ascender

According to the Beeb we "head the queue" of clubs interested in him. I agree Koeman, get him in alongside Svensson and I think we're on the right track at last. Get him across to Murray Park this week and he can train with the first team before signing an 18 month deal in January. Job done.

Dundee Utd and Killie are both interested in him. A couple of papers have suggested that Pressley may be the answer to our problems, but nothing more than that. The Beeb are now saying that 5 clubs are trying to sign him.

Any gossip about this in the papers today then? I have a horrible feeling that we're going to miss out on him, but surely someone at Ibrox has mentioned him to PLG?

That's good to hear. When I saw who came in I thought it meant we were playing a 4-4-2 and I don't think its coincidence that the lads played well.

What formation were we playing today?

Come on PLG, you know it makes sense.....

Nice one, a clean sheet, 3 goals scored and a good performance. Although I see Sebo missed a sitter. Some things never change ;-) All in all a good day.

I read this on the beeb, but it doesn't give much away. He'd love to stay, but obviously there must be a difference in opinion about wages?

Well, we've not seen much of N'Diaye & Gavin Rae this season. TBH I don't know how Furman, Stanger and Ponroy are shaping up in the reserves, but I think PLG thinks they're too young anyway. How about Buffel? What's his best position?

If Sebo doesn't turn the corner soon then its not looking good for PLG frankly. He doesn't seem to have much faith in his signings as it is, if the most expensive one turns out to be a waste of time, I think its only going to put more pressure on him.

I think its nonsense to say its too late for Sebo. I knw what Flogel is saying, but Sebo hasn't had much of a chance and is playing in a team of under-performers. Its not like we're flying high, he's come in and just hasn't done the business. There's other players in there who should be just as concerned about their future at Ibrox.

I know the feeling. Last season when the CL run was fooling a lot of people, I posted the exact same thing on here. I couldn't believe what I was saying, but I thought it might have been better for the club if we'd lost and it brought things to a head. We're in the same position this season and I really don't know what it will take for DM to take his head out of his arse and do something about the position. We badly need leadership on and off the park. And it is tough to see Celtic doing so well on the pitch domestically and in the CL, not to mention the fact they seem to be getting a lot more positive publicity than us. They've already said they'll strengthen in the January window if possible and that sets alarm bells ringing. I don't think they're that great a side just now, but they are slowly and surely opening up a gap over us both on and off the pitch. You're also very right about the standard of football we've been playing. For 5 years or so, we've not looked like a team who knows what to do in the final third of the pitch. We've been very lightweight at the back and lacked bite in midfield. While we've been going backwards and persisting with buying in foreign players at every opportunity, nearly every other club in the SPL has realised that this is a false economy and started to give youth a chance. A few years down the line and most clubs are starting to see the benefit of this, although arguably we're one of the last to catch on. I'd put money on the fact that if we signed 3 or 4 of the Scots who are doing well and shown potential at other SPL clubs and played them in place of some of the current first XI, we'd be no worse off than we are at the moment. In fact I'd say we'd have more points and show a lot more fight. The current group of players don't seem to give a fuck. In fact, these same players who were read the riot act by AM & DM last season and swore to transform their ways, are yet again under-performing despite picking up huge wage packets. Another talking-to by the chairman doesn't seem to have made a difference this season either. Once again English clubs are sniffing around our young players and there's been a resurgence in the national team. Albeit Walter needs to take some credit for punching above his weight with the players available to him. Seems like all he needed to do was get some decent organisation and a team spirit about the place again. Which sounds exactly like what we need just now. As a group of supporters, we've come to accept very average looking players in our first team. Very average players who we desperately hope are going to come good sooner rather than later. Is there no end to this eternal optimism we've shown when it comes to certain signings who we're convinced will come good at some point? When exactly did our expectations drop this much? We need to be unified in times like these, but I'm really starting to wonder if this is actually doing us any good. Could we be any worse off if we turn en masse against DM and demand change now? Looking at the way we've been playing, I doubt it. Maybe it is time for us to stand up and make a noise, because I really don't want our club to slip any further down as we're not that far away from being a mid-table team again. Depressing times.

I'd rather go to a 4-4-2 as I think the majority of our players are more comfortable with that formation. Also, that midfield trio in the centre are pretty defensive and could be quite negative which I don't think is what we need either. Also, while we need to tighten up the midfield, I don't think that will help with the problems we're seeing in the defence. Up front I'd like to see Novo and Sebo given a chance. Novo isn't good enough to play wide and come in as he lacks composure IMO and that's been shown over the last few weeks. Do we have any good centre backs coming through the youth & reserve setups?

If PLG is still not comfortable with the press, then someone else should be speaking to them as well as him as we're not hearing the right things coming out of Ibrox at the moment. Agree with Stan though, he needs to get the centre back positions sorted out quickly or I think he will lose a lot of respect and patience with a lot of the fans.

Exactly. This was always going to be a transition/rebuilding season, but the signs so far aren't good or encouraging and we could be worse off than last season if this carries on.

There was a rumour to that effect going round Edinburgh last week, just after his latest dropping became public news. I'd be really disappointed if we don't at least sound him out about a return to Ibrox.

The rumour mill is very quiet considering the transfer window is only a few weeks away.

Its difficult to say. PLG deserves our full support, but its very worrying for me how he seems to be making similar mistakes as AM did last season - questionable signings, playing players out of position, persisting with tactics & players when they don't work, not sorting out the defensive problems, possibly lacking motivational skills needed. Etc. Without knowing exactly what the money situation is in terms of what's left, how much was actually spent, what there will be to spend in the summer, its hard to know what the overall game plan is.

Looks like he's out until January, so a lot of people will finally get their chance to see their number one choice of strikers playing for us.

Yip, its not so much about his footballing ability as his other qualities. Why not go for him and Anderson, or would Pressley be the man to finally bring on Svensson and get him adjusted to the SPL?

I was trying to think who else would fit the bill. The first two names that I think of are Pressley and Davie Weir. Its that sort of player with experience we need. He can be past his prime, that's not the important thing. We're lacking leadership, organisation and basic defensive skills at the moment. They're not long term signings, but I'd rather see us spend some dosh on a proven player than wasting yet more on a no-name from Europe as that's obviously not working. Who else fits the bill?

All eyes turn to PLG and DM. PLG to see if he'll admit his central defence is shite and some of his other signings just aren't good enough. DM to see if he'll invest some cash to make sure we don't lose out on second place. The players are there who could clearly make a difference, so lets hope something is done.

I don't think he's PLG's sort of player. There's not been anything linking us with him. He's still under contract so I can't see Hearts letting him go to us. PLG has quite a few central defenders on his books already. Signing someone like Elvis would be admitting some of his guys just aren't good enough. etc.

Can't argue with that or the match report which finishes with...

Agree 100%. But it'll never happen.