ascender

Yeah this confused me too. Some places said it was until the end of this year, while others were reporting it as being a year long.

Bottom line for me is that PLG needs time. When you look at just how dreadfully we played for large parts of last season, what I've seen this season is a huge step in the right direction. I agree about Prso, we've definitely seen the best from him, but I do believe he has a part to play throughout the season, albeit I'm not sure what position suits him best. I've been a critic of Hutton, but apart from his final ball, which is also a criticism of Smith on today's evidence, I think he's improving and at least seems to be knuckling down a bit more. Svensson needs time and I think will come good. I'm more worried about J-Rod, who even when he started to improve last season, didn't look like the sort of rock solid no-nonsense centre half we need. I'd still like to see us buying Andy Webster and try him alongside Svensson. His experience of the Scottish game would be invaluable just now and could steady the defence a bit. The keeper had a bit of a 'mare today after a very promising start. Its worrying though that our defence still looks shaky after the woefulness of last season. I know he's on a lot of money, but I think we need Klos back badly at the moment, although he's still a few months off being ready. I know PLG has this formation he likes, but I don't think it suits Prso. I can see Hemdani being swapped for Fergie, I think that's a given. But up front? Its baffling as to why Boyd has been left on the bench. I've said it in another thread, but its like us leaving McCoist out if he was playing for us. Like I say, I'm really optimistic and excited about PLG's reign. Just look at the young players for starters, he's clearly building for the future. He'll take a while to adjust to the Scottish game, as will the players. Good thing is that Hearts and Celtic are dropping points already, but we need to get a solid backline together soon so we can put a good run together over the winter period. PLG hasn't had much luck and is still suffering from the overspending of previous managers, but so far its been a good start. We're unbeaten for one thing, only in Scotland that's just not good enough....

Ouch. Never realised it was £40, that's pretty steep imo.

Andy Webster......

But he's that sort of player. I know its early days, but its akin to not picking a fit McCoist. You know that over the course of a game he'll get x number of chances and take at least 1 or 2, even if he misses 4 or 5. I think Svensson will become a good player for us, but I think he's looked decidedly average so far.

Boyd has to start IMO. I don't think anyone can reasonably argue why he shouldn't start the game. Not sure what happens with the formation though.

I've been a fan of Webster for a while and I think if we can get him we should definitely go for him. Given his age, potential, current level of play, knowledge of the Scottish game and wages he'd be after, I think he'd be a good signing for us. I'm not sure whether PLG rates him though.

The only thing you can say about Fan Fan is that he's someone who was playing for a top French side regularly in the CL, so he can't be that bad?

I don't think we've seen Fan Fan given a decent run in the first team in his preferred position. But, people who have seen him play for that position in the reserves don't think he's up to much anyway. We do need cover at centre back, but maybe PLG has someone in mind if he can free up some wages from the 5 or so players who he wants to leave.

Maybe I'm confused with the exact timing, but I thought the reason Ricksen was offered a new, well paid contract is because the season it was expiring, he was one of our best players by a long way? Therefore it made sense to keep him as if he played like that the next season, we could either sell him on or it would seem like a reasonable wage to be paying for someone that good. We all know what happened next though. Can't say I'm surprised he's been told he can leave, he really has no-one to blame but himself. Although if half the stories in the press were true, surely the club should have got him in to rehab or counselling a few seasons ago?

So, he has signed at last. Man that was a long time coming! I guess as he's match fit, we might see him on the bench at the weekend?

I see that a lot of Celtic fans have written this guy off already as being a total waste of cash based on his previous scoring record. The more I read about him, the more he looks like the sort of powerful front man we've been lacking since Hateley left. I still can't believe we passed on Hartson. Anyway, it could be good, but of course, where the hell is PLG going to play him?!?!

Crikey, that picture on the top of his site makes him look like a big boy! Is he a big, target man style of player? Or is he a short arse who likes to make himself look tall.

Still nothing official, but I'm guessing its just a matter of time.

Totally agree, it makes me even more optimistic for the season ahead. I just don't think that 4 into 1 will go in terms of strikers, so I'm interested to see what PLG's plans are.

I thought the team played well and showed lots of potential, but didn't think they were magnificent by any stretch of the imagination. I thought Prso looked pretty isolated on his own up front too, although the movement from midfield was fantastic. Like you say, its a great problem to have.

So he should be in Glasgow for his medical today. Is that plane pedal powered buba? ;-)

How can he not afford to start with Boyd given his form last season, during pre-season and also in reserve games. I think the problem is that we don't know what PLG's plans are for the striking area. Look at the players we have - Prso, Novo, Boyd and Buffel for starters. If we add the Austria Vienna lad in too, there's quite a few possibilities there, so maybe we'll have a better idea in a couple of weeks how things are going to go.

I'm sure Boyd will start, Prso looked isolated on his own last week and I'm sure PLG's preferred formation will include Boyd in it.

Nothing on the usual news sites yet....

The other 3 are training with the reserves and have been told they can leave. Apparently PLG just wants his first team squad training together with no distractions, so Ricksen is to train with the reserves for a while.

Latest on the Sebo saga from the Beeb:

I noticed the Billy Boys song early on at the weekend and apparently the SPL advisor did as well...

I think letting Smith go was a mistake. In fact the way he went about things should have maybe been a sign to the management that he was ready for first team football and should have been given a chance. He was quite adamant that he felt ready for the first team and should have been given a chance. Its strange that there's now 2 other SPL clubs with young Scottish keepers as their number 1 and that both these guys have been let go by us.

Yip McLean is injured just now, sounds like a bad one too. Is Mark Brown the Caley keeper another one of our ex youth players?