Rovers no harm and be good for football in the city as whole. With Plymouth also challenging for a play off spot and Rovers doing so well in the FA Cup football in the West Country seems to be flourishing after too long in the doldrums.

I see Kenny Deuchar scored a brace at Ibrox today. He's a player who has consistantly scored at every level he's played from Third Division to SPL. He's out of contract at the end of this season and has made no secret of the fact that he's leaving Raydale come what may. We could do a lot worse that speak to him about a pre contract agreement.

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As an Edinburgh boy he would no doubt see a move to Hibs as a step in the right direction. As we all know his attitude has often let him down in the past. That seems to be much better this season.

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Valve

I'm not unhappy with where we are in the league at present but I do still harbour doubts about whether we have the right man as our manager. That said, he's the man in possession and he should be backed. My summary would be that we're doing adaquately well but we could and should be more consistant.

I believe the we have the balance just about right here in Scotland where we retain the DNA on a database of all those convicted of a criminal offence. If an individual is charged with a criminal offence and subsequently aquitted or the matter not proceeded with then their DNA record must be destroyed. South of the border the position is very different in that the take and retain the DNA of all those charged with or even suspected of a criminal offence which means that they now have a record of almost five million people very many of whom have no criminal record at all. That, I confess, I'm very uncomfortable with.

Having noe seen the video footage it was reckless but not as bad as some, there doesn't seem to be any intent to injure and the unfortunate consequenses are out of proportion to the degree of recklessness involved. In my opinion, the authorities should base their punishment on the nature of the foul rather than the consequenses as it's often simply a matter of luck or otherwise whether serious injury is caused or not by these mistimed challenges. In my opinion, the tackle certainly merited a red card but, taking into account the degree of recklessness involved, no more than a three match ban is merited. It's odd how variable Arsen Wenger's eyesight can be.

The tackle certainly looks reckless from the still photos. Would really need to see the video footage to form any view on whether it was deliberate.

Custody

Was rather than is unfortunately. I believe he's now retired as a first team player.

Barry may not have the pace or stamina of old but I too can't believe how little Brewster cares to use a player who still has match turning qualities. If true, our loss will be St Johnstone's gain.

Steward

Some of us have been asking questions about C B since his appointment but there's no need to panic as we're safe from relegation. Despite my reservations there are a dozen matches until the end of the season and Craig should be given until then to prove his worth as a manager before any decision is made on his future.

Second game in a row where we've effectively been beaten after quarter of an hour. I know we're safe from relegation but it'd hardly inspiring. Top six would have beeen worth about ?200,000 to the club and would give us a couple of cracking matches at the TCS to rounf off the season, hardly seems likely now.

Unfortunately the SPL is not an attractive proposition to broadcasters as it has liitle wordwide interest. An equal split of TV revenue, the net effect of which would leave each of the Old Firm about ?800,000 worse off and everybody else just under ?200,000 better off on average, would certainly help a bit.

It seems that Mileson left hospital yesterday so, it appears that the crisis is over for just now. He still seems to have less interest in his pet football club than in previous seasons but at least relegation in the normal course of events at the end of the season followed by a rapid slide down he divisions is not as big a disaster as what might have been.

Clydebank who are revived as a junior club and who now seem much more sound financially than they were in their latter years as a senior club. If not them, then a club from the borders who would be the last large geographical area without a club in the senior league system.

I fully understand why the club took a risk with Niculae. A club of our size seldom gets an opportunity to sign a player with so many international caps and indeed goals for a Country of reasonble standing in European football when he's at an age when most players haven't yet entered their prime. There was an obvious thought that although he hadn't done much, if anything, during the two years or so immediately before we signed him he must once have been an outstanding talent who had had no career threatening injury and who was still relatively young even for a forward. What potential if it could only be recaptured ! There was always a risk that his salary, relative to others, would have a negative impact on team spirit and a knock on effect when others came to discuss renewing their contracts but if he recaptured his old form then all would benifit from more regular win bonuses and a share of end of season prize money. In any event the financial element of the risk was being partly underwritten by the chaiman. The sad fact,however, is that it's becoming increasingly obvious that the risk hasn't paid off. While he's shown the occasional glimpse of outstanding talent he is not consistantly good far less consistantly brilliant. From a personal viewpoint I can hardly believe that a player who achieved so much on the international ane European stage not so long ago is so lacking in pace. There may at the outset have been problems with lack of match fitness and unfamiliarity with team-mates but that should have ceased to be an issue months ago. All in all it seems to me the the Niculae experiment has been a failure which has had much more of a negative impact on the club than a positive one. That doesn't mean that I think the club were wrong to take the bold step of signing him at the time it's just a shame that that bold strategy hasn't paid off.