ascender

But if strikers are ultimately judged on how often they put the ball in the net, how come Boyd still gets so much criticism on here?

Great news. Surely Hutton deserves to play as he's the best RB in the country just now by some distance?

There's some proper man love going on in that picture too. Just a few pictures away from getting oiled up and getting down to business. Are they actual players or models? They are pretty poor strips, but depressingly they're more interesting that our new home top.

Sounds like an interesting deal and if Sebo wants to make it here, then he might be well up for it. It just seems a bit far fetched though, that's all.

Lol. You know what I mean though!

We've been linked with Todd before, but I think its all paper/agent talk. Unless Svensson is going and we don't get Webster, WS doesn't need any more centre halves.

Can't believe some people are being so harsh on this guy. He's only 22 and has completed his first full season for us in the first team. Of course he needs time to improve, how many complete 22 year old players are there in the game? Guys like him need our support, but throughout the season its guys like him who have been first to get the stick from certain sections of our support. I just don't understand it.

I think he's done more than enough to be given the nod as first choice on the left next season. Besides, look at the amount of goals he's also weighed in with, we need him.

Its a tricky position to fill though as you're going to want someone who is coming in, knowing they're going to be the number two choice from the off. Assuming WS is happy with AM.

We badly need an attacking midfielder as its a pretty defensive looking setup at the moment. As for Sebo, I honestly don't think he'll be here next season if we can get any sort of reasonable offer for him.

WS has already stated that there's players he'd like to move on, but that they're on 3 year deals, so he's stuck with them unless offers come in. That to me points to Sebo, Sionko, Papac and possibly Svensson. Novo is a trier but he lacks the composure to be a first team pick whether its through the middle or out wide. If we can get money for him and replace him, then I'd take the cash.

So here's a summary of our current first team squad, broken down in to a simplified format. I'm assuming we're looking to have two players for each position. GK - Alan McGregor GK - Stefan Klos (Leaving) RB - Alan Hutton RB - Looking to sign someone CB - Davie Weir CB - Ugo Ehiogu CB - Kirk Broadfoot CB - Andy Webster (Expected to sign) CB - Karl Svensson (Only WS knows if he will stay or go) CB - Sasa Papac (Expected to go if an offer comes in) LB - Steven Smith LB - Ian Murray RM - Chris Burke RM - Libor Sionko (Expected to go if an offer comes in) CM - Kevin Thomson CM - Brahim Hemdani CM - Thomas Buffel CM - Barry Ferguson CM - Gavin Rae (Leaving) LM - Charlie Adam LM - Looking to sign someone STR - Kris Boyd STR - Alan Gow STR - Jean Claude Darcheville STR - Nacho Novo (Rumoured interest in him from Advocaat) STR - Filip Sebo (Expected to go if an offer comes in) STR - Dado Prso (Leaving) I've discounted the following guys as they've not been regulars this year, have been signed for their long term potential and/or are behind other young players in the pecking order. For example, it seems to be widely accepted that WS is looking for a more experienced RB as cover for Hutton. Alan LOWING Steven LENNON Steven CAMPBELL Dean FURMAN Lee ROBINSON Antoine PONROY Makhtar N'DIAYE So, what does everyone think?

Thanks, I'll start a new thread in a minute.

Let's look at the positives. He's an experienced player. We've signed him for free (whatever that means these days). He's only getting an initial two year deal. Let's give the guy a chance to show what he can do. Were we not all getting really excited by the video clips of Sebo last summer for example?

Does anyone have a list of our current first team squad they could paste in here or in a new thread? I think we're down to the bare bones as it is and was wanting to see how we're looking in terms of having 2 players for each position. Just interested in having a look at how many players we might be looking to sign in the summer as I think it could be quite a few if a few suspects leave. In turn that could explain why WS is boosting the squad with Bosman players as a first move.

I get that impression from reading the press release. I wonder if this will be the case if WS can't offload Sionko, Sebo, Papac etc?

I don't get this problem with us signing a 31 year old. 31 isn't that old for a player in the modern game, especially if that player has looked after himself. Besides, we've got a very young squad just now and need some more experienced players added to it.

Bit of a shock, is this a sign that we are returning to the old Gers way of just signing most of our players without the press getting wind of it until its a done deal? Looks like a good signing, especially on a Bosman.

Webster and Smith seem to have been close to returning to action for weeks now. I think WS will have made his mind up about Webster already as he'll know enough about him from his time in the Scotland job. Weir and Webster at the back for me next season.

I can understand WS not giving the young guys a run out until now as he's needed to get 2nd place confirmed.

Followed by a tour of Auchenhowie... job done.

While counting his weekly wages no doubt. Etc. I think its about time the young lads get a shout, give Lennon a run out, Lowing at RB, Furman etc. At least give them 45 minutes.

But then Svensson is pretty amazing in FM, so by that logic, maybe he's worth a punt?

Mystery solved then!

Alan Smith was in Glasgow last week, not for the first time this year. Maybe he has friends up this way or something?